Join Pima County and FC Tucson on Thursday, April 25, to celebrate the start of construction of the North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex.

The North Stadium, which is expected to be completed in October 2013, will include a grandstand that will seat 1,600-1,800, additional bleachers for up to 400, a new scoreboard, and restroom and concession facilities. It is part of the County’s $2.8 million investment in improvements at Kino Sports Complex, which will also include adding a sixth soccer field and a new main entrance to the soccer fields.

Pima County Supervisors Chairman Ramón Valadez, District 2, and Supervisor Richard Elías, District 5, will join the owners of FC Tucson for a news conference at 4:45 p.m. followed by a groundbreaking ceremony.

Members of the public are invited to have their photographs taken with a ceremonial hard hat and shovel.

Tickets for FC Tucson’s 2013 season will be for sale. The first home match is May 18 against the Southern California Seahorses at the North Grandstand field. Season tickets for seven Premier Development League and three non-PDL matches are $100 for adults and $80 for youth ages 3-12 (not including a $10 surcharge/ticket and tax).

The first 1,600 fans to purchase 2013 season tickets will reserve a chance to order 2014 season tickets at the new stadium.

FC Tucson, established in 2010, owns FC Tucson Soccer, Tucson’s top-level soccer team, and the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. In 2012, FC Tucson was named the PDL Rookie Franchise of the Year. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.fctucson.com.

Kino Sports Complex is the largest sports and entertainment venue in Pima County. The home of the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, a 1,000-seat North Grandstand soccer field and a 2,000-seat North Stadium under construction. Along with seven more baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, and four more soccer fields, it is a great fit for youth, amateur and professional sports, concerts, and community events. Visit www.kinosportscomplex.com or call (520) 546-5466.

The Tucson Padres have scheduled a salute to Southern Arizona law enforcement and fire personnel on Friday, April 19, at the Padres game against the Salt Lake Bees at Kino Stadium. The game begins at 7:05 p.m.

Any Southern Arizona law enforcement or fire personnel will get two free box seat tickets ($20 value) by showing their law enforcement or fire ID at the box office at 2500 E. Ajo Way between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

“We want to thank the fine men and women that serve our community,” said Mike Feder, vice president and general manager of the Tucson Padres. “I’m a proud member of the Tucson Police Foundation and continually support the efforts of the firefighters. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continually works with our team to provide quality off-duty security at all of our games.

“We will be glad to provide a concourse table to any police- and fire-related organizations to spread the word about their great activities or public safety issues.”

For more information or to purchase other tickets to Tucson Padres games, visit www.tucsonpadres.com, stop by the Kino Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays or call 520-434-1367.

Kino Sports Complex is the largest sports and entertainment venue in Pima County. The home of the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, a 2,000-seat North Grandstand soccer field and a 2,000-seat North Stadium under construction. Along with seven more baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, and four more soccer fields, it is a great fit for youth, amateur and professional sports, concerts, and community events. Visit www.kinosportscomplex.com or call (520) 546-5466.

The Tucson Padres return to Kino Stadium April 12-19 for their first homestand of the season against Fresno and Salt Lake City. Fireworks follow the Saturday, April 13, game.

Games start at 7:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m. on Sunday). For tickets, visit www.tucsonpadres.com, stop by the Kino Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays or call 520-434-1367.

You can listen to the Padres’ opening game on Thursday, April 4, at Salt Lake City at 5:25 p.m. on 1290 AM The Source.

