Ryan ChartrandCal Poly will play host to three Major League Soccer teams in February, school officials announced Thursday.
The San Jose Earthquakes will take the field in exhibition play at Alex G. Spanos Stadium against the Columbus Crew on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., and also against D.C. United on Feb. 24 at 1 p.m.
Both the Earthquakes and United will train in San Luis Obispo during the week leading up to the exhibitions.
“We’re incredibly excited for everybody in the community that professional sports are coming to campus,” said Paul Holocher, head coach of the Cal Poly men’s soccer team. He orchestrated the event with his former teammate John Doyle, the Earthquakes’ general manager.
Columbus, Holocher said, will train at the Home Depot Center in Carson during the week leading up to the showcase, while D.C. will train in San Luis Obispo for five days prior to the event.
“These will be world-class athletes coming here,” Holocher said. “It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you haven’t been a soccer fan yet, this is a great day to start.”
San Jose has returned to MLS play after a two-year hiatus. Key to the Earthquakes’ attempt at a resurgence will be Joe Cannon, a two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
“We’re a brand new team, just getting familiar with each other, trying to play as many competitive games as possible,” said San Jose head coach Frank Yallop. “These should be really competitive games we’re looking forward to – we’re trying to build momentum for the season.”
D.C., a charter member of MLS, won league championships in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004. The franchise garnered international attention Tuesday upon signing Argentina midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, a former World Cup starter who played in France a season ago.
Gallardo, who played for Argentina in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, is D.C.’s first high-profile player signed beyond MLS salary limits – allowed through the same exception that permitted English star midfielder David Beckham to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.
United also features Jaime Moreno of Bolivia, MLS’ all-time leading scorer who also has two World Cup tours on his résumé, and Brazilian Luciano Emilio, the 2007 MLS Golden Boot winner.
The event will also feature intra-squad scrimmages by the Cal Poly men’s soccer team two hours before both matches.
Spanos Stadium emerged as an increasingly attractive venue on Nov. 17, 2007, when Cal Poly edged defending national champion UC Santa Barbara 2-1 before 7,143 fans, an audience that shattered the school’s 11-year-old attendance record of 2,694.
Tickets become available for purchase Friday. Single-game tickets range from $6 for youth and Cal Poly students to $18 for reserved chair-back seats, while weekend packages range from $10 for youth and Cal Poly students to $30 for the reserved chair-back seats. All tickets can be bought at the Cal Poly ticket office by the Rec Center or via phone at 756-5806.