Home Depot Center News

Ticket Pre-Sale to Club América’s Socio Águila USA Fan Club Members on Nov. 15 - General Public On-Sale Nov. 18

CARSON, CALIFORNIA (Tuesday, November 9, 2010) - The Home Depot Center, owned and operated by AEG Facilities, will host an international friendly, billed as ‘El Reto Club América’ on Wed., Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. featuring Club América of Mexico’s first division versus the National Team of Guatemala. Starting a new tradition of playing a holiday friendly at The Home Depot Center prior to the start of the Mexican club soccer season, Club América will take on the Central American side for the fourth time in the team’s history, and the first time ever on U.S. soil in the ‘Club América Challenge,’ or in Spanish, ‘El Reto Club América.’

Starting as low as $20, tickets will be available in a pre-sale for Socio Águila USA fan club members, starting on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. PT at Ticketmaster.com, homedepotcenter.com and at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets to the general public will be available on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, online and by phone at 800-745-3000.  Tickets are available in the following categories; $20 endlines; $25 corners; $35 sidelines; $45 midfield; and $75 fieldside. Luxury suites, club seats and terrace cabana suites are also available for purchase by calling 877-604-8777.

“Our Southern Californian fans have always shown our team great support in Carson, and we are very pleased to be playing once again at The Home Depot Center,” said Michel Bauer, President of Club América. “The match on Dec. 29 will be a great opportunity for both Mexican and Guatemalan fans to see their teams play in the U.S. before 2010 comes to a close.”

The Mexican super club, led by head coach Manolo Lapuente, features several Mexican National Team stars, including Team goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and midfielder Pavel Pardo. The game will mark the 11th time Club América has played in Carson, including winning the InterLiga tournament in 2008 and placing runner up in 2004 and 2007. The Copa Libertadores qualifying tournament, held every January since 2004 at The Home Depot Center, was retired in January 2010.

Returning to The Home Depot Center after his appearances with the Los Angeles Galaxy and other MLS clubs, Carlos ‘El Pescadito’ Ruiz will lead the Guatemalan National Team against Club América, along with Mario ‘El Loco’ Rodriguez and Marco Pappa, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire. This will be Guatemala’s sixth match in Carson.

“We are expecting this friendly to be a great match-up, and give us a great start to the year,” said Ever Hugo Almeida, head coach of the Guatemalan National Team. “We recognize the importance of playing against America, a team that has many followers in the United States, and believe this will be a great experience for soccer fans.”

Tickets for El Reto Club América’ will be on sale to the general public on Nov. 18. Media who have been issued 2010 MLS season credentials by either the LA Galaxy or Chivas USA will be honored for the Dec. 29 match. Media inquiries may be directed to Alison Salcedo at asalcedo@homedepotcetner.com.

About The Home Depot Center

The Home Depot Center is southern California’s home of world-class competition and training facilities for amateur, Olympic, collegiate and professional athletes.  The $150 million, privately financed facility was developed and is operated by AEG on a 125-acre site on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) in Carson, California.  The Home Depot Center features an 8,000-seat tennis stadium, a 27,000-seat stadium for soccer and other athletic competitions and outdoor concerts, a 10,000-seat facility for track & field and a 2,450-seat indoor Velodrome for track cycling.  The Home Depot Center is home to two Major League Soccer teams, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA.  Named an Official U.S. Olympic Training Site, The Home Depot Center is also home of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) High Performance Training Center, the national team training headquarters for the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and Athletes’ Performance, an international training center for elite and professional athletes.  For more information, please visit www.homedepotcenter.com.

Contacts:

The Home Depot Center Communications
Alison Groendal Salcedo, (310) 630-2032
Eduard Cauich, (310) 982-3656