Also coming up in April at Kino Sports Complex:

• The 15^th Annual Southern Arizona Procurement Fair is Friday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. People who make purchasing decisions, are seeking local suppliers, or want to do business with Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, City of Tucson Housing and Community Development and Pima County Procurement Department, as well as federal agencies, can network, exchange information and attend workshops at Kino Stadium. For more information, please visit http://www.pima.gov/procure/index.asp.
• The Lazydays RV Show, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 5 and 6, will offer special pricing on a huge selection of towables, five wheels, and motorized coaches. Over 60 units will be on display for viewing in the Kino Stadium main parking lot. If you love RVing you don’t want to miss this show with free admission and free parking. The dealership is located a short distance from Kino at 3200 E. Irvington or visit www.lazydays.com to see the wide selection of vehicles for sale.
• The 2013 NAMIWalk Southern Arizona on Saturday, April 6, is a fundraiser as well as an awareness raiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southern Arizona. The walk check-in begins at 7 a.m. at Kino Stadium, and 5K or 3K walks begin at 9 a.m. Food and entertainment will be provided. Participation is free but donations are appreciated. Proceeds are used to provide essential and free education, advocacy and support group programs for people living with mental illness and their loved ones; and to encourage mental illness research. More than 4,000 people participated last year. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.namisa.org/.

KFMA Day 2013, Southern Arizona’s largest outdoor concert festival, is Saturday, May 4, at Kino Stadium. The all-ages show starts at 1 p.m.; doors open at noon. Tickets are on sale now at all Domino’s Pizza locations or at www.kfma.com.

Avoid traffic congestion and find free parking at Kino Sports Complex when the Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Diego Padres on Sunday, March 17, and the Chicago Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, March 21.

Come early. The games start at 1:05 p.m. Gates will open at 11 a.m. The Will Call ticket window opens at 10 a.m.

Motorists need to know that they can access stadium parking from Country Club Road via Milber Street as well as from Ajo Way via Forgeus Avenue.

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies (and message boards on March 21) on main roadways and parking lot attendants will be directing motorists. Be alert. Pay attention.

Motorists headed to the University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus should stay in the left lane on Ajo Way.

From northwest of Kino Sports Complex on Interstate 10, eastbound vehicles are encouraged to take:

• exit 262 onto Benson Highway and then left onto East Ajo Way.
• exit 264B onto South Palo Verde Road, then left onto Irvington Road and then right onto Country Club Road.

From southeast of Kino Sports Complex on I-10, westbound vehicles are encouraged to take:

• exit 264, turn left onto Irvington Road, then right onto northbound Palo Verde or Country Club.

From north or south of the complex, Park Avenue, Country Club and Palo Verde all connect to Ajo Way.

Consider carpooling or taking a bus to the game. Kino Sports Complex is on Sun Tran Route 11, which travels every 30 minutes weekdays on Ajo Way between South Sixth Avenue and Palo Verde Boulevard (visit www.suntran.com).

To purchase tickets, visit the Kino Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, call (520) 434-1367 or visit www.tucsonpadres.com.

For more information about Kino Sports Complex, please visit www.kinosportscomplex.com.

Share your eco-friendly message for Earth Day at the  Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade in combination with the Water Festival on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Reid Park, off Country Club Road, north of 22nd Street. The Parade starts at 10 a.m. The registration deadline for exhibitors and parade entries is March 29, 2013.

In its 19th year, the Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade with the theme Green Planet, Green Future is partnering with the 4th Annual Water Festival, presented by Tucson Arts Brigade.

Who’s invited? Non-profit organizations, private businesses, government agencies, clubs, families, artists, schools, youth groups and community groups who have an eco-friendly message to share.

Sponsors have the opportunity to receive advertising benefits and recognition for their stewardship at each or both festivals. Businesses are encouraged to apply early to maximize their advertising benefits.
Exhibits should provide information on environmental products or issues such as water conservation, water quality, air quality, household hazardous waste, habitat conservation, sustainability or other “eco” topics. Exhibitors should provide engaging, hands-on activities with take-away information about how to preserve earth’s resources for our children of the future. In addition, the Earth Day Festival features a Farmer’s Market and The Water Festival features water-inspired entertainment and workshops.

Parade entrants should share eco-friendly messages and can reflect the parade theme “Green Planet, Green Future.” Environmentally themed floats must be human-powered or use alternate fuel.

