Baltimore MD - Crystal Palace USA, Baltimore’s Professional Soccer Team, held a press conference at the University of Maryland Baltimore County today to announce their full 2008 season schedule, as well as the news that home matches will be played at UMBC Stadium this season.
UMBC President, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith opened the press conference, welcoming Crystal Palace USA to Baltimore County and to UMBC. Both emphasised the excitement that professional soccer will bring to the County, and looked forward to a long and productive partnership with the club. County Executive Smith stressed the importance of the club's involvement in the community, citing Palace's outreach program that provides free soccer clinics to Rec Councils and Youth Soccer Associations in the Baltimore area - over seven thousand children have attended nearly forty clinics to date.
Pete Medd and Jim Cherneski, Crystal Palace USA's Co-managers, closed out the event. "This is a great soccer town, with a ton of tradition and history" Medd reminded the audience. "We're thrilled to be bringing professional, outdoor soccer back to Baltimore after a 10 year absence. He too voiced his enthusiasm for the partnership between UMBC and the club: "Playing at UMBC will allow us to achieve our goal of providing world-class, family entertainment. We couldn't be more excited."
Crystal Palace USA's 2008 season opener will take place at UMBC on Friday, April 25th 2008 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, with the match kicking off at 7:30pm. The final regular season home fixture is set for Sunday, August 3rd against the Bermuda Hogges at 5:30pm, while the final regular season match is away at the Richmond Kickers on Saturday August 9th at 7:00pm. Click on the Schedule/Results button on the left side of the page to see the full 2008 schedule.
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