Source: Union to spend part of preseason in Greece
After taking its preseason camp to warmer weather this year with a trip to Orlando, the Union will travel to Greece, the Daily News has learned.
After taking its preseason camp to warmer weather this year with a trip to Orlando, the Union will travel to Greece, the Daily News has learned.
A source close to the team said that following a weeklong session at youth affiliate YSC Sports in Wayne, beginning Monday, the Union will head to Orlando on Jan. 31, where it will stay until Feb. 20, followed by a 2-week stint in Greece.
Exact venues for the Greek session are unknown.
The Orlando trip is scheduled to include a friendly against Orlando City, of the USL's Professional League. The match will be played on Feb. 19, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Ticket prices range from $10 to $15 and are available via TicketMaster.
Orlando will be the planned destination of the team's U.S. training sessions through 2014, thanks to its recent partnership with baking giant Bimbo.
It will be a drastic change from the team's inaugural training-camp schedule. Last year, the Union opened in the midst of a nor'easter in Greensboro, N.C., then spent 2 weeks in Mexico before ending preseason with a 2-week stay in Tampa, Fla.
In December, Union manager Peter Nowak revealed his intent to take his players "away from their comfort zone" and "out of their element" this season in hopes of improving a dismal 2010 road record.
Next week's sessions at YSC are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will run until 1 p.m. All are free and open to the public.
U.S. season opens
The men's national team opens its 2011 schedule with a game against Chile tonight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.