Alternate-Fuel Vehicle Exhibitors featured at the Earth Day Festival can show how their auto, bike or motorcycle runs on clean fuels such as biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electricity, ethanol, propane and even waste vegetable oil.

The Model Solar Race Car/Solar House Competition is open to middle school students who will show off their design and construction skills. Kits for this competition are available from the Society of Women Engineers at www.swetucson.org/solar.

Art Show, “The Vibe” Live Art Happenings, and the Design for Water Solutions Contest, featured at The Water Festival, invites artists to display or activate their water-inspired visual, performing and literary arts, plus compete for a winning creative proposal for a water solution, voted on by a panel of judges and festival attendees.

The 3-mile Walk for Water, also featured at The Water Festival and presented by Aveda Institute, invites people to walk to raise funds for water in impoverished nations, where three miles is the distance that women need to walk to provide water for their families.

For more info and registration for The Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade, go to www.tucsonearthday.org, call (520) 206-8814 or e-mail tucsonearthday@yahoo.com. Find the festival on Facebook at Tucson Earth Day Festival.

To register at The Water Festival, go to www.WaterFestivalTucson.org, call (520) 623-2119 or e-mail info@WaterFestivalTucson.org. Find the festival on Facebook at The Water Project.

A one-day discount ticket sale starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, for the May 4 KFMA Day show at Kino Stadium.

KFMA DAY 2013 will feature The Killers, Cake, Bad Religion, Middle Class Rut, Black Veil Brides, Minus the Bear and Dead Sara.

Tickets will sell for $25 plus a $2 service fee at all Tucson-area Domino’s Pizza locations on Saturday. After that, tickets go to $39 plus a service fee at all Domino’s Pizza locations or on the KFMA website, www.kfma.com.

This is the 14^th annual KFMA Day, Southern Arizona’s largest outdoor concert festival. There will be a wide variety of food and drinks, plus multiple interactive booths and vendors.

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), 2500 E. Ajo Way, is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium (lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.

After a fun and snowy evening on the third night of the Desert Diamond Cup, the end of FC Tucson SoccerFest is just around the corner and FC Tucson wants all of Tucson to send the month-long soccer extravaganza off in style.

Saturday’s FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup final between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network in front of a national television audience in prime time. Not only will the 6 p.m. match be the final one held in Tucson but it’ll act as the bookend of MLS’s preseason and the final push toward the start of the 2013 season.

NBC Sports Network reaches nearly 80 million homes and all those eyes will be on the Old Pueblo to catch the first national glimpse of MLS soccer in 2013. For those who live in Tucson, it’s the best chance to show America why Tucson is such a soccer-mad city.

Not only will fans have the chance to be a part of nationally televised sporting event, they’ll also experience some other great perks by attending the final:

•  A Champion Will be Crowned: Who doesn’t love watching a team lift a trophy

following a game? Last season the LA Galaxy won the 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup after an exciting series of penalty kicks and then went on to win MLS Cup 2012. WillRealSaltLakeorSeattlemake this a trend? You can watch for yourself!

•  One Ticket, Two Matches: The final isn’t the only great part about Saturday.

Fans purchasing a ticket for Saturday also get to watch the third-place match at 3:40 p.m. between the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution.

•  Look to the Sky: Red Bull will be delivering the match ball for the final from the sky! That’s not a typo. The Red Bull Air Force will drop a man from a plane to deliver the match ball.

• Get $5 off Your Ticket: Fans can use the promo code “Soccerfest” to get $5 off

any seat in the stadium. The code is only good until midnight Friday, so order your tickets online at https://fctucson.ticketsocket.com/ now!

•  Get Your 2013 FC Tucson Tickets: Want to buy your 2013 FCTucson

season tickets? You can! Head over to the FC Tucson/Kino Sports Complex information table on the concourse to get the 2013 FC Tucson schedule and see the renderings of FC Tucson’s new stadium for 2014. Buy 2013 season tickets now and you automatically get in line for 2014 season tickets!

