REAL
SALT LAKE READY FOR PRESEASON LEG #2 IN PHOENIX
After Annual Snowshoeing Trek on
Saturday, it’s Back to Arizona for Another 10-Day Stay;
Saturday Media Availability Cancelled,
but Team Still Available Sunday at SLC Int’l Airport;
Only 18 Days Remain Until Real Salt Lake
Begins 2011 Season with CCL Quarterfinal Opener at Columbus Crew
SANDY, Utah (Friday, February 4, 2011) – Real Salt Lake’s return to the field today marked the beginning of the team’s second camp of an accelerated2011 preseason, which includes the team’s annual snowshoeing hike in the mountains on Saturday before departing Sunday for another 10-day stay in Arizona, this time based out of the Reach 11 Soccer Complex in Phoenix. By the time RSL’s Phoenix camp breaks on February 15, only one week will remain before the squad begins its 2011 season with the opening leg of its CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round series against fellow MLS survivor, the Columbus Crew.
With Saturday’s snowshoeing expedition at Alta moving up an hour, Real Salt Lake has cancelled the proposed 9:45 a.m. MT media availability session planned at Rio Tinto Stadium; however, media member requesting phone interviews with players can do so by contacting John Koluder in the RSL Communications Department at jkoluder@RealSaltLake.com or 801-918-5050 (mobile). The squad’s previously planned availability for Sunday morning at the Salt Lake City International Airport (Delta Counter – Terminal 2) remains on schedule, and will start when players and coaches begin arriving at approximately 9:20 a.m.
After releasing its trio of 2011 Supplemental Draft selections – GK Jeff Attinella, MF Drew Cost, and FW Nick Love – and trialists defenders John Gilkerson and Jamie Cunningham from its camp earlier this week, Real Salt Lake will bring 25 rostered players to its second spring training stint. In addition, as was the case for the opening camp, Real Salt Lake will again supplement its roster with select members of the RSL-Arizona Academy Under-18 squad. The Claret-and-Cobalt will enjoy two match days at its “home away from home” of Grande Sports World in Casa Grande during the trip, first taking on Seattle Sounders FC next Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 12:00 p.m. MT before splitting up for contests against a yet-to-be-finalized opponent (10:00 a.m.) and Chivas USA (12:00 p.m.) on “getaway day” on Tuesday, Feb. 15. All games will be open to the public.
Three players will have an excused absence for the first half of the Phoenix trip, as MF Jean Alexandre, FW Arturo Alvarez, and MF Will Johnson will all leave Utah on Saturday to join their respective national teams in advance of international friendlies being contested next Wednesday, Feb. 9. Johnson will be looking for his 14th Senior cap for Canada when the Maple Leafs travel to Europe to square off against Euro 2004 champion Greece in Larissa (8:00 a.m. MT), while Alvarez’s El Salvador squad will play host to Alexandre and his Haitian National Team mates in San Salvador (6:30 p.m. MT). The trio is scheduled to join their RSL teammates in Phoenix on Feb. 11 for the last half of the camp.
Before RSL becomes too accustomed to the warm sunshine of The Grand Canyon State, the team will head back to Utah to continue its preparations for the CCL Quarterfinals. After departing for the Midwest on Feb. 19, RSL will spend a few days in Central Ohio before taking on The Crew in Leg One on Tuesday, Feb. 22, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MT (live on Fox Soccer Channel). The two MLS combatants will then head west to the Wasatch Front and Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy for Leg Two of their Quarterfinal series a week later on Tuesday, March 1, at 8:00 p.m. MT.
Fans can secure their seats now for both Real Salt Lake’s March 1 CONCACAF Quarterfinal Leg Two fixture against the Columbus Crew and its March 26 MLS home opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy via the “RSL 2011 2-Pack” (two tickets for both games and an RSL beanie beginning at just $80) and the “RSL 2011 Flex 10-Pack” (beginning at $200). Both of these special ticket offers, in addition to RSL 2011 Season Ticket Packages and individual tickets for both contests, can be purchased online at www.RealSaltLake.com, over the phone at 801-727-2700, or in person at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office during regular business hours: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. MT.
Real
Salt Lake 2011 Preseason Leg #2 Schedule (subject to change)
Saturday, Feb. 5: Off-field training (closed to media)
Feb. 6-15: Camp
in Phoenix, AZ
- Sunday, Feb. 6 – Media availability at Salt Lake City Int’l Airport (Delta Counter – Terminal 2) – 9:30 a.m. MT; Depart for Phoenix
- Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Scrimmage vs. Seattle Sounders FC – 12:00 p.m. MT at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, AZ
- Tuesday, Feb. 15 – Split-squad scrimmages vs. TBD (10:00 a.m.) / Chivas USA (12:00 p.m.) – Grande Sports World; Return to Utah
Real Salt Lake 2011
Early-Season Schedule
Feb. 16–18: Utah-based training sessions (TBA)
Feb. 19–21: Travel to/training in Columbus, OH
Tues., Feb. 22: CCL Quarterfinal Leg One v. Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium – 6:00 p.m. MT (Fox Soccer Channel)
Feb. 24-28: Utah-based training sessions (TBA)
Tues., March 1 – CCL Quarterfinal Leg Two v. Columbus Crew at Rio Tinto Stadium – 8:00 p.m. MT (Fox Soccer Channel)
March 2-6 – Utah-based training sessions
March 8-10 – Preseason game (date/team/location TBA)
Tues., March 15 – possible CCL Semifinal Leg One fixture (if applicable, at Rio Tinto Stadium v. CD Olimpia/CD Saprissa series winner)
Sat., Mar. 19 – MLS First Kick 2011 – RSL at San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. – 8:30 p.m. MT kickoff
Sat., Mar. 26 – RSL 2011 MLS Home Opener v. L.A. Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium – 7:00 p.m. MT kickoff
