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Club Deportivo Chiva USA is a professional soccer club based in Carson, California and participates in Major League Soccer. The club founded in 2004, plays its home games at the Home Depot Center, sharing it with arch rival the Los Angeles Galaxy. The official colors of Club Chiva are red, white and blue, the same as Club Deportivo Guadalajara, one of the most widely supported teams in Mexico.
Founded on August 2, 2004, as Major League Soccer’s eleventh team, Club Chiva achieved remarkable success in just three seasons. In 2007, the Mexican owned club finished first in the Western Conference, qualifying for the playoffs for the second year in a row to the delight of its passionate supporters.
Club Chiva unfortunately is spending most of this season in last place, however heading down to the Home depot Center to watch Club Chiva play is still a worthwhile experience. The Club atmosphere is very family friendly, the stadium clean and access to and from the Home Depot Center is easy. Not just Los Angeles easy but very easy.
Food is the order of the day at Club Chiva. Supporters arrive early and picnic tables and BBQ grills make walking through the parking lot a mouth watering delight. Once inside there are the usual stadium treats: hot dogs, nachos, and cold drinks.
The game I attended was between Club Chiva and The New England Revolution this year’s first place team and last years defending Eastern Conference Champion. The game was won by New England but the Chiva team played tough and the game was exciting throughout.
The beauty of attending a MSL game is that unlike other sporting events that drag on soccer is played to the minute. The clock does not stop and 45 minutes means 45 minutes. I arrived at 11.30 for a 12 o’clock start and the game was over by 2.00PM. That means that in a busy city like Los Angeles you still have the rest of the afternoon to plan something else. Visit friends or go to the beach.
Club Chiva, Los Angeles’ other Major League Soccer team deserves your support.
Photo by Juan Miranda/Club Chivas USA