Attention, all connoisseurs of eye candy: David Beckham is coming to town.
OK, probably. But with the Colorado Rapids being awarded the Major League Soccer All-Star Game on July 19, just 18 days after Beckham is out of contract with Spain’s Real Madrid, his lofty presence is all but guaranteed in the Mile High City as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The snow can’t melt fast enough for the Rapids, who confirmed and alluded to a series of announcements Thursday in regards to a season that begins April 7 in their new 18,000-seat Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The MLS all-stars will face Scottish icon Celtic FC in a weekend of festivities that aspire to produce a competitive match and show off the Rapids’ newest digs.
“It’s a very exciting time for soccer in the country, particularly in Denver,” said MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis, who stressed that the 40-time Scottish league champions will present a stern test to the MLS side.
Governor Bill Ritter and Rapids managing director Jeff Plush applauded the announcement at The Pinnacle Club, as did Paul Andrews, executive vice president of Rapids’ owner Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
“We can say without reservation that the honor of hosting the MLS All-Star Game is second to none,” Andrews said.
Change appears to be the operative concept for the Rapids, who have been defeated in the past two Western Conference finals.
Plush confirmed the imminent signing of 29-year-old Panamanian striker Roberto Brown, and said the Rapids’ aggressive pursuit of a marquee name to fill its new “designated player” roster spot recently fell short.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said that player was Mexican icon Jared Borgetti, who left Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad last month to sign with Cruz Azul. Clavijo said the organization was in constant negotiations with Borgetti’s agent and made a substantial offer, only to be outbid by Cruz Azul.
Plush said another big-name signing was not imminent, nor was the club ready to trade its designated player allocation money to another MLS club.
In the world of Mexican soccer, the Rapids announced Dick’s Sporting Goods Park would host a SuperLiga tournament match between Chivas Guadalajara and Pachuca on July 31. The eight-team SuperLiga summer tournament is in its first year, has a $1 million purse and will determine a North American soccer champion.
The Rapids also appear to be getting a wardrobe makeover and possibly a new name for the upcoming season. The team likely will go with a claret-and-blue scheme that has been teased on their website recently and was part of the unveiled all-star game logo.
Plush just smiled when asked if the club was rebranding and said an announcement planned for Feb. 1 would answer that question.
