Chicago Fire announce 2008 schedule

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire, in conjunction with Major League Soccer, today unveiled their 2008 regular season schedule and national television broadcast information. The Fire are slated to appear in a total of 21 national television broadcasts throughout their 11th season of MLS play. For a second consecutive year, every Fire game will be televised, either through national or regional broadcasts, or on the MLS Direct Kick package.

The "Men in Red" will begin MLS play on the road against Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 29, at 5:00 p.m. CT. The Fire return to Bridgeview for their home opener at TOYOTA PARK as the squad hosts 2007 MLS Cup finalist New England Revolution on Thursday, April 3 (7:30 p.m. CT kickoff) for the first of their six ESPN2 MLS Primetime Thursday broadcasts. The ESPN2 MLS Primetime broadcast will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT and include a half-hour pregame show. The Fire will play their first-ever match against the 2008 MLS expansion San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, April 12 (3:30 p.m. CT) at McAfee Stadium in Oakland, Calif. The star studded Los Angeles Galaxy will again play in Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 25 (8:00 p.m. CT) in a much anticipated game that will also be televised on ESPN2.

Branching across multiple programming platforms, the "Men in Red" will appear on national broadcast partners ESPN2 (six games), Fox Soccer Channel (four games), TeleFutura (seven games), and HDNet (four games) throughout the season. The Fire will release their 2008 regional television schedule, as well as international coverage of matches at a later date.

In addition to the 30-game MLS regular season schedule, the Fire will participate in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a number of international exhibition matches that will be announced as the season progresses.

Season ticket packages for the Fire's third season at TOYOTA PARK are available now and can be purchased by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting the TOYOTA PARK Ticket Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave., between business hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CT. Chicago Fire Soccer is proud to announce that Full Season Ticket prices in all seating areas will remain at their 2007 prices, with Supporters packages starting at special $200 limited time rate. The Fire has also put Half Season (10 events) and Flex Plan (20 ticket vouchers) packages on sale at their 2007 prices. Fans are encouraged to check the TOYOTA PARK seating chart in the Ticket section of www.chicago-fire.com.

Single-game tickets for 2008 Fire matches at TOYOTA PARK, with the exception of the Fire's Sept. 25 home match against the Galaxy, will go on sale through the TOYOTA PARK Ticket Office and Ticketmaster outlets beginning Thursday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Tickets for the Fire versus Galaxy contest are currently available for purchase only via Chicago Fire Season Ticket plans - including Full Season, Half Season and Flex Plan packages - and Group Ticket packages. For more information, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE.

CHICAGO FIRE 2008 MLS SCHEDULE (all times CT)
Sat. March 29 at Real Salt Lake 5:00
Thurs. April 3 vs. New England Revolution 7:30 ESPN2 (Broadcast begins at 7:00)
Sat. April 12 at San Jose Earthquakes 3:30
Sun. April 20 vs. Kansas City Wizards 2:00 TeleFutura
Sat. April 26 vs. Colorado Rapids 7:30 HDNet
Sat. May 3 at New England Revolution 6:30
Thurs. May 8 at D.C. United 6:30 ESPN2
Sat. May 17 vs. Houston Dynamo 7:30
Sun. May 25 at New York Red Bulls 2:00 TeleFutura
Sat. June 7 vs. D.C. United 7:30 FSC/FSE
Sun. June 15 at FC Dallas 2:00 TeleFutura
Thurs. June 19 at Club Deportivo Chivas USA 9:30 ESPN2
Sat. June 28 vs. San Jose Earthquakes 7:30
Sat. July 5 at Columbus Crew 7:00
Sat. July 12 vs. Toronto FC 7:30 FSC/FSE
Sat. July 19 vs. Real Salt Lake 7:30
Sun. July 27 at Kansas City Wizards 7:00
Sat. Aug. 2 vs. Club Deportivo Chivas USA 7:30 HDNet
Sun. Aug 9 at New England Revolution 6:30 HDNet
Sat. Aug. 16 vs. D.C. United 7:30
Thurs. Aug. 21 at Los Angeles Galaxy 9:30 ESPN2
Sun. Aug. 31 at Houston Dynamo 6:00
Sat. Sept. 6 vs. New York Red Bulls 7:30 FSC/FSE
Sun. Sept. 14 at Colorado Rapids 2:00 TeleFutura
Sun. Sept. 21 vs. FC Dallas 2:00 TeleFutura
Sat. Sept. 25 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy 8:00 ESPN2
Sun. Oct. 5 at Kansas City Wizards 2:00 TeleFutura
Sun. Oct. 12 vs. Columbus Crew 2:00 Telefutura
Sat. Oct. 18 at Toronto FC 2:30 HDNet
Thurs. Oct. 23 vs. New York Red Bulls 8:00 ESPN2