The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders will open their five-game preseason schedule this Friday when they visit 95 KGGO Arena in Urbandale for a 7:05PM tilt against the defending Clark Cup champion Des Moines Buccaneers. The match-up will mark the first meeting between the Riders and Bucs since Des Moines eliminated Cedar Rapids in last spring’s East Division finals.

Saturday night the Riders and Bucs will complete a home-and-home series with a 7:05PM contest at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Tickets for that clash- the Riders’ only home preseason game- will be available to the general public for just $5 and will go on sale Saturday at noon at the ice arena ticket office (261-4625).

Admission to Saturday night’s game is included in season ticket holders’ packages. Season ticket holders will be able to pick up their ticket books at the ice arena ticket office beginning at noon on Friday.

The Riders will return to Urbandale next week for the annual Buc Bowl preseason tournament. The Riders will open the Buc Bowl on Thursday, September 28 against the Omaha Lancers at 10:30AM. The Riders will meet the Tri-City Storm at noon the following day before closing out the Buc Bowl- and their preseason slate- with a game against the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday, September 30 at 4:30PM.

The two-time defending East Division champion RoughRiders will open the regular season on Saturday, October 7 at home against the Green Bay Gamblers. 2006-07 season tickets are currently available through the RoughRiders’ business office (247-0340). Season ticket holders receive a host of special benefits available exclusively to them.

Regular season single game tickets will go on sale next Monday.