COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Tuesday, January 14, 2014) –The Colorado Rapids travel to Houston, Las Vegas and Tucson during the upcoming preseason, with the MLS regular season kicking off for Colorado on March 15 at the New York Red Bulls. During preseason, the Rapids will face MLS competition in all three sites, including the second straight Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge against Chivas USA at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 16.
“Our preseason schedule will have us face several MLS clubs, which will prepare us well to get going on March 15 in New York,” said Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo. “Facing high-level competition while we’re on the road is great for our group, and we’re especially excited to return to Las Vegas and Tucson for the second straight year for well-organized events in both places.”
Rapids players will first report to Colorado on January 24, with fitness testing and training to start out the preseason, before traveling to Houston on January 31 for a week-long training stint in Texas. The first taste of MLS action in 2014 will be a scrimmage against the Dynamo on Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. CT at Houston Sports Park. The Rapids will return home on Feb. 7, staying in Denver until Feb. 11.
The Rapids will then travel to Las Vegas on Feb. 12, and will participate in the second Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge, taking place on Sunday, Feb. 16 against Chivas USA at Sam Boyd Stadium at UNLV at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are currently available for purchase by visiting www.prosoccerchallenge.com. While in Las Vegas, the Rapids will also scrimmage against local NCAA team UNLV on Friday, Feb. 14, and will also hold events with the team’s alliance club, the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club.
The final trip of Colorado’s preseason will be to Tucson, Ariz. for the Desert Diamond Cup, a preseason tournament that also involves MLS teams Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake, as well as host FC Tucson. The tournament will consist of four days of tripleheaders with a final day culminating in the championship, third-place, and fifth-place games. The first three match days will be played at the brand new North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex. The finals, on March 1, will take place at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at https://fctucson.ticketsocket.com
COLORADO RAPIDS – PRESEASON MATCHES 2014
Sun, Feb 2: Houston Dynamo (Houston, TX) - 11:00 a.m. CT
Fri, Feb 14: UNLV (Las Vegas, NV) - TBD
Sun, Feb 16: Chivas USA (Las Vegas, NV)^ - 7:30 p.m. PT
Wed, Feb 19: Chicago Fire (Tucson, AZ)# - 3:30 p.m. MT
Sat, Feb 22: Real Salt Lake (Tucson, AZ)# - 3:30 p.m. MT
Wed, Feb 26: Chivas USA (Tucson, AZ)# - 1:00 p.m. MT
Sat, Mar 1: TBD (Tucson, AZ)# - TBD
^Las Vegas ProSoccerChallenge #Desert Diamond Cup presented by FC Tucson
The Rapids season starts on March 15 at New York Red Bulls, with the Home Opener at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park against the Portland Timbers on March 22. For more information on the club, or to purchase season tickets, visit www.ColoradoRapids.com or call 303-825-GOAL.
