MLS notes

MLS Cup returns to Pizza Hut Park in November.

FRISCO, Texas (Tuesday, January 31, 2006) -- MLS Cup 2006, Major League Soccer's 11th championship match, will be contested November 12 at the Pizza Hut Park, home of FC Dallas. The 3:30 p.m. (ET) will be broadcast on ABC.

MLS Cup returns to Pizza Hut Park for the second consecutive year. In 2005, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 before an overflow crowd of 21,193.

"The decision by MLS to bring the Cup back to Pizza Hut Park is a credit to the great soccer fans in North Texas," FC Dallas president and general manager Michael Hitchcock said

Pizza Hut Park opened August 6. The complex includes the 20,500-seat stadium, bordered by 17 fields to the north. The plan calls for the 145-acre venue to be used than 300 days a year, hosting MLS matches and a variety of other games, such as for the United States men's and women's, international teams and high schools. The venue will also be used for concerts

"Pizza Hut Park is clearly becoming a major destination for marquee soccer events in the United States, and we're pleased to host MLS Cup 2006 at one of America's great soccer facilities," MLS commissioner Don Garber. "The tremendous support by the entire soccer community in North Texas for MLS Cup 2005 makes Pizza Hut Park -- one of the premier soccer complexes in the world -- the perfect choice."

Already, Pizza Hut Park has hosted the annual InterLiga Mexican professional club tournament earlier this month. The U.S. men face Guatemala here February 19 with Mexico taking on Ghana March 1.

"Speaking for the Hunt Sports Group and FC Dallas, we are most appreciative that Major League Soccer has chosen Frisco and Pizza Hut Park as the location for the 11th MLS Cup," FC Dallas investor/operator Lamar Hunt said. "The 2005 event was an unqualified success with exceptional weather and a standing-room only crowd."

MLS Cup 2006 -- Pizza Hut Park (Frisco, Texas)
MLS Cup 2005 -- Pizza Hut Park
MLS Cup 2004 -- The Home Depot Center (Carson, Calif.)
MLS Cup 2003 -- The Home Depot Center
MLS Cup 2002 -- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
MLS Cup 2001 -- Columbus Crew Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
MLS Cup 2000 -- RFK Stadium (Washington, D.C.)
MLS Cup 1999 -- Foxboro Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
MLS Cup 1998 -- Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
MLS Cup 1997 -- RFK Stadium
MLS Cup 1996 -- Foxboro Stadium

SECAUCUS, N.J. - The MetroStars confirmed that they dealt Ante Razov to Chivas USA to create room under the salary cap.

"This move enabled us to free up cap room, acquire valuable allocation money and add an experienced and rugged forward to our roster," MetroStars president and general manager Alexi Lalas told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J.

Giving up Razov, 31, MLS's fourth all-time regular-season goal scorer with 84, the MetroStars received forward Thiago Martins, 29, a native of Sao Paolo, Brazil, who has three MLS goals, plus a partial player allocation.

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