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NEWS RELEASE
DENVER (August 27, 1996) -- Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids continue the race to the playoffs with just four games left in the inaugural season -- Thursday marks the next hurdle as they host the Washington D.C. United at Mile High Stadium at 6:30 p.m. MDT.
Among Thursday's many game-day highlights, a special celebration targeted at the Hispanic fans of the Rapids and Major League Soccer will kickoff with a pregame party at the "Tent and Tailgate," at 20th and Clay streets just north of the Stadium. The party starts at 4:30 p.m., and the first 3,000 adult guests in attendance will receive a compliment Colorado Lottery Ticket, $2.50 of every ticket sold for the party will go to benefit the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund (NHSF). Remote radio broadcasts, refreshments by Budweiser, Pepsi and local vendors will also be on sale to benefit NHSF. Proceeds from the evening's events will be presented to the NHSF by representatives from Budwesier and the Rapids at halftime.
Thursday's game will also pay tribute to the City of Westminster with a special ceremonial kickoff by the mayor of Westininster, Nancy M. Heil. The Colorado Rapids are pleased to have partnered with Westrninster, the home of the official training site of the team.
Finally, the first 15,000 fans through the gates at Mile High on Thursday will receive a replica poster of the Marcelo Balboa mural hanging in downtown Denver, which was presented to the fans in Denver at the Rapids' last home game. The poster is sponsored by the Rapids and TCI.
The Colorado Rapids are in fifth place in the Westem Conference with 28 points. They trail the San Jose Clash by seven points, and they will face the Clash one more time this season -- September 8 at Mile High Stadiurn. The top four teams in both conferences will advance to the playoffs, which culminate with the MLS championship game, October 20 at Foxboro Stadium in New England.
The Rapids will hold their final pre-game training session on Wednesday at Mile High Stadium from 10-11 a.m. The practice is open to the public, and members of the media are encouraged to attend.