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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake acquires All-Star midfielder Chris Klein

January 23, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (Monday, January 23, 2006) - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger continue to bolster its roster for the 2006 season with the announcement today that the team has acquired U.S. Men's National Team member and eight-year MLS veteran MF Chris Klein and a Youth International roster spot from the Kansas City Wizards in exchange for a portion of an allocation.

"He is a great addition to our team and I think he is the prototype right midfielder that every team wants to have," Ellinger said. "Chris provides leadership, experience, great pace and work rate to the team. I can't say enough about getting a player of Chris' caliber."

Klein has played in 200 regular season matches, including 183 starts, scoring 39 goals and adding 45 assists. He was selected by Kansas City with the 4th overall pick in the 1998 College Draft on February 1. The 30-year-old also tallied three goals and four assist in the post-season.

The 30-year-old completed his eighth MLS season playing in 31 games, all starts, tallying seven goals and nine assists for the Wizards. He was named the 2005 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after suffering a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his left knee against the San Jose Earthquakes on August 18, 2004.

The St. Louis, Mo. native has established himself as one of MLS' most dangerous midfielders during his career with the Wizards. He has 17 caps with the U.S. Men's National Team and is currently in camp in the player pool earning a spot on the roster that will compete in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

"Chris completes this team for the upcoming 2006 season," Pastorino said. "He's one of the most talented, aggressive outside midfielders Major League Soccer has produced. Acquiring Chris is the exclamation point to a busy and productive off-season."

Klein will be available to the Salt Lake media in person tomorrow, Tuesday, January 24 for a limited time during his break from camp with the U.S. Men's National Team. Further details will be forthcoming.

2006 RSL PRESEASON SCHEDULE (Date/times subject to change)

DAY/DATE OPPONENT/EVENT SITE RESULT/TIME (MT)

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Training Camp Begins IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL until Friday, Feb. 17

Tuesday, Feb. 7 U.S. Amateur IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 8 MetroStars IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9 U.S. U-17 Men's National Team IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12 Columbus Crew* Spartan Stadium - Tampa, FL 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 Kansas City Wizards IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL 8:00 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 17 D.C. United IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL 8:00 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 17 Training Camp Continues Ft. Lauderdale, FL until Thursday, March 2

Monday, March 6 Training Camp Continues Salt Lake City, UT until Sunday, March 12

Thursday, March 16 Final Leg of Training Camp Univ. of Redlands, Redlands, CA until Friday, March 24

Friday, March 17 Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves Home Depot Center - Carson, CA 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, March 19 Chivas USA Univ. of Redlands, Redlands, CA TBD

Saturday, March 25 University of Portland Portland, OR 8:30 p.m.

*Second Annual Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Soccer Festival in Tampa, Fla.

2006 RSL SEASON, MINI-PLAN AND FLEX TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE: The RSL 2006 season ticket package features 20 games, including all 16 MLS regular season games and four special bonus games. Real Salt Lake's season ticket pricing remains level with the 2005 prices, and consists of Youth (15 and younger) and Adult in five price levels. Prices for the 2006 season ticket packages are $200 adult ($180 youth) for the North Goal, $300 adult ($240 youth) for the Corner Flag, $400 ($320 youth) for East Sideline, $500 ($400 youth) for VIP and $1,000 ($1,000 youth) Club seats.

The 2006 mini-plan features 10 games (to be announced once the MLS 2006 schedule is announced), including nine MLS regular-season games and one special bonus game. Real Salt Lake's mini-plan ticket pricing consists of Youth (15 and younger) and Adult in four price levels. Prices for the 2005 mini-plan season ticket packages are $130 adult ($110 youth) for the North Goal, $180 adult ($150) for the Corner Flag, $220 adult ($180 youth) for East Sideline and $300 adult ($230 youth) for VIP seats.

To add more options for fans, RSL is also offering the flex season ticket package, which is comprised of twenty vouchers of the same price category (North Goal, Corner Flag, Premium and VIP) that allows the purchaser to determine which games they would like to see in the regular reason and how many tickets needed for that game. Prices for the 2005 Flex Package are $280 for the North Goal, $340 for the Corner Flag, $440 for the East Sideline and $560 for the VIP seats. Tickets can be redeemed in the following way: one could use all the vouchers and bring 20 people to one game or 4 people could attend five games. Flex vouchers are discounted from the day of game pricing making it an even greater value

All tickets can be purchased by visiting the RSL Ticket Office at 515 South 700 East, #2R, SLC, UT 84102, by logging onto www.RealSaltLake.com or by contacting the Real Salt Lake Ticket Office at (866) 9-SOCCER.

ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter on our website at http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/fans/.

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 23, 2006


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