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Chilly Galaxy fans who shivered their way through what was, in essence, a three-hour game Friday will be glad to hear the utility is trying to get to the bottom of what happened.

Read the short article that ran in today's Daily Breeze.

The Galaxy won't sell tickets to the upper deck at Carson's Home Depot Center for its first and perhaps only playoff game this year at the stadium (date and opponent TBD), the first time the club has done that since moving there in 2003. (Tickets went on sale Monday, BTW).

Of course, that's slightly misleading because the Galaxy haven't made the playoffs in the last three seasons. But then wouldn't that mean there's pent-up demand? Apparently not with the club averaging fewer than 20,000 fans per game, good for only No. 3 in MLS behind Toronto (20,000-plus per game) and Seattle (30,000-plus per game).

"What we're looking to do is create a home field advantage and have as many of the fans as close to the field as possible," said spokesman Patrick Donnelly. "We're going to aim to sell out the lower bowl first and then open (the deck) up. We won't do it unless the lower bowl is sold out."

And it might not be because the Galaxy's season ticket holders do not get into a playoff game for free as a "bonus" game this year as is usual. That's because between various other competitions and exhibition games season ticket holders have received their five bonus games this year and so will have to buy playoff tickets.

That's right, season ticket holders got to see Costa Rica's Club Sport Herediano instead of a playoff game. Woo hoo!

BTW, upper deck season ticket holders are being allowed to sit on the lower level for the same price they would have paid to sit up top despite the higher ticket prices there. Of course, that doesn't take into account that the cheaper tickets on the second tier are better - much better - in some cases than the more expensive seats. Fans on the upper deck essentially get the same view those of us in the press box or those paying thousands for suites receive for a fraction of the cost.

It's just another sign that unless the Galaxy sell discounted group tickets to AYSO teams - whose young players prefer bonking their thunder sticks off some unfortunate parents' head to actually watching a game - that they can't count on the hardcore true soccer supporter as the Sounders or Toronto can to sell out the stadium. Even for a playoff game. And that's pretty sad for a city that is supposedly the best futbol market in the country.

Of course, it's hard to blame fans given the generally tepid quality of the Galaxy's play this season (one long-time fan told me he walked out of the Galaxy's last home game at halftime because it was so dull) or the over-priced tickets thanks to the presence of his Beckhamness. And his celebrity novelty has obviously worn off given the relatively small crowds the Galaxy has drawn this season.

Houston, it seems, isn't having that problem.

Douglas Morino is a reporter at the Daily Breeze in Torrance who attended last weekend's Galaxy-AC Milan game in Carson as part of the capacity crowd.

I asked him to write about his experience as a fan; he does not paint a pretty picture.

What my friend and I, along with hundreds of other soccer fans, experienced Sunday night at Home Depot Center was nothing short of outrageous.

I expected the bad traffic.

What I didn't expect was it to take us two hours to drive from the Avalon Boulevard off-ramp to the Home Depot Center parking lot. It was clear from the beginning the powers that be were unprepared for the influx of soccer fans descending upon the HDC.

I can deal with long lines for overpriced beer.

But outside the ticket gates closest to the tennis stadium, there were hundreds of people - literally, hundreds - lined up waiting to enter. The line was a dozen people thick and
stretched to the parking lot. The scene was unsettling. At that point, the match was already underway.

Frustrated, we went to the opposite end of the stadium, where the line to get in was shorter. We walked into the stadium 10 minutes after kickoff.

We had tickets in the general admission area - first come, first served - and by the time we reached the section it was clear there were no open seats. We stood for a while, along with dozens of other fans who were venting their frustrations at security guards and ushers. Who could blame them? It was hot, crowded and there was no where to sit.

I looked to the press box with envy as I envisioned a colleague sitting comfortably, maybe enjoying a cold drink and air conditioning, as he observed the match from the 50-yard line and typed away on his laptop.

Around the 25th minute we sat in fold-out chairs behind the general admission section along with about a dozen other people. We were immediately told to leave, and the argument with stadium officials would last until the final whistle blew.

After halftime, people continued to scramble to find a place to sit, or even stand. Some seats lining the section remained empty the entire match, and security guards and ushers would not allow them to be filled. The growing crowd continued to protest.

Security, not surprisingly, was having no part of it. They told us to leave the section, they told us to take it up with customer service, then they threatened to kick us out. By this time, the crowd behind the section had grown substantially - and so had their anger. Security called at least one sheriff's deputy to the scene. It was obvious they had oversold that section and the entire stadium. I wondered were the Fire Marshall was to enforce any fire code.

Finally, in the 70th minute, a sympathetic security guard intervened, and using verbal force, cleared some space and found us a few seats in the general admission section. Unfortunately, many who paid to get into the section were left standing, far removed from the action on the field and in the stands.

Trying to get in the stadium was one thing. Trying to get out was something completely different.

After the final whistle blew, an elderly man took a break from the massive herd trying to leave the section and sat down in an empty seat. A young female security guard promptly told him to stand up. People passing by spoke up in defense of the old man.