•  The VIP Experience: Want to get closer to the MLS action than anyone

else? Then buy some VIP seats for the final. Not only will you be sitting closer to the field than anyone but you’ll also have access to unlimited world-class catering and a free drink ticket. Plus there is an on-site bar in case your one free drink ticket isn’t enough.

•  Can’t Beat the Weather: Wednesday’s snowpacolypse was fun for those

who attended. But if good weather is your thing, then it won’t get much

better than Saturday. The expected forecast is 65 degrees and clear skies.

•  Start Your Engines: Audi ofTucson will be displaying their finest

vehicles in the parking lot during tailgating hours and on the field in the VIP section. If you like cars and soccer, then Saturday will be a great night for you.

•  Safety First:TucsonMedicalCenter will be handing out complimentary

youth bike helmets to all the young fans in the crowd in an effort to promote health and safety in the community.

•  Grab Your Gear: The Shop Tucson will be selling plenty of team gear

in the concourse during the event. Whether you’re looking for MLS gear, Desert Diamond Cup event shirts or FC Tucson jerseys (you can even get the Audi of Tucson logo on them in time for the 2013 season) you can get it all in the concourse.

•  Become a Cactus Prick: Nothing makes soccer more fun than the

supporters’ culture and no supporters group is more fun than the Cactus Pricks, the supporters group for FC Tucson. If you love singing, dancing and showing your soccer passion for an entire match, then sit with the best supporters group in the Premier Development League.

There are plenty of reasons to come out to Saturday’s Desert Diamond Cup finals. But simply put: this will be a soccer party. So FC Tucson invites the community to come out and have fun on a Saturday night. It’ll be a night to remember.

About FC Tucson

FC Tucson, established in 2010, is committed to bringing the highest caliber of competitive soccer to Tucsonand establishing a successful and long-lasting source of pride for city, county, state and country. FC Tucson owns FC Tucson Soccer, Tucson’s top-level soccer team and the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup, a Major League Soccer pre-season tournament. Our owners, coaches, players and staff will play to win in sport, business and community connection. We recognize that our quality, commitment and passion for the game will guide our success and establish deep bonds with our stakeholders as we strive to be recognized and respected locally, nationally and internationally. In 2012, FC Tucson was named the PDL Rookie Franchise of the Year. To stay up to date on what is going on with the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup, check out the team’s website at www.fctucson.com. You can also visit the team’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FCTUCSON and follow all of the news related to FC Tucson on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FC_Tucson .

About Kino Sports Complex

Kino Sports Complex is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind inPimaCounty. It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium(lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.

FC Tucson, in partnership with Pima County, the Seattle Sounders and Desert Diamond Cup sponsors, announces free admission to the Seattle-Veracruz match at Kino North Field 5, Friday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m.

Come and fill the 1,200 capacity stadium to cheer for professional soccer teams from the U.S. and Mexico.

“FC Tucson SoccerFest has enjoyed tremendous support from the community,” said FC Tucson Managing Member Greg Foster. “Offering free tickets to this international match is a way for us to say ‘thank you’ to the region’s soccer fans.”

Seattle Head Coach Sigi Schmid added, “We have enjoyed our time here at the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. Tucson has been very supportive of what we have done here, so it’s a great way to give back to the fans for their support.”

Tickets are available through FC Tucson’s radio broadcast partners, ESPN Deportes (990 AM) and sister station La Caliente (102.1 FM), and at the FC Tucson box office at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily starting Tuesday, Feb. 19, while supplies last.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Veracruz will kick off at 7 p.m. and be held at Kino North Field 5, the home of FC Tucson.

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), 2500 E. Ajo Way, is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium (lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.

FC Tucson, established in 2010, owns FC Tucson Soccer, Tucson’s top-level soccer team, and the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. In 2012, FC Tucson was named the PDL Rookie Franchise of the Year.

