Los Angeles, CA–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–January 6, 2005–The teams and the playing field are set in what will be five days of intense and grueling soccer matches as eight teams fight for the $25,000 purse and a spot on the national soccer stage. Copa Lowe’s Nacional, scheduled to kick off Jan. 19 at East Los Angeles College, will see regional champions from San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York face two of Mexico’s most storied franchises: Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club America of Mexico City. The Copa Lowe’s Nacional is the conclusion of La Alianza de Fútbol Hispano’s highly successful 2004 schedule.
“From nearly 200 teams that competed in our regional tournaments nationwide, we are down to the final six,” said Bill Stroube, La Alianza de Fútbol Hispano. “Now we are giving these regional champions the opportunity to play against some of Mexico’s most competitive and accomplished players. With the addition of the Mexican professional clubs, Copa Lowe’s will truly be the most competitive world class national championship ever held for Hispanics in the USA. This is going to be a fantastic tournament.”
La Alianza de Fútbol Hispano for the first time ever brought together Latino soccer leagues in the U.S. under one national umbrella, giving the hundreds of thousands of Latinos playing on amateur, but highly-competitive, local soccer leagues across the country the opportunity to showcase their talent through sponsored tournaments.
The teams scheduled to compete are: Sub -21 of Chivas of Club Deportivo Guadalajara; Sub-21 of Aguilas of Club America (Mexico City); El Farolito (San Francisco), Copa Ford “Built Tough” Champions; Horizon (Houston), Copa Valvoline MaxLife Champions; Irving Mustangs (Dallas), Copa Lowe’s Dallas Champions; Bassett (La Puente), Copa Lowe’s Los Angeles Champions; Orion Costa Rica (New York), Copa Lowe’s New York Champions; La Piedad (Chicago), Copa Lowe’s Chicago Champions.
“We are very excited and proud to be part of these five days of soccer and are able to present this level of soccer to fans,” said Bob Gfeller, Lowe’s senior vice president. “Over the last several months our commitment to community soccer has supported thousands of players across the country. Now we bring the best of the best to compete against two very popular teams from Mexico. This is going to be an event the entire family will enjoy.”
In addition to electrifying soccer matches, fans will be treated to a special performance by Fonovisa recording artist Ana Bárbara on Sunday, Jan.23. This beautiful singer-songwriter from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, known as the “queen of grupero music” is an artist that can deliver a song in a sassy, smooth or gritty style, but with a sensuous touch, that’s her inherent charm. On her latest CD “Loca de Amar”, which she produced with long time friend producer Carlos Cabral, features 10 incredible tracks offering a variety of rhythms such as ballads, cumbia, bachata and ranchera without straying away from her signature sound of grupero music.
East Los Angeles College is located at 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Ticket prices start at $5 for individual tickets (Group Play and Semi-final games), $12.50 for individual tickets (Finals and Special Performance by Ana Bárbara), $20 for Alianza Package (Tickets for all games and Special performance by Ana Bárbara). More information at: http://www.alianzadefutbol.com or 1-877-247-6223.
Copa Lowe’s Nacional is supported by Lowe’s, Toyota, Cadbury Schweppes, Southwest, Chivas USA and Mundofut.
About La Alianza de Fútbol Hispano
Founded in 2004, La Alianza de Fútbol Hispano is an organization seeking to unite Latino soccer leagues throughout the U.S. and provide unique and high-quality competition to all players and fans. For more information, visit http://www.alianzadefutbol.com
About Lowe’s
With fiscal year 2003 sales of $30.8 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 10 million customers a week at more than 1,050 home improvement stores in 46 states. In 2004, FORTUNE named Lowe’s America’s Most Admired Specialty Retailer for a second consecutive year. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit http://www.Lowes.com.
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