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.

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.

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.

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.

Pima County

“We’re creating an asset not just for people to watch professional soccer but to play amateur soccer, for our children to play,” said Ramón Valadez, chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors and supervisor for District 2, where Kino Sports Complex is located.

Supervisor Richard Elías, District 5, said the County’s improvements to Kino Sports Complex show “government moving quickly when a great opportunity knocks on the door.”

“By improving these facilities at such a rapid pace, I think we’ve shown our great commitment to our children and our youth and to professional sports,” he said.

The County’s $2.8 million in improvements at Kino Sports Complex will include a grandstand that will seat 1,600-1,800 with an overhang and with additional bleachers for up to 400, a new scoreboard, and restroom and concession facilities at North Field #1. North Fields #2 and #3 will be converted to three fields, and a new main entrance to the soccer fields will be built.

The work is expected to be completed in October 2013.

Greg Foster, a co-managing partner of FC Tucson, praised the County’s efforts to grow soccer here.

“In 18 months, as a result of the County’s investment in this facility, we’ve been able to attract Major League Soccer preseason; our community has been designated a Western hub of Major League Soccer preseason; we are going to be showcased on national TV, on NBC Sports for the final of the Desert Diamond Cup; we will have 10 Major League Soccer teams training in Tucson; we will have the first international friendly ever to be played in Tucson,” Foster said. “We’ve also attracted youth sports,” including the Arizona Youth Soccer Association state league games, the state cup and the Fort Lowell Shootout.

“The County’s commitment to soccer and the pace at which they’ve developed these facilities have made this all possible.”

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The Denmark-Canada friendly match at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Kino Stadium launches 10 days of Major League Soccer friendlies at North Field #5 followed by the Desert Diamond Cup on Feb. 13, 16, 20 and 23 at Kino Stadium.

Home matches during FC Tucson’s 2013 Premier Development League schedule, which begins May 11, will be played at North Field #5.

2013 season tickets went on sale today. Season ticket packages are $100 ($10/game) and will include seven PDL dates plus three additional matches to be determined. The first 1,600 fans to purchase 2013 season tickets will be guaranteed 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. Follow FC Tucson at www.fctucson.com.

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com) 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.

The Danish ambassador to the United States will watch a friendly soccer match between Denmark and Canada at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. The Danish National Performance Team, Denmark’s most talented gymnasts, will perform at half time.

Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías is the official host to Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen during his three-day visit.

The ambassador will speak at two events and attend a reception on Friday, Jan. 25. The National Danish Performance Team will perform and conduct exercise workshops on Wednesday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 27. For more information, please visit http://www.danesinthedesert.com.

The Denmark-Canada friendly soccer match on Saturday, Jan. 26, launches 10 days of Major League Soccer friendlies at Kino Sports Complex. The matches will be on Kino’s North Field #5.  The local exhibition soccer season culminates with the Desert Diamond Cup Tournament, on Feb. 13, 16, 20 and 23 at Kino Stadium.

The Denmark-Canada friendly match will be broadcast live in Denmark, Canada and across Europe. The final match of the Desert Diamond Cup will be broadcast live in prime time by NBC Sports, bringing Tucson into millions of homes.

“Pima County’s investment in soccer fields at Kino Sports Complex and FC Tucson’s outreach are responsible for a month of international and Major League Soccer in our own backyard,” Supervisor Elías said. “That public-private partnership has put Tucson on the world soccer map and will continue to bring economic and recreational benefits to our community.”

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

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com) 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.