Fire vs. New England: Take 5
Following Sunday's impressive 1-0 victory against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, the Chicago Fire will head back home to prepare for another meeting against the Revolution, this time a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal clash on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. from TOYOTA PARK. The midweek encounter will mark the second game in just three days between the Eastern Conference rivals, and the fifth overall meeting this year, with Chicago taking the regular season series 2-1-1. The clubs are no strangers in U.S. Open Cup play, as the squads met in the Fourth Round last season, with the "Men in Red" downing the Revolution 3-2 in overtime. While Wednesday's Open Cup game will not be televised, fans can catch the action via the club's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com, which will carry the game live beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT. Should the Fire defeat the Revolution, the club would host the semifinal round against DC United or New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at TOYOTA PARK.
Ticket prices for Wednesday's single-elimination contest will be $15 for general admission, with the best available seats offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-550-1212. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, 7000 S. Harlem in Bridgeview, on the day of the event. NOTE TO MEDIA: Please use "Bonus Game D" from your parking booklet and park in the East lot located on the northeast side of the stadium. Media check-in will be at Gate C.
Rapid "I" Movement
Continuing its busy schedule at its world-class home at 71st and Harlem, the Chicago Fire will resume MLS action Saturday with an inter-conference contest against Colorado in the Rapids' lone visit to TOYOTA PARK this season. Sarachan & Company will not rest for long, however, as the "Men in Red" will host yet another inter-conference match against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, Aug. 30 (8:00 p.m., CSN). The Fire will conclude its four-game homestand on Sunday, Sept. 3 with an Eastern Conference showdown featuring the New York Red Bulls (6:00 p.m., CSN) in what is expected to be new Red Bulls boss and former U.S. Men's National Team manager Bruce Arena's first visit to TOYOTA PARK. Tickets for all four contests are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-559-1212. Tickets are also available at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Saturday's contest between the Chicago Fire (7-8-7, 28 pts.) and the Colorado Rapids (9-8-5, 32 pts.) will mark the first of two meetings between the squads. Chicago is 12-9-3 all-time against the Rapids, and holds a solid 10-3-0 record at home. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet at 7:30 p.m. CT, with a post-game show to follow. Fans can also follow the match live via Chicagoland radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and online at Chicago-Fire.com (English).
Chicago Fire/Performance PT "Recovery Room"
Capano, Craig - L knee derangement - OUT (Season Ending Injury list)
Curtin, Jeff - R adductor strain - OUT
Monz, Jared - L adductor strain - DOUBTFUL
Rolfe, Chris - L hamstring contusion - QUESTIONABLE
Thiago - L hamstring strain - QUESTIONABLE
Thorrington, John - R MCL sprain - OUT
Kick-off Change Announced for Sept. 9 Meeting at Columbus
Major League Soccer today announced that it has switched the game-time for the Fire vs. Columbus Crew meeting on Sept. 9 at Crew Stadium. Kick-off is now set for 5:00 p.m. CT (formerly 6:30 p.m. CT). The game-time switch will allow Crew Stadium to remain open and host a viewing party for the Ohio State-Texas college football game that kicks off at 7 p.m.
Teaming up for a cause
In an effort to help the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD), Rose Paving Company and Chicago Fire Soccer will be partnering in the 1st Annual Steamroll Hunger Food Drive that kicks off on Monday, Aug. 21. During the month-long event, both organizations will collect non-perishable food items to the GCFD as a friendly way to help neighbors in need. Donations will be accepted Aug. 21-Sept. 25 and can be dropped off at Rose Paving's Headquarters (7300 W. 100th Place) or at TOYOTA PARK (7000 S. Harlem Ave), both located in south suburban Bridgeview. In addition, the will also be collecting non-perishable goods at TOYOTA PARK entrance gates at each of the club's upcoming MLS regular season and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games between now and Sept. 25. The Fire will begin its game-day collections for the cause this Wednesday when it takes on the New England Revolution in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match-up (7:30 p.m.).
Nearly 6,000 children treated to Fire-Wizards contest for "Kids Night Out" celebration
Chicago Fire Soccer and local contributors and businesses teamed up for the third straight year to celebrate "Kids Night Out," a soccer evening organized by the Fire and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, for underprivileged children in Chicagoland. The event brought together nearly 6,000 children who were treated to a night of soccer during last Wednesday's Fire-Wizards contest at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire called upon local businesses and individuals to participate in the event by purchasing group tickets, and the reaction was a major success as over 75 major contributors responded to show their financial support. Those that donated any amount towards the cause had their contributions doubled, as the Fire matched each gift given to provide the FireWorks for Kids Foundation - its charitable organization - a total of 5,906 tickets. These tickets were donated to nearly 50 local youth-based organizations throughout the Chicagoland area, including Chicago Scores, Su Casa, Horizons for Youth, Family Focus Inc., 21st Century After School Sports Program, Heartland International Child Care and Mercy Home.
Don't miss out on the McDonald's Four-Pack special offer
The Fire, in partnership with McDonald's Owners of Chicagoland & NW Indiana, has announced a unique opportunity to feed its fans' hunger for both delicious food and exciting soccer with the new McDonald's Four-Pack ticket package. The McDonald's Four-Pack deal consists of four McDonald's Stage Deck tickets (sections 135-139) at TOYOTA PARK, as well as four vouchers redeemable for any McDonald's Value Meal at participating McDonald's restaurants in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. The new McDonald's Four-Pack is available for all of the Fire's remaining home MLS regular season contests this season. Fans can purchase this special offer online by visiting the "Tickets" section of www.Chicago-Fire.com, via phone by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or in person by visiting the TOYOTA PARK Ticket Office, located on the east side of TOYOTA PARK (7000 S. Harlem Ave.) during normal business hours or on game days.
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