"I don't have to take any of your (expletive)," she shouted.

We finally made it outside and literally ran to our car to avoid the impending onslaught of traffic. I've been to packed Dodger playoff games, BCS bowl games, and sporting events in the Developing World, and nothing compared to the disorganization and blatant disrespect being forced upon paying customers Sunday in Carson.

My friend and I drove out of the stadium parking lot that night, vowing never to return.

It seems Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns and operates the stadium, as well as the Galaxy, keep finding ways to drive new fans like Morino away. Incidentally, a press box colleague (who arrived late to the game) had a very similar experience with the traffic control (or total lack thereof outside the stadium) calling it "complete chaos." And power hungry security at the stadium is another recurring theme, too. I'd be interested in hearing from other fans and AEG officials are welcome to respond as well in the comment section.

Sol (10-1-4) at Washington Freedom (4-4-4) live at 3 p.m. on Sox Soccer Channel.

Game preview.

Meanwhile, Daily Breeze reporter Gene Maddaus followed up on his report of the crackdown on bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors at Home Depot Center with this update today.

Carson code enforcement officer Glenn Miller confiscates the food - but not the cart - of a bacon-wrapped hot dog vendor outside last weekend's Chivas USA SuperLiga game. Authorities plan to crack down again tonight.

Daily Breeze photos by Sean Hiller

The tentacles of Los Angeles-based Anshutz Entertainment Group extend throughout not only Southern California pop culture and civic life, but around the globe to include such figures as dead pop icon Michael Jackson and nominal Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.

But AEG, always it seems unnecessarily heavy-handed given their increasingly powerful and visible corporate profile, are now going after bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors at tonight's Gold Cup doubleheader at Home Depot Center.

It's always more about money than astute public relations for AEG who should think about improving the quality of the food and service inside the stadium.

Even better: AEG should try legitimizing some of these carts by providing the required access to running water and restrooms and slapping on an extra 75 cent charge rather than give their (over) paying customers another reason to gripe about bad sports teams, price gouging and plastic public realms like L.A. Live.

Soccer fan Oscar Rodriguez is a bacon-wrapped hot dog devotee.

And so is former Daily Breeze food critic Chris Cognac:

CONCACAF announced today that it will use a record number of U.S. venues - 13 - for the Gold Cup set for July 3-26, including the opening doubleheader of the tournament July 3 in Carson at Home Depot Center.

What teams will play where will be announced at a later date.

"While 13 cities create logistical challenges, we think the benefits of reaching out to more venues are clearly worthwhile," CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. "The ability of so many people to see national teams play we feel is well worth the effort."

Allow me to translate: "Playing in 13 cities will allow us to extract even more money from a tournament that clogs up the soccer calender and is diminished even further in importance because it is not played every four years in the manner of such legitimate events such as the European Championship."

Meanwhile, the U.S. women are playing Norway as I write this in a meaningless Algarve Cup game (the U.S. is already in the final).

The U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team played to a scoreless draw with Honduras Sunday and now needs at least a tie with El Salvador Tuesday to advance to the next round of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

UCLA goalkeeper Brian Perk recorded the shutout, while Chivas USA's Jorge Flores did not get off the bench.

The Galaxy have named David Kammarman as the club's director of soccer operations with responsibilities that include player personnel, scouting, talent evaluation, MLS communication and collective bargaining agreement compliance.

He replaces Paul Bravo, who left for the Colorado Rapids.

Kammarman, 37, has worked with three other MLS clubs - the Chicago Fire, D.C. United, and the MetroStars - as well as with ESPN on their broadcasts of MLS and U.S. National Team games.

He's also the identical twin brother of U.S. Men's National Team Press officer Michael Kammarman.

The Galaxy today announced that single game tickets are on sale.

Given the economy the Galaxy has kept the price hikes down to a minimum. General admission and the seats at the extreme ends of the upper tier - the two cheapest categories of seats - remain $25 and $15 respectively.

Other categories have increased between $5 and $2, making the club's most expensive ticket for a game $85 (not including club or fieldside seats). Fieldside seats, BTW, cost $275.

Would you pay prices like that to see a team that has failed to make the playoffs in three years, especially if Beckham doesn't return? Thought not.

BTW, if you want to complain about (or praise) facilities at Home Depot Center direct your comments to new General Manager Katie Druetzler-Pandolfo, who joined the HDC two years ago as event manager. She replaces Rod O'Connor, who left to become chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Energy. A few more TV's for fans stuck in those way to long concession lines would be a good start.

In another Galaxy related item, the team's youth program, formerly known as the Galaxy Rios, will now simply be known as the L.A. Galaxy Youth Academy. The academy fields Under-16, U-18 and U-20 teams.

I almost talked to a pair of the greatest female players of all time on the same day (sadly Marta's conference call back to the U.S. was canceled).

Read today's column here.

