Pontiac, MI (December 11, 2008) – In preparation for their December 17 soccer match against the 2008 Olympic gold medal champion United States, the Chinese Women’s National Team will hold a training session on Monday, December 15 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. The session, which will begin at 10:30 AM is FREE and open to the public. The match, set for a 7:30 PM kickoff  Wednesday night at Ford Field in downtown Detroit, is the first U.S. Soccer event to be held in the metro area since the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the first women’s match in 15 years.

While both teams will train at Ford Field on Tuesday, the Chinese team arrives in Detroit on Sunday night in preparation for the international friendly.  Michigan Bucks Chairman and CEO Dan Duggan was contacted by U.S. Soccer in search of some assistance in promoting the game in the metropolitan area. 

"We are always happy to help out the Federation in supporting the highest level of soccer in Michigan.  It is not very often that we have the honor of our National team in the area, so we have offered to help in any way.  As a result, the Bucks will be providing many of the necessary volunteers to make this a highly successful event."

This will be the first of many high level soccer teams to play at Ultimate Soccer within the next twelve months.  Duggan has plans to bring Major League Soccer teams, USL First Division teams and a handful of the top college teams in the US to play on the Bucks field at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in the next several months.

According to George Derderian, managing partner of Ultimate Soccer Arenas, the facility is in top shape and ready to welcome the Chinese with open arms.

"We are honored to have the Chinese National team visit us and use our facility for training next Monday.  We are sure that they will not only be impressed with the field conditions, but with the entire facility as well.  I suspect they will tell us they have never encountered a soccer facility like this anywhere in the world." 

Monday’s training is scheduled to last about 90 minutes.

Tickets for the USA-China match are $18, $28, $40 and $55 and can be purchased through Ticket Master or at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. The Bucks still have the best seats available in each of the four seating categories at USA.  Tickets at Ultimate Soccer can be purchased with personal check (made out to US Soccer) or with their credit card.  For further information, please call the Bucks office at (248) 334-7460 or visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.