Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
LAREDO, Texas -- In an early season surprise for its fans, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the FMF’s (Federacion Mexicana de Futbol) Monterrey Rayados U-20 squad on Thursday, May 19 at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex. Kickoff for the exhibition match is sscheduled for 8 p.m.
Ticket pricing for this match will not change from the Heat’s regular season and will continue at $5 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under for general admission seating.
“We have had a healthy working and professional relationship with the Rayados organization for several years now and a few weeks ago we started discussing the possibility of hosting their Under-20 squad here in Laredo," Heat General Manager J.J. Vela said. "Due to their regular season schedule, it was difficult to set a date; however, last week, with their season coming to an end and their players still under contract through the end of next week, the possibility of the team coming to play in Laredo became a reality.
“On Tuesday of this past week, I got final confirmation from Monterrey; however, since they are a foreign team coming to play in the United States, U.S. Soccer must first grant the hosting club permission for the match and that process takes a couple of days to complete. Once we got the go ahead from U.S. Soccer late on Friday afternoon, we began preparing for the game and everything involved in hosting this match-up.
“We are excited to bring these types of matches to Laredo for both soccer and sports fans to enjoy as one never really knows what future star is being developed and we get to see them in that process. Just a few years ago, we hosted the Chivas de Guadalajara “Reserva Especial” and a little known 17-year-old called Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who is now a star for Manchester United, played in Laredo.”