BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Chicago Fire Soccer today signed a landmark agreement with Indiana Youth Soccer to provide cross-platform marketing support and technical development, as well as opportunities for Indiana Youth Soccer members to attend Chicago Fire games throughout the 2007 regular season. For thousands who currently participate in Indiana's youth soccer association, the partnership provides role models and heroes both on and off the field. As a result, Indiana Youth Soccer becomes the seventh overall "Elite" youth soccer partner of the Chicago Fire, solidifying both organizations' desire to immerse area youth players into the highest levels of domestic soccer.
The partnership provides Indiana Youth Soccer members with multiple Chicago Fire-related resources, while the Chicago club further expands its presence into Indiana. Over 4,000 Fire game tickets - including suite and club seat packages - will be made available to Indiana Youth Soccer to benefit its players, coaches, referees and Indiana soccer families. Per terms of the agreement, Chicago Fire Soccer will include Indiana Olympic Development teams (ODP), as well as teams traveling from Indiana Youth Soccer registered clubs and tournaments in special game day events. Chicago Fire Soccer will also host two Indiana Youth Soccer nights this fall. Indiana Youth Soccer will have an opportunity for pre-game/halftime recognition of tournament winners, pre-game/halftime scrimmage mini-games, player escorts onto the field, sideline ball-kids, and participation in the pre-game "Tunnel of Fire".
"We are proud to welcome Indiana Youth Soccer to the Chicago Fire family as our newest Elite youth soccer partner," said Chicago Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "The Chicago Fire enjoys tremendous support within Indiana, and we are very much looking forward to developing new initiatives that will further strengthen this connection and provide unique experiences for thousands of youth players within the region".
With the agreement, Indiana Youth Soccer will obtain prominent position as an Elite partner on the official Chicago Fire website, www.chicago-fire.com, and advertisement placements within "FREEKICK", the official game day magazine produced for every Fire home game. Chicago Fire Soccer will list all Indiana Youth Soccer-sanctioned tournaments on the Fire youth soccer events page and will provide exclusive fundraising opportunities for subsequent tournaments and programs. Conversely, Indiana Youth Soccer will promote the Chicago Fire through e-mail newsletters, direct mail, website links, and targeted communication with Indiana coaches.
While providing a fun, family-friendly professional soccer experience for over 60,000 diverse Indiana Youth Soccer members, Chicago Fire Soccer has made a commitment to support and enhance soccer technical development within the state of Indiana. As a result, all Indiana Youth Soccer coaches will be invited to participate in the Chicago Fire Coaches Club, a free program that provides coaches with training information, e-newsletters, and special gameday events. Chicago Fire Soccer will also offer all Indiana Soccer referees the chance to participate in the Referee Development program and an exclusive gameday experience with MLS match officials.
"Indiana Youth Soccer is determined to provide superior programs, events and services for its members. The new partnership with the Chicago Fire and MLS will help support our goals in coaching education, player development and referee development," said Indiana Youth Soccer Executive Director Don Rawson. "I am also especially pleased that soccer families in Indiana will be able to take advantage of significant savings on tickets to Chicago Fire 2007 home games."
Chicago Fire Soccer will also donate player-autographed items, club and suite tickets, and other Fire-related gifts to be used for Indiana Youth Soccer charity events such as the annual Indiana Youth Soccer Golf Outing (Aug. 9), contribution dinners, give-a-ways, auctions and raffles held throughout the 2007 calendar year. The Chicago club will run a Community Soccer Series clinic exclusively for Indiana Youth Soccer, as well as host two of the state association's teams at TOYOTA PARK for a training session with the Chicago Fire first team and coaching staff.
About Chicago Fire Soccer
The Chicago Fire was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise. The Fire won MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and has been crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer's national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, an MLS club-record four times (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006). Last season the Fire moved into its permanent, world-class home TOYOTA PARK located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview, Ill.
About Indiana Youth Soccer
Indiana Youth Soccer serves and educates its membership through the development, promotion and administration of youth soccer in the state of Indiana. Indiana Youth Soccer is a National State Association member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Youth Soccer Association. Indiana Youth Soccer has a current membership base of over 60,000 youth players, 8,000 active coaches, 3,800 referees and thousands of volunteers through a network of over 140 member clubs across the state.
