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Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Sean Mill scored us a pair of VIP tickets at yesterday’s Chivas USA soccer match against the Dallas team. So we drove up the 405 Freeway and arrived early at the Home Depot Center in Carson to take it all in.

The Home Depot Center is something else. The parking is shared with Cal State Dominguez Hills. There is plenty of parking and security. The lot was quite clean and everyone was well behaved and having a good time.

You might recall that the NIMBY Usual Suspects here in Santa Ana are screaming about trash and diapers, with respect to the prospect that the Chivas USA might move here to Santa Ana. But Mill and I didn’t see ANY trash, or diapers. What we saw was a lot of families having an awesome time.

There were a lot of Latino families at the game but we also saw a lot of Caucasians too. That made sense as the Chivas USA squad is majority non-Latino and the Chivas Girls are pretty diverse too.

There was a Chivas themed family area that was really busy with vendors including State Farm Insurance, Sprint, Juanitas and other big companies. They were giving away all sorts of stuff including hats, t-shirts, water bottles, etc. There was also a number of stages with live music and dancing.

The Chivas Girls signed free posters and the Chivas mascot ran around taking pictures with the kids and their parents. The whole event was one big community celebration.

The VIP section we sat in featured hosts and servers that brought food right to you. We also won two seats each for a future game, from State Farm Insurance.

The Chivas USA team also celebrated AIDS Awareness Day, as you can see in the picture above. They are also hosting a Diversity Day at an upcoming game – they appear to be huge supporters of the gay and lesbian community. Again, the Usual Suspects haven’t even noticed that.

As you will see in the picture slideshow embedded above, the Chivas USA games are fun for all and there are no security issues whatsoever. The NIMBY Usual Suspects are wrong again, as usual.

The fact however is that the Chivas USA may never come to Santa Ana. They play in a beautiful facility in Carson. The only reason I could see them leaving was if we could guarantee to sell out the games. I think we could do better than Carson, where the Chivas USA play second fiddle to the Galaxy, but it is still a long shot. That has not of course stopped the Usual Suspects from their usual screaming and racist attacks. Par for the course…

The Chivas will be at the Santa Ana Fiesta Marketplace Promenade from 4-7 pm all week selling “two for $8 tickets” for this Saturday’s “SuperClasico” Chivas vs. Galaxy game at the Home Depot Center. This is a $40 value!

Or buy one adult ticket for $8 and get two kids’ tickets for free! This is an $80 value!

The biggest match of the year is almost here. Chivas USA hosts the LA Galaxy in a challenge for Los Angeles bragging rights on Saturday, May 21st at 7 p.m. here at The Home Depot Center! Reserve your seats today and be here live and in person for Major League Soccer’s biggest rivalry match! Catch world class Chivas USA soccer as they host Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel and the LA Galaxy in a match representing “Real Passion” and “Real Action”. Be here as a real life David vs. Goliath storyline unfurls itself when the underdog Goats face the glitz and glamour of the LA Galaxy.

Galaxy face a confident Chivas USA

Chivas USA brimming with confidence ahead of SuperClasico

CARSON, Calif. – As far as bitter rivalries go, the SuperClasico between the Galaxy and Chivas USA lately has left something to be desired.

The Galaxy leads the all-time series 12-3-5, including 5-0-3 in the last eight matches, and haven’t lost to their co-tenants since a 3-0 loss on Sept. 13, 2007. The Galaxy have had a decided edge almost from the moment the series began in 2005.

But that may be about to change Saturday at The Home Depot Center (7 p.m., ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes) in this season’s first leg of the series. Chivas, under first-year coach Robin Fraser, has a 3-3-3 record that includes a stunning 3-2 victory over the Red Bulls last weekend in New York.

“They’re probably full of confidence,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall said. “We see them every day and speak to a couple of their players, and from what (Chivas defender Ante) Jazic said to me is they’re feeling more of a team every weekend.

“That’s good. We want to play any team when they’re at their best. At the moment Chivas is playing really well and it should be a great game and hopefully a lot of fans will turn out.”

The Galaxy’s Todd Dunivant, who counts Chivas’ Simon Elliott – “He’s a Stanford guy,” Dunivant joked – and Heath Pearce among his closest friends, said the proximity with their Chivas rivals makes it difficult for him and his Galaxy teammates not to keep track of them during the season.

“We talk to each other every day, we park next to them in the parking lot … it’s a unique situation in this league, probably any league,” Dunivant said. “They have a lot of confidence right now, they have a new direction and they’re buying into it.

“That makes for a dangerous team.”

This weekend’s game marks a reunion of sorts for Fraser and Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. Arena coached Fraser from 1999-2001 with the U.S. National Team and always was impressed with Fraser’s approach to the game.
If there was someone who had coaching potential, Arena said, it was Fraser.

“What always impressed me about Robin was the kind of character he had,” Arena said. “He wasn’t one of those players where you had to measure every word when you spoke to him. He wasn’t a guy with a major ego or attitude about him.
“I think because the way he always conducted himself you would expect that he could become a good coach. The biggest mistake people make is saying a former player could be a good coach. Most people don’t realize they’re players, not coaches, and to be a coach is a whole different mindset.

“I think he was one of the few that you would say if he wanted to be a coach that he would do a good job.”

The Galaxy’s Mike Magee said Fraser and Chivas certainly have the Galaxy’s attention with their progress to date.
“They’re definitely good. Even when they weren’t getting results, they were playing really well,” Magee said. “Things just weren’t going their way, but they’re one of the hottest teams in the west.

“It’s a tough time to be playing them right now.”

The Galaxy face Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2/Deportes. Fans that can’t make it to the match can join other supporters at Galaxy viewing parties at ESPN Zone at LA Live or Bier Academy in Santa Clarita. MORE INFO