Manchester City soccer team, UAE to open new soccer field in Adams Morgan

Cool news -- Manchester City Football Club, the English Premier League-winning soccer team and the United Arab Emirates government (who sponsor the team via one of their airlines, Etihad) are fixing up the soccer field at Marie Reed School in Adams Morgan, and also starting a soccer program for kids -- more on that program here.

While it's is a little out of the neighborhood, it's so awesome that I wanted to write about it (plus the field could be used by Columbia Heights folks too.)

They're having a groundbreaking ceremony on April 2, and they hope to complete it in the Fall. There won't be any Manchester City players there, but some team officials will be present. Plus it's not every day the UAE ambassador is running around the area.

Here's their press release. Pretty cool!

April 2: UAE EMBASSY, EPL CHAMPIONS MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB WILL BREAK GROUND ON NEW PLAYING FIELD AND TRAINING PROGRAM

FOR ADAMS MORGAN COMMUNITY

Marie Reed Elementary School to be Site of Modern, Year-Round Soccer Field

WHAT

Groundbreaking event for kids and of Marie Reed Elementary School and the Adams Morgan community who will receive a brand new, all-season state-of-the-art soccer field.

Children and Adams Morgan community members will celebrate the ground breaking of the new UAE- Manchester City Field in the heart of the Adams Morgan along with senior diplomats from the UAE and the US, and local senior DC government officials.

The field will be a gift to the community by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Washington, and English Premier League Champions Manchester City Football Club’s City Soccer in the Community program. 

WHO

·         His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US

·         The Honorable Michael Corbin, US Ambassador to the UAE

·         Philip Barton, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy in Washington, DC

·         Principal Eugene Pinkard, Marie Reed Elementary

·         Anthony deGuzman, Chief Operating Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools

·         Jesus Aguirre, Director, DC Department of Parks and Recreation

·         James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways

·         Gary Hopkins, Manchester City Football Club, City Soccer in the Community

·         Washington, DC area kids and parents

Event photo opportunities will include students and guests, as well as students playing soccer while clad in Manchester City Club jerseys.

WHERE

Marie H. Reed Community Learning Center

18th Street, NW & Wyoming Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

**Activities Field**

WHEN

April 2, 2013 (rain or shine)

3:30 PM event starts