Como parte de un amistoso de preparación FC Tucson anuncia el partido entre el Seattle Sounders FC contra el Veracruz de México a efectuarse el viernes 22 de febrero en el Kino Sports Complex.

La patada inicial es a las 7 p.m. en el Campo 5 del complejo deportivo. Los boletos están a la venta ahora en www.fctucson.ticketsocket.com y tienen un costo de $15.

“Estamos emocionados por esta primera incursión del fútbol profesional mexicano en la región. Entendemos que la pasión por el fútbol mexicano en el Sur de Arizona es muy grande y esto es importante para nosotros” dijo Greg Foster, uno de los propietarios del FC Tucson.

El Club Deportivo Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz ocupa el segundo lugar en la tabla de posiciones de la Liga de Ascenso de la segunda división del fútbol mexicano. Los Tiburones Rojos han Ganado tres títulos de liga y un título de Copa Mexicana.

El amistoso se llevará a cabo un día antes de las finales del Desert Diamond Cup en el Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Los horarios de los partidos son los siguientes:

Miércoles, Feb. 13              5 p.m.             New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders

7 p.m.             New York Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake

Sábado, Feb. 16                  4 p.m.             Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake

6 p.m.             New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution

Miércoles, Feb. 20              5 p.m.             Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution

7 p.m.             Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls

Sábado, Feb. 23                  4 p.m.             MLS 3 ^er Lugar vs. MLS 4^to Lugar

6 p.m.             MLS 1^er Lugar vs. MLS 2^do Lugar

Para más información o para comprar boletos visite www.FCTucson.com.

Fundado en 2010 FC Tucson es propietario del equipo local de mayor nivel, FC Tucson Soccer y de la FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. En 2012, FC Tucson fue nombrada Franquicia Entrante del Año de la PDL.

El Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), ubicado en el 2500 E. Ajo Way, es la casa de los Tucson Padres de la liga Triple-A de béisbol y del club de soccer FC Tucson. Es el complejo deportivo profesional y de entretenimiento en su tipo en el Condado Pima. El complejo incluye el Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium con 11 mil asientos, siete campos de béisbol (cuatro iluminados), campos de softball iluminados, un estadio de fútbol profesional y cuatro campos adicionales para hockey de campo, rugby y lacrosse. Además es un lugar acondicionado para deporte infantil, preparatoriano, colegial y profesional además de prestarse para eventos sociales, conciertos y eventos comunitarios.

FC Tucson has announced that the Seattle Sounders FC will play Mexico’s Veracruz in a preseason friendly on Friday, Feb. 22, at Kino Sports Complex.

The match will kick off at 7 p.m. at Kino North Field 5.

Tickets are on sale now at www.fctucson.ticketsocket.com and will be $15.

“We’re excited about our first foray into Mexican professional soccer because we understand the passion for Mexican futbol in Southern Arizona is massive and this is very important to us,” said FC Tucson co-managing member Greg Foster.

Club Deportivo Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, also known as Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, is a Mexican professional soccer club that is in second place in Ascenso MX, Mexico’s second division. The club’s nickname in English is “Red Sharks” and the club has won a total of three league titles and one Mexican Cup title.

The friendly comes the day before the final matches in the Desert Diamond Cup in Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Desert Diamond Cup starts this week.

Wednesday, Feb. 13          5 p.m.             New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders

7 p.m.             New York Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake

Saturday, Feb. 16               4 p.m.             Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake

6 p.m.             New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution

Wednesday, Feb. 20          5 p.m.             Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution

7 p.m.             Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls

Saturday, Feb. 23               4 p.m.             MLS 3^rd Place vs. MLS 4^th Place

6 p.m.             MLS 1^st Place vs. MLS 2^nd Place

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.FCTucson.com.

FC Tucson, established in 2010, owns FC Tucson Soccer, Tucson’s top-level soccer team, and the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. In 2012, FC Tucson was named the PDL Rookie Franchise of the Year.

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), 2500 E. Ajo Way, is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium (lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.