View from the Blues, Volume Three: The Schedule and The Combine

2011 Schedule Unveiled

Charlie Naimo's Los Angeles Blues unveiled their 2011 schedule on Monday.

Seven of the club's home games will take place at Titan Stadium on the campus of California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, California.

Four other home ties will be played at Centennial High School in Corona, CA, with the 12th to be played at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA. Another game at Canyons as part of a doubleheader with sister club/W-League powerhouse Pali Blues is in the works.

As a part of USL PRO's International Division, they will play Antigua Barracuda FC, Sevilla FC, Puerto Rico United and River Plate Puerto Rico four times and will also take on the Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Harrisburg City Islanders and Richmond Kickers.

April 2011
Fri           Apr 15                 TBD                        Los Angeles        at            Sevilla                   Sevilla FC Stadium            
Sun        Apr 17                  4:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            Antigua                Sticky Wicket Stadium    
Wed      Apr 20                   4:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            PR United            Aguada Stadium              
Sat          Apr 23                 5:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            River Plate           River Plate Stadium


May 2011
Sun        May 1               5:00 PM                Antigua              at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton        
Thu        May 12             7:30 PM                Charlotte             at            Los Angeles        Centennial HS, Corona  
Sat          May 14           7:30 PM                Charlotte             at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton          
Fri           May 20           4:30 PM                Los Angeles        at            Dayton                 Miami Valley South Stadium      
Sun        May 22            2:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            Pittsburgh           Chartiers Valley HS
Fri           May 27           5:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            PR United            Aguada Stadium              
Sun        May 29            4:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            Antigua                Sticky Wicket Stadium    


June 2011
Wed      Jun 1                 5:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            River Plate          River Plate Stadium
Fri           Jun 3               TBD                      Los Angeles        at            Sevilla                   Sevilla FC Stadium            
Fri           Jun 24             7:30 PM                Harrisburg           at            Los Angeles        Centennial HS, Corona  
Sun        Jun 26              5:00 PM                Harrisburg           at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton          


July 2011
Sat          Jul 2               7:30 PM                Antigua           at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton          
Fri           Jul 15              7:30 PM                River Plate          at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton          
Sun        Jul 17               5:00 PM                River Plate          at            Los Angeles        College of Canyons, Santa Clarita              
Fri           Jul 22              4:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            Richmond            City Stadium      
Sat          Jul 23              4:00 PM                Los Angeles        at            Harrisburg           Skyline Sports Complex                
Fri           Jul 29               7:30 PM                PR United            at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton          
Sun        Jul 31               5:00 PM                PR United            at            Los Angeles        Centennial HS, Corona  


August 2011
Wed      Aug 10                 7:30 PM                Sevilla                   at            Los Angeles        Centennial HS, Corona  
Fri           Aug 12               7:30 PM                Sevilla                   at            Los Angeles        Cal State Fullerton

*All Times ET

“Our two Caribbean road trips are going to be very important for us this season,” said Vice President Charlie Naimo. “One third of our games will be during two stretches on the road in April and late May so those will be huge tests for us. We will be ready come April 15.

“We are glad to have the opportunity to play in Corona and Santa Clarita along with our primary home venue at Titan Stadium. It will allow us to expand our fan base over the course of the season."


Auditions on the Pitch

This Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 22-23, the Blues will hold a player combine as an opportunity for local players to showcase their talent to the team's coaching staff.

Combine times are Saturday from 9:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. The combine will be held at Riverside Community College, Norco Campus, 2001 Third Street, Norco, CA 92860.


New additions to the lineup

On Wednesday, the Blues announced four new signings: midfielder Dane Saintus, defender Cameron Dunn, forward Seyed Hosseini and scoring catalyst Jaime Chavez.

Saintus was selected 54th in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas and will provide speed to the Blues attack. Dunn was drafted 46th overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA after an impressive college career at UC-Irvine, and also played for the Portland Timbers from 2008-09.

Hosseini is a five-year veteran of the Iran Pro League (IPL), where he played for Saba Battery, the 2007 league champions. Chavez was the leading scorer for Hollywood United last year in USL’s Premier Development League and also played for the Chivas USA Under-17 squad.

“I’m really happy with how this team is shaping up,” MNaimo said on the additions. “We’ve added a group of attacking players to the central core that we put together in December. I expect each of these players to have a key role when the season kicks off in April.”


Your official hotel of the Blues...the Fullerton Marriott

Last Wednesday, Jan. 12, the Blues announced that the Fullerton Marriot, located near cal State Fullerton, would be the Official Hotel of the LA Blues Soccer Club.

“We are very excited about this partnership,” said Blues Soccer Club Vice President Charlie Naimo. “We are committed to providing only the finest in quality and service for the visiting teams and fans when they are here in the Los Angeles area for a game.”

"We are thrilled to be the official hotel of the L.A. Blues and look forward to a long and successful partnership with the club, " said Maria Elena Martinez, senior sales manager for the Fullerton Marriott.

The Fullerton Marriott features deluxe in-room accommodations, in-house fitness center and sauna open 24-hours a day, outdoor pool and hot tub and other top line amenities. The hotel also features the Ha’ Penny Pub and Restaurant, serving American cuisine with an Irish flair.