TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LYNX EIGHTH SEASON: 2004 SCHEDULE!
January 8, 2004 (TORONTO, ON) – The Toronto Lynx announced their 2004 schedule today ( 14 home and 14 away games) which will make this their eighth season of showcasing and developing pro soccer in Canada’s largest city! With a new two conference format in 2004, there will be more extended road trips for most clubs in the A-League and the Lynx are no exception. Each A-League team must play 4 back-to-back games in the interest of fair competition and to make travel cost effective. The Lynx schedule in 2004 also has many more weekday games than in recent years that will accommodate fans who have busy weekends.
Due to our Canadian weather, the Lynx will once again have to start their season on the road with 4 games before the home opener. The first road game will take place against the expansion Puerto Rico Islanders in their inaugural A-League match on Saturday, April 17th. This match will be followed closely with a match versus the Rochester Raging Rhinos in their home opener on Saturday, May 1st when Lynx “superfans” through the newly formed Toronto Lynx Supporters club are sure to make the trip to take in the action perhaps through the new ferry service that is in the works between the two cities.
Toronto Lynx fans will have to wait until Sunday May 16th to see their home team in action which is the official home opener kicking off at 4:00 against the Rochester Raging Rhinos at Centennial Park Stadium. The schedule also includes a home-and-home series against Canadian rival and 2003 Northeast Division champion, the Montreal Impact, on Friday, May 28th @ Montreal and Saturday, May 29th in Toronto at 6:00pm.
The Puerto Rico Islanders will be in town on Sunday June 6th for the Lynx annual Fiesta Latina Night which is certain to thrill the growing Latino-Canadian fan base and again on Wednesday June 9th for their sold out annual School Day. This year the Lynx have partnered with OFSAA for a double header. The A-League match will kick off at 11:00 followed by the OFSAA Girls AAA/AAAA Soccer Championship which kicks off at 1:30.
The Lynx will once again go out west this season to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday June 25th and will face the Whitecaps in Toronto on Saturday August 7th for the Lynx annual East Meets West Night to honour the Asian Communities in the GTA. A second western fling to take on the Calgary A-League team and the Canadian expansion team, the Edmonton Aviators will take place on Sunday July 25th and Monday July 26th respectively.
Calgary will make their trip to Toronto on Sunday July 18th for the Union and Employee Night while Toronto fans will have to wait to catch a glimpse of the Edmonton Aviators on the last home regular season match on Thursday August 26th when the Lynx host their 2004 Toronto Lynx Player Awards Celebrations and Fan Appreciation Night. Playoffs are set to start on September 3 and 5th for the conference semifinals; September 10 and 12th for the conference finals and A-League finals on September 18th which will be televised on Fox Sports World and Fox Sports World Canada.
The defending 2003 A-League Champions, the Charleston Battery will be coming into town for their only trip in 2004 to our city, on Thursday July 8th when the Lynx will celebrate the 2004 Olympics by hosting various sports organizations and athletes. Youth organizations catering to youth during the summer months such as Community Centres, Soccer and Sports Academies and Camps, Community Schools and Private Schools running summer programs will be pleased to know that the Lynx will once again host a Youth Day on Wednesday July 14th when they take on the Richmond Kickers with a 12:00 kick off.
The last regular season games will take place on the road on Saturday August 28th in Atlanta and Sunday August 29th in Charleston. With a new head coach and increased excitement surrounding the Lynx after a positive end to the 2003 season, which saw them win their final two regular season games, hopes are high that the Lynx will reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
The club has kept ticket prices unchanged @ $15/adult and $7.50/youth and seniors. With the early season promo ending December 31st, the marketing department will be announcing a new season ticket package soon. To accommodate the many fans that play the game and have busy schedules, the Lynx will be providing two flexpaks this season which is certain to be popular. Group outings are still the primary source of ticket revenue for the Lynx through the growing community partnerships. The club has made it easier for group members and organizations to place their orders through an on-line system that will eliminate the need for a group leader to oversee and collect orders. For more information on these and other Lynx programs call 416-251-4625 ext. 31 or e-mail: lynx@lynxsoccer.com. See website for regular updates: www.lynxsoccer.com.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT -- MEDIA RELATIONS, TORONTO LYNX
416-251-4625, extension 30
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