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MLS Real Salt Lake

Zions Bank "Summer Kickoff" Event Features American Idol David Cook June 9 At Rio Tinto Stadium

April 22, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, UT (Thursday, April 22, 2010) - Utah's state-of-the-art Rio Tinto Stadium is proud to announce the venue's Wednesday, June 9 "SUMMER KICKOFF presented by ZIONS BANK" event, a special night featuring American Idol sensation David Cook and the home rematch against Real Salt Lake's MLS Cup 2009 opponent, the Los Angeles Galaxy. School will be out, summer will be here and RSL and Rio Tinto Stadium are kicking off June in style with one of music's hottest stars. Come be part of the ultimate Summer "Cook-Out" as American idol winner David Cook and his band headline a very special post-game concert.

"Zions Bank is pleased to support this event and provide a fantastic opportunity to our community's high school seniors and other students to kick off their 2010 Summer in Utah," said Rob Brough, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications for Zions Bank. "With the activities planned for the valedictorians and UHSAA championship soccer captains, an MLS Cup rematch and the musical entertainment of Idol winner David Cook, June 9 is sure to be yet another spectacular evening at Rio Tinto Stadium."

David Cook, 27, the winner of American Idol's Season 7 competition, will sing the National Anthem prior to Real Salt Lake's kickoff against the Los Angeles Galaxy and will provide the crowd with an extended special performance from the South Stage immediately following the game. Cook stormed the international music scene with his performances in late 2007 and early 2008 on the hit show American Idol, winning the competition in May, 2008. Just one week later, the Houston-born singer broke several Billboard chart records, most notably his record-shattering feat of having 11 songs debut on the Hot 100, beating the previous record set by Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) in 2006, when she had six songs debut. David Cook's first single, "The Time of My Life" led the pack by debuting at #3 on the Hot 100. Cook's 11 charting songs also gave him the most songs by one artist on Billboard's Hot 100 of any week in the Nielsen SoundScan era (which began in 1991), and the most of any era since The Beatles placed 14 songs on the chart the week of April 11, 1964. For more information, please visit http://www.davidcookofficial.com/us/home.

Ticket packages featuring the Wednesday, June 9 SUMMER KICKOFF event are now on sale via www.RioTintoStadium.com or (888) 477-5849, with kiosks at the Stadium's east-side ticket windows and in the Team Store open for in-person purchases Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Pricing for the "David Cook Three-Pack" starts at just $48 (North Goal) and also includes tickets to TWO additional Real Salt Lake home games: Sat., May 1 vs. Toronto FC, as well as the Thursday, May 13 contest against the Houston Dynamo. Other pricing levels for the "David Cook Three-Pack" are $80 (Sidelines), $116 (Midfield) and $170 (Stadium).

The Zions Bank SUMMER KICKOFF event will feature several elements geared towards celebrating area high school graduations and the beginning of the Summer season, including the Utah PTA "Battle of the Bands" finalists on the Stadium's East Lawn during pre-game. Following David Cook's rendition of the National Anthem, executives from Zions Bank and the captains of selected Utah High School championship soccer teams will participate in the game's "First Kick," while at halftime, Utah high school valedictorians will be recognized and details of a Zions Bank/RSL Scholarship program that will begin in the 2010-2011 school year will also be unveiled.

The event is included in the existing package for Real Salt Lake Season Ticket Holders, who can always purchase additional seats to the June 9 event at their standard STH rate. Groups of 20 or more who wish to see the MLS Cup rematch and David Cook can purchase tickets through the group sales department, with prices starting at $18/person. Season ticket holder and group buyers should call RSL's Ticket Sales hotline at (801) 727.2700. Fans currently holding Flex or Group vouchers are encouraged to redeem early as possible, following normal protocols.

Cook, who has performed in the last 18 months at high-profile NFL, NBA and baseball events, has been writing and recording songs for his sophomore album to be released this Summer, writing and recording songs around his recent trip to Ethiopia as part of Idol Gives Back, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration which has raised more than $140 million to benefit charities around the world and across the United States. The two-hour fundraising event returned to FOX earlier this week. Beneficiaries for this year's event include Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation. Click here to learn more about each charity.

Wednesday's special featured performances and appearances by some of Hollywood's biggest stars as well as a few surprises. In previous years, Idol Gives Back has welcomed President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former President George W. Bush, Brad Pitt, Bono, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Annie Lennox, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Celine Dion, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and others.

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