The Eastern Conference-leading Crew plays host to the Western Conference-leading LA Galaxy in a marquee matchup this Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. With all reserved seating having already sold out for the annual Blackout the Galaxy festivities, any remaining obstructed-view and standing-room-only tickets are now on sale.
The match will be televised live regionally on ONN (joined in progress, if necessary, upon completion of Post-Game Live programming), with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. Fans in central Ohio can catch the broadcast in its entirety over the air on WBNS-DT 10.2. It will also be shown in its entirety in high definition exclusively to Time Warner Cable Mid-Ohio customers in Columbus on Ch. 1311. The game can be heard in English on GenX Radio 106.7 FM (please note change), with Neil Sika and John Bluem behind the microphone, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
As in years past, fans attending Saturday’s game are encouraged to show their support for the Black & Gold by wearing black attire. The Blackout serves as a rallying point for Crew fans in attendance, while also enhancing the electric atmosphere of an important match between the conference leaders. While Crew fans are encouraged to don any piece of black attire, limited edition Blackout the Galaxy T-shirts will also be available for purchase in the Crew Gear merchandise store, while supplies last.
Adding to the festivities, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman will be on hand to perform the official coin toss, in conjunction with the Game On Columbus initiative.
The Crew and Galaxy meet for the second and final time in the regular season, and for the only time at Crew Stadium. The last time the two teams met, on July 20, the Galaxy claimed a 1-0 victory at the Home Depot Center on the strength of a Sean Franklin goal. The Black & Gold leads the all-time series against Los Angeles with a record of 15-12-8 and 8-3-4 when playing at home.
LA’s roster features such stars as David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, as well as longtime Crew captain Frankie Hejduk. Donovan is tied for the league lead in goals, with 12, and Beckham leads the league in assists, with 14. The Crew’s leading scorer, Andres Mendoza, is just one goal behind Donovan (and Thierry Henry of N.Y.).
The Galaxy comes to Columbus on the heels of a Wednesday CONCACAF Champions League match at LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica. In its most recent league match, last Saturday (Sept. 17), Los Angeles defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0. The Crew is looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss incurred at Philadelphia last Saturday (Sept. 17).
Columbus will only have a four-day turnaround before traveling to Kansas City for the all-important first-place showdown with Eastern Conference foe Sporting KC at LIVESTRONG Park on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The Black & Gold will return home for the final regular season match on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m., when it hosts D.C. United at Crew Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
Saturday, Sept. 21 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) – Crew Stadium
Regional Television: ONN, WBNS-DT 10.2 (in HD on TWC Ch. 1311)
Crew Radio: GenX 106.7 FM (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR SATURDAY SEPT. 24
With Saturday’s match vs. LA selling out, combined with an Ohio State Buckeyes home football game kicking off at 3:30 p.m., traffic at the Ohio Expo Center and Crew Stadium will be at a very high volume. Fans attending the Crew match are encouraged to plan for 30 to 60 minutes of extra travel time to Crew Stadium. Fans with pre-paid parking passes should use the Hudson St. exit (exit 112) off I-71, and general parking should use the 17th Avenue exit (exit 111).
CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION SOCCER AID SILENT AUCTION & RAFFLE TO BENEFIT JDRF THIS SATURDAY
The Crew Soccer Foundation’s Soccer Aid Auction & Raffle will feature more than 80 signed items from sports stars around the world. The event will take place this Saturday, Sept. 24, on the Crew Stadium Plaza before, during and after the Crew’s “Blackout the Galaxy” game vs. Los Angeles. A portion of the proceeds will support the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s type 1 diabetes research and education programs. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research and advocacy programs. During the past eight years, the Crew Soccer Foundation has donated nearly $40,000 to support JDRF initiatives through auctions.
CREW JAM 2011 IS OCT. 12 AT THE SOCIAL ROOM, FEATURING PERFORMANCE BY TOMMY HEINEMANN
The Crew Soccer Foundation will hold a very special event on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at The Social Room (527 Park Street). Crew Jam 2011 will feature unique silent auction packages, hors d’oeuvres, wine and dessert tastings, and a special live performance by singer-songwriter – and Crew forward – Tommy Heinemann. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.thecrew.com/form/crew-jam <http://www.thecrew.com/form/crew-jam> .
CREW DEFENDER SHAUN FRANCIS ON CREWXTRA THIS WEDNESDAY
CrewXtra, the weekly show on ONN Wednesdays at 8, 8:30, 11 and 11:30 p.m., this week will feature Crew defender Shaun Francis, alongside the “Voice” of the Crew, Dwight Burgess, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss Francis’ return from injury and the upcoming game against Los Angeles.
