FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has begun preparations for the 2013 season as the off-season gets underway following last Saturday’s MLS Cup 2012 in LA.
Following Friday’s announcement of the team’s initial roster decisions for 2013, the Revs hold the fourth selection in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Process, which will be conducted Friday, Dec. 7, via conference call. Stage 2 will be conducted on Friday, Dec. 14.
The Revolution also announced their 2013 training camp planstoday, with camp opening on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Gillette Stadium. The team’s five-and-a-half week camp will includes two extended trips to Arizona, and six games against MLS teams.
This week, the Revolution will also participate in two charitable events. On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Darrius Barnes and Clyde Simms are scheduled to participate in The Home for Little Wanderers’ celebrity gingerbread house contest. On Friday, Dec. 7, Lee Nguyen and front office staff will compete in the Midnight Riders’ FIFA13 tournament at The Greatest Bar (262 Friend St., Boston) to raise money for Think Taylor, the concussion-awareness charity founded by Revs legend Taylor Twellman.
Team’s Top Tweets
@RevsPrez: Nov. 26, 2:42 pm
(1/3) Tomorrow we are officially switching from using the #revs hashtag to #NERevs
@Krowe210: Nov 29, 8:45pm
Great shoot with Adidas today, I had so much fun! Can't wait to see the final product. #Adidas #predator
@jeff_lemieux: Nov 30, 2:16pm
Spoke w/ GM Michael Burns about reasoning behind specific decisions, including Feilhaber bit.ly/11rlxBk #NERevs
@Nsdowning: Nov. 30, 3:50pm
Great to work with @LeeNguyen24 today! He worked hard and had a quality start to the off-season. #welcomeback
@Krowe210: Dec 01, 2:09pm
Christmas tree shopping with the family, I think we picked a winner! pic.twitter.com/qvnVXETd
@D_Barnes25: Dec 01, 4:31pm
Now it's time to watch this MLS Cup!
TEAM NOTES
2013 Preseason plans announced
The New England Revolution will open its 2013 training camp on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Gillette Stadium. The team’s five-and-a-half week camp will includes two extended trips to Arizona, and six games against MLS teams … a complete schedule can be found HERE.
Desert Diamond Cup tickets on sale on Monday
Tickets for the 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup go on sale to the general public, today, at 2 p.m. ET … for the second year in a row, the Revs will participate in the February tournament to wrap up their preseason training … the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake – both teams competed in the 2012 tournament – and Seattle Sounders FC will also join the Revs in Tucson for the tournament … the round-robin group games will be played on Wednesday, Feb. 13, Saturday, Feb. 16 and Wednesday, Feb. 20, before the championship (which will be televised by NBC Sports Network) and consolation games are played on Saturday, Feb. 23 … tickets are available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Stage 1 of 2012 Re-Entry Process on Friday
Teams have the opportunity to add depth to their rosters in the next two weeks as the MLS Re-Entry Process begins Friday ... Stage 1 will occur on Friday, Dec. 7, while Stage 2 will take place on Friday, Dec. 14 … eligible players who are not made qualifying contract offers by their current clubs are able to enter the Re-Entry Process ... the Revs will have the fourth selection in each round of the Re-Entry Process.
Revs exercise 2013 contract options on 15 players
Ahead of the Dec. 1 roster guarantee date, the Revs exercised the 2013 contract options on 15 players from its 2012 roster … the Revolution picked up the contract options on: goalkeepers Matt Reis and Bobby Shuttleworth; defenders Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Stephen McCarthy, A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney; midfielders Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen, Sainey Nyassi, Clyde Simms and Juan Toja; and forwards Diego Fagundez, Dimitry Imbongo and Saer Sene … a look at which players are currently under contract is availableHERE.
Revs decline 2013 options on four
While the options of 15 players were picked up on Friday, the club simultaneously declined the 2013 contract options on four players from the 2012 roster: midfielders Fernando Cardenas, Benny Feilhaber and Blair Gavin; and goalkeeper Tim Murray … Gavin and Murray are now eligible to enter the MLS Re-Entry Process, which begins Friday … more information can be found HERE,with additional insight and quotes from Revolution General Manager Michael Burns available HERE.
