BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Chicago Fire President and CEO John Guppy and former Chicago Sting President and Chairman Lee Stern today announced that the MLS team will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sting's 1981 Soccer Bowl Championship on Sept. 17 during the Fire's match against D.C. United at TOYOTA PARK (3:00 p.m. ESPN2). The entire squad from the 1981 Chicago Sting Soccer Bowl Championship game is scheduled to be on hand at TOYOTA PARK, where the legendary soccer team will be recognized during pre-game and halftime festivities.
"We are delighted to recognize and celebrate a very special group of soccer pioneers in this country," said Guppy. "The Sting's victory over the Cosmos not only gave the Sting its first major championship, but it also brought Chicago its first major sports championship since 1963. Most importantly, it paved the way for soccer to succeed as a major sport in this city.
"The Fire is proud to honor a great team and a great leader in Lee Stern, whose undying commitment, support and passion for soccer has helped shape the sport in Chicago. We hope all Chicago Fire and Sting fans will join us in celebrating an unforgettable championship by an unforgettable team."
On September 26, 1981 the Chicago Sting defeated the New York Cosmos 2-1 in a shootout victory at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario Canada in front of 36,971 fans - the largest crowd ever to witness a soccer match in Toronto - to give the Sting its first championship.
The Fire will wear a commemorative Chicago Sting patch on the game-day jerseys to honor the former North American Soccer League champions. The special jerseys will be auctioned off during the Fire-D.C. United match, with the proceeds benefiting the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the Fire's charitable arm.
"It's difficult to believe that 25 years have passed since the Chicago Sting defeated the New York Cosmos for the NASL championship," said Stern. "As [Chicago Fire investor] Phil Anschutz said at the first press conference introducing Chicago's new MLS team, 'the Chicago Sting set the table and we hope to follow up in their great tradition.' Thanks to John Guppy and the entire Fire organization for bringing back the great memories of the Chicago Sting."
An array of activities will surround the Chicago Sting's reunion, including a special dinner gathering on Saturday, Sept. 16 at a downtown restaurant and a V.I.P. pre-game reception and autograph session with the Sting players to be held prior to the game on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Prior to kick-off, the 1981 Chicago Sting Championship squad will take the field for a special intra-squad "Legends" game, and the team will be given special recognition on the field at halftime. Nancy Faust, the original Sting organist and current Chicago White Sox organist, will be on hand throughout the game, playing the same songs she performed 25 years ago for the Sting. A local dance group will also pay homage to the Honey Bees, the Sting's official dance troupe, at halftime.
TOYOTA PARK will be set at 1981, with music and video from 1981 being played on the stadium's speakers and video board throughout the game.
WLUP-FM 97.9 The Loop, co-sponsor of the event, will provide the soundtrack for the evening playing such 80's favorites as Adam and the Ants, The Go-Go's and Duran Duran. Crystal, The Loop's 2006 Rock Girl, will also be signing autographs throughout the day. As part of the celebrations, The Loop - one of the Sting's media partners in 1981 - will be offering a special, $9.79 ticket offer to the Sept. 17 game for the first 979 listeners beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or by visiting www.Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview. The TOYOTA PARK Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT. For more information on the event or to find out more about WLUP's special ticket offer, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
