Home Depot Center News

Olympic Caliber Field to Compete in Los Angeles, September 28-October 2

Carson, Calif., (September 29, 2011) - The 2011 US Elite Track Cycling National Championships are now underway and continuing October 2nd at The Home Depot Center Velodrome on the campus of Cal State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. During the five day event, 170 of the nation's best track cyclists will battle for titles in 20 events being contested inside North America's only indoor velodrome.

Group tickets starting at just $5.00 and individual tickets starting at only $10.00 for Friday and Saturday sessions, held from 5-9:00 PM each evening, are still available. Friday night's schedule will showcase finals for mens/womens team pursuit, men's sprint and women's keirin. Saturday night's event will highlight men's keirin, women's sprint, and Mens/Womens Point race finals. Each night will feature an indoor beer garden, BBQ, future Olympian talent search, vendor expos and cycling prize giveaways.

The 2011 US Elite Track National Championships mark a unique competition where every invited athlete has the opportunity to test themselves against the nation's best. For athletes like 2008 Olympian Michael Blatchford (Cypress, CA) the 2011 Nationals Spectator nights offer a new sense of community excitement unseen before. \"This is the first Nationals I will compete in since 2008 and I am excited to race and look forward to the energy and atmosphere the crowds will bring to this event,\" said Blatchford. \"It is very encouraging to see the first Nationals I will compete in since my return to have such momentum backing it\"

For Olympians Sarah Hammer, Jennie Reed, Michael Blatchord, Giddion Massie, who all call The Home Depot Center Velodrome their home track, the National Championships also offer a chance to take the next step toward their Olympic dreams.

Hammer, current World Champion in the Women's Individual Pursuit and teammate, 2008 World Keirin Champion Jennie Reed along with teammate Dotsie Bouch are the current Women's Team Persuit Silver Medalists and World Record holders will ride Thursday night to defend their National title.

\"It is always great to race at my home track and I am thrilled that my first race of the Olympic year will be at The Home Depot Center Velodrome,\" says Hammer. \"It is exciting to say that my London Olympic journey starts this week in Carson!\"

For more information about the 2011 US Elite Track National Championships at The Home Depot Center Velodrome, please visit 2011Nationals.com for Twitter updates, photos, video, results and start lists.

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.

Media Contact:

Adam Duvendeck
(310) 630-2064
aduvendeck@homedepotcenter.com