Real Salt Lake is proud to announce the following timeline surrounding the unveiling of two MLS Cup 2009 Championship banners and presentation of the team’s Rings, which will be distributed to players, coaches and ownership in a pre-game ceremony at 6:30 p.m. MT, prior to kickoff of the team’s April 10 home opener tomorrow against Seattle Sounders FC.

At halftime, the “Night of Champions” continues with the recognition of 12 Utah-based Olympic athletes who competed at Vancouver 2010, as well as a special musical performance. The timeline:

Carnival Real

5:00 p.m.   Carnival Real Opens (East Lawn of Rio Tinto Stadium)

6:00 p.m.   KALL 700 Sports “First Kick” pre-game show opens (NE Concourse)

6:00 p.m.   Rio Tinto Stadium Doors Open

6:45 p.m.   KALL 700 Sports “First Kick” pre-game show ends (NE Concourse)

Pre-Game Ceremony

6:51 p.m.   Game ball delivery via skydiver to U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Steven Holcomb, who accepts silver Adidas Jabulani “Champions Ball”

(All Cup Holders' home games played with commemorative ball)

6:53 p.m.   Youth “Parade of Kings” enters field; 150 kids from Wasatch Soccer Club to present a 20'x60' RSL flag custom made by Colonial Flag and used by the fans who traveled to Seattle last year for MLS Cup. They will be led out onto the field by the Brighton High School pep band, which sent the team off at the airport to Seattle

6:55 p.m.   RSL owners Dave Checketts and Dell Loy Hansen, President Bill Manning and GM Garth Lagerwey will bring each piece of 2009 hardware – the Rocky Mountain Cup, the Eastern Conference Championship trophy, the Philip F. Anschutz trophy (MLS Cup) – and the O.C. Tanner-produced MLS Cup Championship Rings to the field

6:56 p.m.   Real Salt Lake / Seattle Sounders FC enter field

6:57 p.m.   Color Guard (Utah Air National Guard)

6:58 p.m.   National Anthem by "Vocal Tonic"

7:00 p.m.   Presentation of the MLS Cup Rings begins at midfield

7:03 p.m.   Raising of the 2009 MLS Cup Champions Flag (north end, eastern-most flagpole) and unveiling of the permanent championship placard (west side fascia, above 4th floor midfield camera platform); fans will throw confetti and over 2,500 streamers to cap off the celebration

7:04 p.m.   RSL / SEA player introductions and coin toss

7:06 p.m.   Kickoff of RSL’s 2010 Home Opener v. Seattle

Halftime Festivities

7:53 p.m.   HALFTIME: Various Utah-based Olympic athletes* who competed in Vancouver honored, plus a special on-field musical performance

*Athletes scheduled to appear include:

   Shannon Bahrke (Freestyle Skiing – Aerials); Vancouver 2010 Silver Medalist

   Steven Holcomb (Bobsled); 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist

   Travis Jayner (Speed skating – Short Track); 2010 Bronze Medal (Men's Relay)

   Maria Lamb (Speed skating – Long Track)

   Jana Lindsey (Freestyle Skiiing – Aerials)

   Zach Lund (Skeleton)

   Megan McJames (Alpine Skiing)

   Shauna Rohbuck (Bobsled)

   Lacy Schnoor (Freestyle Skiing – Aerials)

   Bill Schuffenhauer (Bobsled); Three-time Olympian; 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist

   Jeremy Teela (Biathlon); Three-time Olympian

   Louie Vito (Snowboarding)