MLS All-Stars to Face Chivas de Guadalajara in 2003 Pepsi MLS All -Star Game
Published on June 23, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Monday, June 23, 2003) - Major League Soccer today announced that the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game will feature a squad of MLS All-Stars taking on popular Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara on August 2. The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game will be televised nationally from The Home Depot Center in Carson, California beginning at 3:30 p.m. (ET), live on ABC Sports.
"MLS has always sought to make the All-Star Game the greatest celebration of soccer in America," said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. "This year's format, which matches up the League All-Stars with a club of the international stature of Chivas, will make for an intriguing and highly competitive matchup."
This year, for the first time in the history of MLS' midsummer showcase, a squad of MLS All-Stars will take on an international club. Last year's edition of the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game also featured a single MLS All-Star team which defeated the U.S. National Team, 3-2, at RFK Stadium. The game honored the historic feat of the U.S., which advanced to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals in Korea/Japan led by a large contingent of MLS players. Past All-Star formats have included East vs. West matchups ('96, '97, '99, '00, '01) and a game featuring USA vs. World Stars (1998) that was staged on the heels of the U.S. participation in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Based in Guadalajara, Chivas is one of Mexico's most popular clubs and commands a large following of supporters that spans the CONCACAF region. Founded in 1906, Chivas has always held true to its tradition of fielding only all-Mexican lineups as the team has captured 10 Mexican and seven CONCACAF Champions Cup trophies in its storied history. Led by a host of Mexican National Team stars, including Omar Bravo, Alberto 'Rafa' Media, Oswaldo Sanchez and Ramon Morales, Chivas made a run for the championship in the recently concluded Mexican league campaign, suffering elimination in the second round of the playoffs. A frequent visitor to the United States, Chivas played three exhibition matches earlier this year, including playing before crowds of approximately 40,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum and Pacific Bell Park.
The most recent renaissance of the club coincides with the arrival of owner and Guadalajara native Jorge Vergara, who took over the team in November of 2002. The founder of one of Mexico's largest companies, Grupo Omnilife, Vergara has also expanded his interests to include entertainment (including the production of top grossing Mexican film Y Tu Mama Tambien), facilities (developing the JVC Culture, Convention and Business Center) and other international clubs (he became the top shareholder in Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in February 2003).
Fans can still vote (through July 7) for the players who will represent MLS during the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game by visiting http://www.MLSnet.com. As in past years, fans' online ballots will represent 25 percent of the final totals, with voting by coaches and general managers (25%), players (25%) and the media (25%) rounding out the final tally. A 16-man MLS All-Star roster is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, July 9, with other selections to follow at a later date, including the Commissioner's picks. At the helm of the MLS All-Stars will be the head coach of the MLS team which has amassed the most regular season points through games of July 13, the approximate midway point of the 30-game season. The 2003 MLS All-Star starting lineup on Aug. 2 will be determined by the coaching staff.
The 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game offers four levels of ticket pricing, ranging from $35 to $65 for individual seats. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster (213-480-3232), online at www.lagalaxy.com, at The Home Depot Center box office and at the following ticket outlets: Robinsons May, Tower Records and Warehouse Records. For season ticket package and group sales opportunities fans can contact the Los Angeles Galaxy Ticket Office at 1-877-3GALAXY.
The Home Depot Center, the new home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, will host MLS' premier events in 2003: the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game on Aug. 2 and MLS Cup 2003 on Sunday, November 23. The soccer stadium was inaugurated on June 7 as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0. The 27,000-seat state-of-the-art soccer-specific stadium is part of a unique 85-acre multi-sport complex that includes a National Training Center for U.S. Soccer, in addition to venues for tennis, cycling and track and field.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 23, 2003
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- MLS All-Stars to Face Chivas de Guadalajara in 2003 Pepsi MLS All -Star Game - MLS
- Race For First Continues in Naperville on 'Soccer Saturday' - Chicago Fire FC
- Interview with Gazidis and Vergara - MLS
- Dallas Burn Weekly Update - FC Dallas
- Wizards and Earthquakes Square Off in Western Conference Showdown - Sporting Kansas City
- D.C. United in the Community - D.C. United
- MetroStars Weekly Report - Red Bull New York
- Crew Kicks off Four-Game Homestand Saturday - Columbus Crew SC
- Spencer Scores Lone Goal in Rapids 3-1 Loss at Dallas - Colorado Rapids
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
