COMMERCE CITY, Col. \u2013\u00a0The Colorado Rapids announced today the club\u2019s highly\u00a0anticipated\u00a0April\u00a018 match\u00a0celebrating the 30th\u00a0anniversary of the inaugural Rapids home match\u00a0against\u00a0reigning MLS Cup champions,\u00a0Inter Miami\u00a0CF, will be played at Empower Field at Mile High.\u00a0The\u00a030th Anniversary Match, presented by UCHealth,\u00a0will\u00a0kick off at 2:30 p.m.\u00a0MT\u00a0exclusively on Apple TV.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s no better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our first home match than by returning to where it all began and hosting reigning MLS Cup champion Inter Miami,\u201d said Colorado Rapids Chief Business Officer Haley\u00a0Durmer. \u201cBringing this match to Empower Field at Mile High lets us elevate the experience in a big way, not just for our supporters but for the entire Colorado sports community. The Broncos have been phenomenal partners throughout this process, and\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0excited to work with them to bring this historic celebration to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Single-game tickets for this match are not yet on sale.\u00a0Fans who come\u00a0across ticket listings on secondary marketplaces, please be aware these may not be authentic. The most reliable way to secure access to the 30th Anniversary Match is by\u00a0purchasing\u00a0a Season Ticket Membership or a Mini Plan.\u00a0Learn more about\u00a0both options\u00a0here:\u00a0ColoradoRapids.com\/tickets\/memberships<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Any remaining lower-level or single-game ticket inventory will\u00a0go on sale\u00a0on\u00a0Thursday, January 15.\u00a0Sign up for the\u00a0RapidFire\u00a0email\u00a0newsletter\u00a0to be the first to know when\u00a0additional\u00a0details become available\u00a0surrounding the match,\u00a0including team information,\u00a0celebratory\u00a0activations\u00a0and presale access.\u00a0Sign up here:\u00a0Rapids96.com\/signup<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The match commemorates the club\u2019s inaugural home game at the former Mile High Stadium on April 21, 1996, when the Rapids beat the then-Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) 3-1, led by a brace from Rapids legend, Marcelo Balboa.\u00a0The Rapids will host a variety of celebratory events the week of the match, including an Alumni Weekend,\u00a0hosting Rapids alumni and legends\u00a0who played a role in building the\u00a0franchise over the\u00a0past 30 years.\u00a0Further details to be announced in the coming months.<\/p>\n \u201cUCHealth is proud to join the Colorado Rapids in celebrating this historic milestone,\u201d said UCHealth Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Manny Rodriguez. \u201cThe 30th anniversary of the club\u2019s first home match is a meaningful moment for Colorado sports, and bringing the celebration back to Empower Field makes it even more special.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0honored to help elevate the experience for fans and our community as the Rapids take on the reigning MLS Cup champions.\u201d<\/p>\n Home of the Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High stands at 5,280 feet above sea level and has a capacity of 76,125. Empower Field at Mile High is one of the most internationally recognized sports venues in the world.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Before moving into their\u00a0current\u00a0soccer-specific home, the Colorado Rapids played at the original Mile High Stadium from 1996 through 2001. The venue hosted some of the earliest chapters in Rapids history, including the club\u2019s inaugural MLS match, multiple playoff games, and the 1999 U.S. Open Cup Final.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Empower Field at Mile High, which opened in 2001, served as the Rapids\u2019 home from 2002 through 2006 before the club moved into DICK\u2019S Sporting Goods Park in 2007. During that period, the venue also hosted significant international and exhibition matches, contributing to Denver\u2019s rise as a key soccer city.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Rapids\u2019 final regular season match at the original Mile High Stadium took place on September 8, 2001, against the LA Galaxy. The club then opened its tenure at Empower Field at Mile High on March 30, 2002, earning a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, and played its final match at the venue on October 7, 2006, a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls.<\/p>\n