Three members of Fire front office earn 2006 MLS Team Executive honors
Chicago Fire Soccer would like to congratulate three members of the club's front office - Senior Director of Community Relations Donald Ortale, Equipment Manager Charles Raycroft and Youth Soccer Manager David Quinn - for earning 2006 Team Executive Awards from Major League Soccer yesterday. Ortale, who also serves as the CEO of the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, was named the 2006 Community Relations Executive of the Year, making this the third time the Addison native has won the honor. Just completing his tenth season in MLS and fourth year with the Fire, Raycroft garnered the MLS Equipment Manager of the Year award in a season that saw all 12 MLS squads implement the League's partnership with official supplier adidas. Quinn was recognized by MLS as one of the League's Top 10 Ticket Revenue Sales Leaders for the 2006 season, the latest in a series of League-wide honors he has collected since joining the Fire.
"Myself and the entire Fire organization would like to congratulate Donald, Charles and David on being recognized within MLS for having outstanding years," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "The 2006 season was a year unlike any other. I know how hard our entire staff worked and the unique challenges they experienced. It is very pleasing to have individuals from the sales, community and team side of our business rise to the top and be recognized for their contributions."
Fire and TOYOTA PARK to host Illinois Final for 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying next Wednesday
Chicago Fire Soccer and TOYOTA PARK have announced that the Final of the Illinois Qualifier for the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup between Chicago-based clubs HNK Zrinski and RWB Adria will be contested at the corner of 71st & Harlem this Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Admission and parking for the match will be free of charge, with the TOYOTA PARK gates opening at 6:30 p.m. CT. Next Wednesday's match will determine who moves on to regional qualifying for the 98th edition of the prestigious national championship, and the contest should be a high-level affair as HNK Zrinski won the Midwest Regionals earlier this year and advanced to the Final Four of the U.S. Open Amateur Cup in Dallas, while RWB Adria are the current holders of the Illinois State Cup. For additional information on the match, please contact the Illinois State Soccer Association at 773-283-2800.
TOYOTA PARK to also play host to NAIA Region VII Men's Soccer Tournament this weekend
In addition to hosting IHSA Supersectional playoff and U.S. Open Cup qualifier action, TOYOTA PARK will also open its doors to the collegiate ranks, as the home of the Fire will play host to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region VII Men's Soccer Tournament this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-11. Friday's pair of semifinals will begin at 11:00 a.m. CT with #1 seed Grand View College (Iowa) taking on the winner of today's First Round contest between #4 Iowa Wesleyan and #5 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.). The second semifinal on Friday, slated for a 1:30 p.m. kick, will see #2 seeded Judson College (Ill.) hosting the victor of today's other First Round match-up between #3 Trinity International (Ill.) and #6 St. Ambrose (Iowa). Friday's survivors will square off at TOYOTA PARK on Saturday for the Region VII Final at 1:30 p.m. CT, with the winner earning an automatic berth to the 48th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship, taking place from Nov. 15-21 at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, FL.
2007 Chicago Fire Season Tickets now available
With the Fire's 2006 campaign now in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look ahead to 2007, and there's no better way to catch the excitement of MLS and international soccer next year at TOYOTA PARK than by becoming a Chicago Fire Soccer Season Ticket Holder. All Chicago Fire season tickets for the team's 2007 season at Bridgeview's TOYOTA PARK are now on sale, and the Fire is proud to announce that Full Season, Half Season (10 tickets) and Flex Plan (20 tickets) prices in all seating areas will remain at their 2006 prices, with packages starting at $320. Fans wanting more information, including all the benefits that go along with being a Fire Season Ticket Holder, are encouraged to call the Fire Ticket Hotline at 708-496-6800 or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com for more details.
Give the gift of soccer this upcoming holiday season with a Chicago Fire Gift Certificate
Just in time for the approaching holiday season, the Chicago Fire is now offering $10 and $20 gift certificates that will be good towards the purchase of tickets during the Fire's 2007 season at TOYOTA PARK. These Chicago Fire Gift Certificates can be redeemed towards the purchase of either 2007 Fire Season Tickets - including Full Season, Half Season and Flex Plans - or towards the purchase of single-game tickets for the 2007 season. To get your Chicago Fire gift certificates please order in person at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., or via phone at 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
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