Barnes, Simms team up at celebrity gingerbread house contest
Darrius Barnes and Clyde Simms are scheduled to volunteer their creative efforts as celebrity builders at The Home for Little Wanderers’ gingerbread house event on Tuesday, Dec. 5 … the contest – which features more than 20 Boston-area celebrities and influencers – will take place at the Home for Little Wanderers Toy Room at Legacy Place in Dedham (480 Legacy Place, Dedham) from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Midnight Riders host FIFA tournament for charity on Friday
The Midnight Riders, one of the team’s supporters groups, will host a FIFA13 tournament on Friday, Dec. 7, at The Greatest Bar (262 Friend St., Boston) … the 18+ event will run from 7 to 10 p.m. … all proceeds will benefit Think Taylor, a concussion-awareness charity founded by Revs legend Taylor Twellman … Lee Nguyen and front office staff, as well as Riders and members of The Rebellion – another supporters group – will participate in the sold-out event … fans can get more information about attending the event, or donating to the cause, HERE.
Holiday Packs make great gifts
The Revolution’s popular Holiday Packs are now on sale to the public … fans have the choice of four- or six-game packages and both plans include the choice of one of four special-edition gifts … four-game packages start at $88 for lower-bowl seating, while six-game packages start at $108 … six-game package purchasers pay for only for five tickets and receive the sixth game free … more information can be found HERE.
2013 Season Tickets now on sale
2013 season tickets are now on sale … a special video including a list of pricing, all the benefits of becoming a season-ticket holder, and more, can be found HERE … the Revs finished the 2012 home schedule on a five-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3) and averaged 24,949 fans in its last home two games of the season.
ON THE RADAR
Re-Entry Process, Stage 2
Friday, Dec. 14 (via conference call)
The second stage of the Re-Entry Process will be held next Friday, Dec. 14 … players who went undrafted in Stage 1 will available to teams through the same draft order as Stage 1 … in the week between Stage 1 and Stage 2, undrafted players are able to re-negotiate their salaries with MLS and are then available to teams at the new salary rates … like Stage 1, the Revs will have the fourth selection in each round of Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft.
2013 MLS SuperDraft
Thursday, Jan. 17 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
The Revolution currently hold four selections in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, including the fourth overall choice in the first round … the Revs also hold three second-round picks: their own, one from D.C. United (from a Feb. 18, 2011 trade for the rights to Fred) and one from Chivas USA (from an Aug. 1 trade for Shalrie Joseph) … MLS will release the final draft order before the draft.
2013 Preseason Opens
Thursday, Jan. 17 (Gillette Stadium)
The Revs will open preseason camp with entrance physicals and testing at Gillette Stadium.
YOUTH UPDATE
Development Academy Winter Showcase continues
The Revolution’s Under-18 and Under-16 teams are currently in Sarasota, Fla., competing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase.
Under-18s Showcase Results
The U18s wrapped up their three-game schedule with an unblemished 3-0-0 record … they earned a pair of 2-1 victories against the Columbus Crew (Nov. 30) and Chivas USA (Dec. 1), before earning a 1-0 win against PA Classics (Dec. 3) in their final match.
Under-16s Showcase Results/Schedule
The U16s enter tomorrow’s final match with a 1-1-0 record … they suffered a 1-0 loss to Columbus (Dec. 1), before defeating Chivas USA, 4-2 (Dec. 2) … the U16s will face PA Classics tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 4.
U14s’ match postponed
The Revolution’s Under-14 team was scheduled to face FC Westchester in Purchase, N.Y, on Saturday, Dec. 1, but the game was postponed until spring because of the weather … now on winter hiatus, the U14s’ spring schedule begins on Saturday, March 16, against South Central Premier.
Season to-date records
With one game remaining before their winter hiatus, the Under-18s are 8-2-0 (24 pts.), while the Under-16s are 3-2-4 (13 pts.) … the Under-14s enter the break at 4-2-0 (12 pts.) … all three teams rank in the top third of their respective divisional standings based on points per game.
