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Chivas are focused on being L.A.'s team
USA - 09 March, 2007
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Major League Soccer club Chivas USA is trying to gain local support in answer to the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy's purchase of David Beckham, a former England captain. Beckham's inherent abilities will help the Galaxy gain global recognition.
"We're really focused on being L.A.'s team," said Javier Leon, Chivas USA's chief executive.
Chivas USA recently held free player trials in Bell Gardens and attracted more than 2,000 hopefuls, the vast majority of them local Latinos, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Chivas USA officials feel that the L.A. Galaxy has neglected Southern California's Latino fans.
Former footballers Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Eduardo Hurtado, Carlos Hermosillo and Carlos Ruiz played for the L.A. Galaxy, but the club no longer has a single recognized Latino player on its squad.
Demographically, Chivas USA is far more reflective of Los Angeles with its current roster listing players from American, Mexican, Honduran, Colombian, English, Puerto Rican and Salvadoran origin.
Chivas USA's core values include putting a competitive club on the field, having a strong presence in the community, creating passion in the stadium, making available opportunities for those in and around the club, and honoring the century-long history of Chivas de Guadalajara.
"I wouldn't say Galaxy are losing Los Angeles because of Beckham," Chivas president and owner Antonio Cue said.
"I think Beckham is a great asset. I think they're losing Los Angeles because Chivas came here in 2005 and is doing what people wanted done. Now there's another team providing the passion that the fans like."
The L.A. Galaxy, in its 11th season, averaged 20,814 a game in 2006, when it failed to reach the play-offs. Chivas USA reached the play-offs in its second season and averaged 19,840 in attendance, but the atmosphere at Chivas USA's games was more vibrant.
"We'll continue to be the immigrant team of this nation," Cue said.
He also said that Chivas USA's vertical red and white stripes are a sign of permanence, but the L.A. Galaxy will change its logo and club colours in time for Beckham's arrival. It will be the fourth such change in a dozen years.
"Our strategy goes back 100 years," Cue said. "It's about tradition. The uniform doesn't change. The colours are there forever. We won't mess with the uniform. There's not a player in the world who would change our uniform," Cue said.
"Galaxy raised ticket prices in the wake of Beckham's signing, but Chivas USA kept its prices the same and Chivas ticket prices are roughly half those of the Galaxy. I think it would have been not the right thing to our fan base to say, based on someone else doing something, we're going to be increasing our prices," said Leon.
"We're really focused on being L.A.'s team," said Javier Leon, Chivas USA's chief executive.
Chivas USA recently held free player trials in Bell Gardens and attracted more than 2,000 hopefuls, the vast majority of them local Latinos, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Chivas USA officials feel that the L.A. Galaxy has neglected Southern California's Latino fans.
Former footballers Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Eduardo Hurtado, Carlos Hermosillo and Carlos Ruiz played for the L.A. Galaxy, but the club no longer has a single recognized Latino player on its squad.
Demographically, Chivas USA is far more reflective of Los Angeles with its current roster listing players from American, Mexican, Honduran, Colombian, English, Puerto Rican and Salvadoran origin.
Chivas USA's core values include putting a competitive club on the field, having a strong presence in the community, creating passion in the stadium, making available opportunities for those in and around the club, and honoring the century-long history of Chivas de Guadalajara.
"I wouldn't say Galaxy are losing Los Angeles because of Beckham," Chivas president and owner Antonio Cue said.
"I think Beckham is a great asset. I think they're losing Los Angeles because Chivas came here in 2005 and is doing what people wanted done. Now there's another team providing the passion that the fans like."
The L.A. Galaxy, in its 11th season, averaged 20,814 a game in 2006, when it failed to reach the play-offs. Chivas USA reached the play-offs in its second season and averaged 19,840 in attendance, but the atmosphere at Chivas USA's games was more vibrant.
"We'll continue to be the immigrant team of this nation," Cue said.
He also said that Chivas USA's vertical red and white stripes are a sign of permanence, but the L.A. Galaxy will change its logo and club colours in time for Beckham's arrival. It will be the fourth such change in a dozen years.
"Our strategy goes back 100 years," Cue said. "It's about tradition. The uniform doesn't change. The colours are there forever. We won't mess with the uniform. There's not a player in the world who would change our uniform," Cue said.
"Galaxy raised ticket prices in the wake of Beckham's signing, but Chivas USA kept its prices the same and Chivas ticket prices are roughly half those of the Galaxy. I think it would have been not the right thing to our fan base to say, based on someone else doing something, we're going to be increasing our prices," said Leon.
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