CARSON, CA (Wednesday, December 7, 2005) - The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce (LAJCC), and AEG - owners and operators of The Home Depot Center - today announced a partnership to create a tennis and scholastic program for at-risk youth to begin in spring 2006 at The Home Depot Center, located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.  The mission of the academy, known as \"Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars,\" is to provide locally-based student athletes with advanced educational curriculum as well as advanced tennis instruction to help to reach greater levels of academic and athletic achievement.

Beginning in spring 2006 at The Home Depot Center, Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars will welcome the Academy's first class of approximately 15 to 20 students who live and attend school in Southern California.  Modeled after The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's \"Team Agassi\" program at the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas, Nev., the All-Stars program seeks to provide at-risk youth with educational tutoring along with specialized tennis instruction using teaching techniques similar to those employed by professional tennis coaches.  The program's core objective is to create an environment that provides up-and-coming junior tennis prospects with academic and athletic skills to help them compete for college scholarships.  The program is fully funded by AEG and the LAJCC, making it is free of charge to all participants.

\"It's always been our hope that our programs would be replicated in other communities,\" said Andre Agassi. \"Providing children with opportunities to develop new skills and succeed academically is one of the most powerful ways to create brighter futures.  Because of our partnership, more children will be given a chance to realize their potential.\"

\"On behalf of AEG and The Home Depot Center, I am so proud to be able to announce this new partnership with Andre Agassi who, as a tennis player and a man represents all of the values, commitment and dedication that we look for in a partner,\" said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG.  \"Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars will have such an important impact on the lives of each and every student who participates in its programming, whether or not the participants ever win a tournament or even compete at the collegiate level.  The skills and life's lessons they take with them will truly make them winners and better prepare them for whatever goals they set for themselves in the future.\"

Established by humanitarian and tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Safe Passage has grown into a significant LAJCC program that helps youth develop skills that prepare them for their futures by focusing on decision-making skills, problem solving, self-esteem and teamwork.  The goal of the program is to educate and train children that sportsmanship is more important than winning or losing.  Through life lessons on and off the court, Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars will continue the mission set forth by Ashe, and will focus on encouraging students to apply for college tennis scholarships.

\"Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars is a program that parallels the ideals and mission of The Home Depot Center - 'Building Character Through Competition,'\" says Bill Peterson, managing director of The Home Depot Center.  \"We are proud that tennis great Andre Agassi lends his name and expertise to this important program.\"

Tutors from the California Academy of Mathematics and Sciences (CAMS) high school will provide children with math tutoring, homework assistance, development of study skills, coaching and mentoring daily, prior to tennis work outs and coaching.  The tutors will work with the students in the areas of mathematics, language arts (reading and writing) and test taking.  As students progress into the 10th and 11th grades, the program will provide them with college readiness counseling and application assistance.  Simultaneously, the participants will continue to work on their development as tennis players.

\"We are truly excited about the partnership with Andre Agassi and AEG,\" says Robert Yamamoto, executive director and chief executive officer for the LAJCC.  \"The mission of both the Agassi Foundation and The Home Depot Center reflect the values of the LAJCC and our desire to support and develop youth in our communities.  With disciplines learned from the game of tennis, paired with academic support provided by CAMS, our children will have a chance to realize every opportunity and succeed in life.\"

About The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation

Founded in 1994, The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.  Since its inception, the Foundation has supported more than 20 organizations and raised more than $60 million for programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem and career possibilities.  Team Agassi, the junior tennis team at The Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club, is a program of the AACF designed to provide at-risk youth with the opportunity to realize their athletic and academic potential to earn college scholarships.  Led by coach Tim Blenkiron, Team Agassi currently includes six nationally ranked players and holds a team grade point average (GPA) of B+.

About LAJCC/Safe Passage Tennis Program

The mission of the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce (LAJCC) is to serve the community by providing innovating projects and programs which benefit at-risk youth.  The LAJCC achieves its mission through the volunteer efforts of its membership of young professionals.  Since 1924, LAJCC members and volunteers have been dedicated to improving the quality of life for the community of Los Angeles through programs that focus on sports, education, life skills, family growth, youth empowerment and interpersonal and leadership development. 

The LAJCC manages the Nissan Open, the oldest civic-sponsored tournament on the PGA Tour.  Proceeds from the Nissan Open are used to help support the Safe Passage Tennis program, just one of several LAJCC programs that include the Urban Youth Golf Program, the Los Angeles Watts Summer Games and the Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program.  More than 1,500 children participated in Safe Passage last year. 

About AEG and The Home Depot Center

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world.  AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center,  Toyota Sports Center, NOKIA Theatre Times Square, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie and The Home Depot Center; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Manchester Monarchs (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), Chicago Fire, DC United, Los Angeles Galaxy, Metrostars and San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), two hockey franchises operated in Europe, the Hammarby (Sweden) Futbol Club and management of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) owned by Philip Anschutz; AEG Marketing, a sponsorship, sales, naming rights and consulting company; AEG Merchandising, a multi-faceted merchandising company; and AEG Creative, a full-service marketing and advertising agency and AEG LIVE, a leading international live touring and entertainment promotional organization

The Home Depot Center is a 125-acre development on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California, featuring state-of-the-art stadiums and facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, lacrosse, rugby, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball and other sports.  Designated as an \"Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,\" The Home Depot Center is the nation's most complete training facility for Olympic, amateur and professional athletes.

Created around a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 13,000-seat tennis stadium, 20,000-seat track & field facility and a 2,450-seat indoor velodrome -The ADT Event Center (the only indoor velodrome in North America). The Home Depot Center is the home of the 2002  & 2005 MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy as well as the MLS expansion team Club Deportiva (CD) Chivas USA.  In addition, the site is the U.S. Soccer Federation's national team training headquarters and the location of the United States Tennis Association's High Performance National Training Center.  The development, which is also the home of the nationally recognized Athletes Performance training center for elite and professional athletes, has additionally been designated official training sites for USA Cycling and the United States Track & Field organization.  Both the David Beckham Soccer Academy and Agassi's Safe Passage All-Stars are based at the venue.

Developed and operated by AEG, the $150 million Home Depot Center represents the largest ever investment in amateur athletics.  Whether competing or training, athletes will have the use of world-class amenities including a 3,000 square foot weight room, training and locker room facilities as well as dining, housing and other hospitality services. 

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Contacts:
Michael Roth, AEG (213) 742-7155
Alison Groendal, The Home Depot Center (310) 630-2032