Grande Sports Academy players will have company at Grande Sports World as several MLS and NASL teams prepare for their upcoming seasons. Visiting teams include: Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, New England Revolution, Vancouver Whitecaps, FC Edmonton, and NSC Minnesota.
The New England Revolution will begin their preseason on the 21st at Grande Sports World. New Head Coach Jay Heaps will use the team’s time in Casa Grande to get to know about his players.
“It’s really about getting a feel for each other,” Heaps told MLSSoccer.com. “As much as I know these guys and as well as I know these guys, there’s still a feeling out process. They have to feel me out and I have to feel them out.”
The Seattle Sounders will train from January 30th to February 7th. Highlights from the Sounder’s visit last year can be seen here:
http://www.soundersfc.com/media-library/Videos/Features/2011/01-January/110130-Welcome-to-Casa.aspx
The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin a 10-day camp at Grande Sports World on January 31st. This marks the third consecutive preseason the White Caps will have used the 40-acre soccer facility.
Real Salt Lake, Minnesota Stars FC, and FC Edmonton will also be making a trip Casa Grande to prepare for their upcoming seasons.
Grande Sports Academy player Etiandro Tavares looks forward to the professional teams visiting. “You feel honored training alongside such a high caliber players. It’s really cool. Not everyone gets a chance to play alongside professional players,” Tavares said. “When are practice gets out early, we get a chance to watch and talk to players.”
Schedule for visiting MLS and NASL teams at Grande Sports World:
New England Revolution January 21- January 31
Seattle Sounders January 30-February 7
Vancouver Whitecaps January 31-February 11
Real Salt Lake February 9-February 14
Minnesota Stars FC March 2-March 4
FC Edmonton March 4-March 18