MLS Cup Returns to Home Depot Center in '08
Presumably captivated by the possibility Clint Mathis (sorry, I meant David Beckham) could lead the Galaxy to next year's MLS Cup (insert chuckling here), the league announced today its championship game will return to Carson next year.
From the press release:
MLS Cup 2008 will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET (live on ABC and TeleFutura) on November 23, 2008 at the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy.“We are proud and excited to bring Major League Soccer’s championship event back to the City of Los Angeles and The Home Depot Center, one of the finest sports venues in the United States,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The pageantry and top-notch presentation of two previous MLS Cups and the inaugural SuperLiga final prove that The Home Depot Center is a superb stage for national and international showcase events like MLS Cup 2008.”
The two previous MLS Cup matches held at The Home Depot Center were resounding successes. In 2003, a sold out crowd of 27,000 witnessed a remarkable match with the San Jose Earthquakes taking home the title with 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire in a wide-open contest. In 2004, D.C. United lifted the MLS Cup trophy after an intense 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards.
“The LA Galaxy are honored to once again be hosting Major League Soccer’s premier match, MLS Cup, at The Home Depot Center,” LA Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas said. “We feel that we have the best fans in MLS and I can think of no better way to reward them for their support than winning our third MLS Cup in front of them at home next season.”
Since opening its doors in 2003, The Home Depot Center has served as the home of two-time MLS Cup Champion and five-time MLS Cup finalist the Los Angeles Galaxy. Designated as an “Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,” this facility is also home to Chivas USA and the National Training Center for the United States Soccer Federation’s (USSF) Men’s and Women’s National Teams. In addition to two MLS Cups, the stadium has hosted numerous memorable soccer matches, including the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship game, the 2003 MLS All-Star Game, CONCACAF Men’s and Women’s Gold Cup matches, InterLiga, this year’s inaugural SuperLiga series and several other elite soccer competitions.
“Hosting the most important game in American professional soccer at The Home Depot Center for the third time shows our continuing commitment to bring exciting and entertaining events to this stadium and city,” said Rod O’Connor, general manager, The Home Depot Center. “We are proud to partner with MLS and the Galaxy for what promises to be a great day for soccer fans in the city of Los Angeles, and across the country.”
"I can think of no better place to host soccer's biggest match than right here in Los Angeles," said City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Los Angeles is the international hub of the world and is a place where everyone comes with a vision and a drive to achieve beyond themselves. We proudly welcome the 2008 MLS Cup match and the league's teams to chase their championship dreams right here in Los Angeles at our Home Depot Center."
The Home Depot Center has apparently moved to LA?
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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