U.S. national goalkeeper Tim Howard and his Everton teammates head to the Rockies to play the MLS’s Colorado Rapids in a pre-season game on August 3rd. In addition to Tim Howard Everton is lead by midfielders Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill. Up front Yakubu Ayegbeni had a great season last year with 21 goals and Yakubu should have a new strike partner by the time Everton touches down in the U.S.
Everton, who will be making their fourth preseason appearance in five years in the United States, finished the 2007-08 season in fifth place in the Premiership and made a return to the UEFA Cup.
The Colorado Rapids were one of the ten founding clubs of Major League Soccer. The Rapids at 6-8-2 have had a mixed first half of the season in MLS this year and are led by midfielder Terry Cooke who is looking forward to the match up.
“We like to play at a quick tempo at home, we try to get the ball down and play a bit, but we’re quite direct as well.
“We’re going to be halfway through our season too so we’ll obviously be fitter. And Everton will find it very hard coming here because of the altitude and the heat. It does take some getting used to.
“I think all the lads will be up for the game and will be aiming to give a good account of themselves.”
Colorado Rapids owner Stan Kroenke is a part-owner of Arsenal and the two clubs have entered into a partnership with the intention of “building the Arsenal brand in the US; helping to improve the quality of football at MLS team Colorado Rapids and supporting grassroots football in the US”.
Stadium Information
Colorado plays at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, a soccer-specific stadium which is located nine miles northeast of downtown Denver in Commerce City, Colorado. The complex is just north of the Northfield Stapleton development, and is conveniently located between downtown Denver and DIA airport. It is a little more than a mile north of the intersection of I-70 and Quebec Street.
The stadium complex site is less than two miles north of Interstate 70 in northeast Denver. It is also close to I-225 and 270. It is near RTD’s Stapleton Transit Station and Commerce City Park & Ride stop.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park has nearly 5,000 parking spaces located on the grounds of the complex. There is no additional charge to park at the stadium, as parking fees are already built into the price of event tickets.
