MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Weekly

Published on January 27, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


Real Salt Lake Begins 2009 Preseason this Weekend

Real Salt Lake General Manager Garth Lagerwey announced yesterday the team's 2009 preseason schedule, with RSL scheduled to make a pair of domestic trips to Southern California and Tampa, Fla. in February before embarking on the club's first-ever participation in the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C. in early March. Lagerwey and Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jason Kreis will return to Utah from a South American scouting trip this Thursday to welcome their players, who will officially kick off their preseason with physicals and fitness testing that afternoon, followed by the team's 2009 Media Day at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Friday.

After another day of training on Saturday and an off day on Sunday, Real Salt Lake embarks next Monday on the first leg of the preseason, a 12-day trip to the Southern California cities of Oxnard and Ventura from Feb. 2-14. While training and fitness will be the primary focus of the first leg, RSL plans on taking part in three scrimmages during its SoCal stay, with matches against a domestic PDL side, a Chinese team and an NCAA Division I squad.

Real Salt Lake 2009 Preseason Schedule (subject to change)

Thurs., Jan. 29: Players report to Utah for entrance physicals / fitness testing

Fri., Jan. 30: Media Day at Rio Tinto Stadium - 1:00-6:00 p.m. MT

Jan. 30-31: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 2-14: Preseason Trip #1 to Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.

Sun., Feb. 8 - RSL vs. Ventura County Fusion - 8:00 p.m. MT

Fri., Feb. 13 - RSL vs. Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) - 5:00 p.m. MT

Sat., Feb. 14 - RSL vs. UCSB or CSU-SLO - 11:00 a.m. MT

Feb. 15-17: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 18-28: Preseason Trip #2 to Tampa, Fla.

Sat., Feb. 21 - RSL vs. opp. TBD @ Univ. of South Florida - 5:00 p.m. MT

Tues., Feb. 24 - RSL vs. opp. TBD @ Univ. of Tampa - 5:00 p.m. MT

March 1-3: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

March 4-15: Preseason Trip #3 to Charleston, S.C. - Carolina Challenge Cup

Sat., March 7 - RSL vs. D.C. United - 3:00 p.m. MT

Wed., March 11 - RSL vs. Charleston - 5:15 p.m. MT

Sat., March 14 - RSL vs. Toronto FC - 3:00 p.m. MT

Saturday, March 21: Exhibition contest - Opponent/Site TBD

RSL to Open Home Slate April 2 v. Columbus; Rest of '09 Schedule to Follow Tomorrow

Just over two months remain - 65 days to be exact - until Real Salt Lake kicks off the home portion of its fifth MLS campaign on Thursday, April 2, against the reigning MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium in a contest that will be broadcast live nationwide on ESPN2. Head Coach Jason Kreis' team is the lone squad among Major League Soccer's 15 teams to open with a bye week during "MLS First Kick 2009" the weekend of March 21, and the Claret-and-Cobalt will soon know the opponent for its first contest of the season - taking place on the road on Saturday, March 28 - when Major League Soccer announces its full 2009 slate on Wednesday afternoon. For the April 2nd showdown, Columbus, which defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in MLS Cup 2008 last Nov. 23, will make its Rio Tinto Stadium debut. RSL is 1-2-1 all-time against the defending champs in Utah (tied on aggregate 3-3), and 2-5-1 overall (RSL outscored 11-5).

RSL, Soccer Unites Utah and KALL 700 Sports' "Bill and Spence" to Host Bone Marrow Drive Thursday at Rio Tinto Stadium

In a continuing effort to lend support to Marcia Williams, the wife of RSL midfielder Andy Williams, Soccer Unites Utah, Real Salt Lake, and KALL 700 Sports will partner with DKMS - the world's largest marrow donor center - to host a bone marrow match drive at Rio Tinto Stadium this Thursday, January 29. This Thursday's drive, just the latest in a series of similar events taking place on behalf of the Williams family by the soccer community nationwide - will take place from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the Media Workroom, located just off the West VIP lobby on the stadium's ground floor. As part of the afternoon's events, KALL 700 Sports hosts Bill Riley and Spencer Checketts will host the "Bill and Spence" afternoon drive-time show during the entirety of the marrow drive from 3:00-7:00 p.m. to encourage fans and supporters to stop by and assist in this worthwhile cause.

All are invited to undergo free testing to see if you're a match for Marcia or one of the thousands of others desperately seeking a bone marrow transplant - all it takes is 10 minutes to fill out a little paperwork and take a swab of your cheek. Those attending the marrow match drive are asked to park in the West/VIP lot and enter the stadium through the VIP entrance on the West side. For more information, head over to DKMSamericas.org on donation criteria for potential donors, or visit www.SoccerUnitesUtah.com for more ways in which you can help assist the Williams family.

Chris Wingert Makes U.S. Men's National Team Debut in 3-2 Win over Sweden

Real Salt Lake DF Chris Wingert made his official debut for the U.S. Men's National Team last Saturday in an international friendly against Sweden, coming on as a second half substitute during the USA's 3-2 victory at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The 26-year-old Wingert entered the contest in the 79th minute and put in his first 11 minutes for the Senior team, helping the squad start a busy 2009 campaign on a winning note. Wingert participated in the Senior team's camp at The Home Depot Center for three weeks leading up to the contest, marking his first action with the U.S. Soccer program since 2002-04, when he was a regular contributor for the U.S. Under-23 side that qualified for and participated in the 2004 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Tickets for the Eagles May 9th Concert at Rio Tinto Stadium Now on Sale to the Public

Following the success of their No. 1 album, Long Road Out of Eden, the Eagles will perform live at Sandy's state-of-the-art Rio Tinto Stadium in the venue's first-ever concert on Saturday, May 9, with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m. MT. Tickets for the historic concert - marking the Eagles' final appearance in the United States before the launch of their European tour - are now on sale to the public for $50-$175, and can be purchased online at www.RioTintoStadium.com, or in person at Rio Tinto Stadium via the west side box office or the RealTix ticket kiosks located in the west/VIP lobby and RSL Team Store from Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. MT. For more information, including how to purchase handicap-accessible seating, please call the customer service call center at 888-4RSLTIX (888-477-5849).

Real Salt Lake Team Store Offering $50 "Fan Pack" to Prepare for '09 Season

The "Item of the Week" at the Real Salt Lake Team Store at Rio Tinto Stadium (located on the east side of the stadium at 9256 S. State Street in Sandy) is actually more like the "Items of the Week," as the RSL Merchandise crew has put together a unique "Fan Pack" for those dropping by RSL's new home base. Through this Saturday, January 31, fans can purchase their Fan Pack - featuring an RSL/adidas backpack, an RSL scarf, and an RSL vertical flag - for just $50. To take advantage of this deal, and to see the full range of officially licensed RSL and adidas merchandise, drop by the RSL Team Store during regular business hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. MT

The RSL Team Store is also still chock-full of gear that will keep you toasty during this frigid winter, including long-sleeve home and away jerseys, fleece blankets and hooded sweatshirts. In addition, fans are invited to take advantage of "Real Hours" every Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m., with this week's happy hours offering the RSL size 5 soccer ball for just $10 and RSL mini-ball for only $5! For more information on the Real Salt Lake Team Store - including $10 shipping, phone orders, autographed and personalized merchandise, and how you can get 25% off your purchases - call the RSL Merchandise Hotline at 801-727-2888.

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 27, 2009


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