Say what you will about AEG (and I often do), but the company has made the financial commitment to bring two of the best male (no, I did not mean they re-signed Steve Cronin) and female players in the world to play in Carson.

Carson's Home Depot Center will be at capacity Friday for two games featuring Mexico's biggest clubs, Chivas and Club America.

InterLiga officials announced this afternoon the games had sold out.

Tickets for Thursday's doubleheader - between Morelia and Pachuca and a nightcap that pits Mexican champion Toluca against Tecos - as well as Sunday's finals are also "going fast," officials said.

Capacity crowds have watched the finals for the last three years in succession.

Tickets are available by calling 877-CHIVAS-1.

Cal State Dominguez Hills junior defender Kevin Gallaugher was today named the Division II National Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

He led the Toro defense to 14 shutouts on the year, including three in five games in the NCAA postseason. The defense gave up just 19 goals on the season.

It's the first such honor for the program in eight years, when Juan Carlos "JC" Bolanos led CSUDH to its 2000 NCAA Title.

"Throughout the year in our 27 games, I don't think Kevin had one bad game," reflects head coach Joe Flanagan, who also coached Bolanos during the 2000 run. "This award shows how complete and prepared of a player he is in every game, and the level he played at. As a great defender, he truly deserves the opportunity to be player of the year."

In other news that filtered out over the holidays:
*Two Galaxy players - David Beckham and Landon Donovan - are in Dubai training with two different European teams.

*HDC press box colleague Luis Bueno brings us up to date on Chivas USA midfielder Panchito Mendoza, who played over the weekend in CD Guadalajara's 2-1 win over Necaxa. Bueno translates what Mendoza had to say about the Mexican league in comparison to MLS.

*The New York Times Goal blog follows the lead of England's FourFourTwo magazine and asks famous players to name their best all-time team. Chivas USA's Claudio Suarez names his here.

*The U.S. men's Under-18 National Team on Sunday began a week-long 72-player camp at Home Depot Center. Among the locals being evaluated by former Chivas USA assistant coach and newly-appointed U-18 Coach Mike Matkovich are: defender Jesus Gonzales (Chino Hills, Calif.; FC Barcelona); midfielders Eder Arreola (Chino Hills; UCLA), Antonio Benitez (Azusa; LAFC Chelsea), Miles Byass (San Bernardino; Arsenal FC), Alejandro Cobarubias (Cudahy; Galaxy), Pablo Cruz (Azusa; LAFC Chelsea), Chris Ortega (Chula Vista; Arsenal FC), Patrick Otte (Thousand Oaks; Middlesborough Academy); Giovanni Rollie (Los Angeles; LAFC Chelsea), Michael Roman (Oxnard; Real So Cal); forwards Orr Baroush (Reseda; Chivas USA Academy), Marquis Brooks (Chula Vista; Galaxy),

*Celebrities confirmed for the second annual Mia Hamm & Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge, a Jan. 17 charity soccer match benefiting Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation at Home Depot Center include: skateboarding pros Tony Hawk and Ryan Sheckler, U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh, former NFL running back Marcus Allen, Zachary Levi of Chuck, Jimmy Jean Louis of Heroes and Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. Tickets are $20 through the HDC box office or via TicketMaster.

Finally, a reminder that $50 gets you a tryout Jan. 17-18 with PDL team Ventura County Fusion. Details here.

Sporadic posting will continue through the new year. But check back tomorrow for my regular weekly column and a poll.

But I guess that's better than the 5 percent figure that was going to be on the March ballot.

Details here.

With a couple of exceptions - general admission prices rose all of $1 from $14 to $15 - Chivas USA has responded to the recession and its middling average crowd of about 15,000 last season - by reducing ticket prices for 2009.

End zone prices remain at $18, but side line tickets go from $32 to $26, midfield from $36 to $34 and preferred from $45 to $38.

The club has also introduced a new "family-oriented" corner section price of $22.

That's good because it appears the city of Carson early this morning instituted a Home Depot Center ticket tax of somewhere between 2 and 5 percent.

Meanwhile, Scots, Welsh, Dutch and, um, Lichtenstein fans can rejoice: GolTV will now carry those nations' World Cup qualifying games. The cable channel already shows games involving Italy, Germany and Spain.

A 10 percent ticket tax proposal didn't find enough support on the City Council a couple of weeks ago, but now a 2 percent tax is under consideration tonight.

U.S. Soccer announced today its customary new year friendly at Home Depot Center Jan. 24 following a week-long U.S. Men's National Team training camp.

The 5:30 p.m. game will air live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision.

The U.S. beat Sweden 2-0 last January in a game that saw the Galaxy's Landon Donovan set the all-time U.S. scoring record. The U.S. is making its sixth visit to Home Depot Center where it has a 4-0-1 record.

Next year is a big one for the U.S. with CONCACAF Final Round qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Tickets, priced between $18 and $60, go on sale Monday.

Not much of a surprise there.

BTW, Carson shelved the idea of a Home Depot Center ticket tax - for now.