MLS commissioner Douglas G. Logan announced that tickets go on sale Thursday, March 11 at 9:00 AM (PT) for the 1999 MLS All-Star Doubleheader on July 17, 1999 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, marking the first time in the league’s four-year history that the annual showcase will be held on the West Coast. Logan was joined at today’s Qualcomm Stadium Club news conference by Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Hermosillo and San Diego International Sports Council Chairman Jose Munoz. The fourth annual MLS All-Star Game will be televised nationally from Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday, July 17, 1999 at 3:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC and ESPN International, bringing the game to more than 130 countries around the globe. ESPN and ESPN2 will provide additional national programming throughout the All-Star Weekend. For the second consecutive season, the MLS All-Star Game features starting lineups selected by the fans as part of balloting at Kmart stores nationwide and online via Yahoo, Fans will be able to cast their votes for their favorite MLS players from May 17 to July 5. From July 14 to July 17, Major League Soccer will host numerous events, activities and tournaments throughout the city of San Diego. Fans are welcome to take part in fun and interactive attractions, such as Soccer Celebration and the MLS 3 v 3 Tournament. Young fans are invited to test their soccer skills at the Pro Player Dribble, Pass & Shoot and take a few pointers from MLS stars at MLS Sports Celebrity Youth Soccer Clinics. Fans can also catch up with their favorite MLS players at autograph sessions and watch national youth soccer action at the Kellogg’s All-Star Bowl. The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge showcases the best of MLS in a fun-filled exhibition in a relaxed setting. Unveiled today were the primary and secondary logos for the event, which capture the sun and surf for which the San Diego area is famous. Also, the event returns to its normal Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format after a one-year hiatus in 1998. Last season’s MLS USA vs. MLS World matchup commemorated the World Cup year in which it was played. In order to accommodate the 1999 MLS All-Star Game, the San Diego Padres are scheduled to open the second half of their season on the road. The pitchers’ mound at Qualcomm Stadium will be removed, the baseball diamond re-sodded and the field and stands reconfigured for soccer during Major League Baseball’s 1999 All-Star Break. Tickets for the 1999 MLS All-Star Game are $32 and $22 for premier VIP seating and $12 for general admission. Discounts are available for groups of 25 or more. To purchase tickets, fans may call the San Diego Padres ticket office at (619) 29-PADRES or TicketMaster at (619) 220-TIXS for the best seats available. Future details will be released in the coming weeks regarding Game Two of the 1999 MLS All-Star Doubleheader, which is expected to feature two professional teams from the Mexican First Division.