FIRE HOME OPENER THIS SUNDAY AT TOYOTA PARK
After picking up four points through their first two games on the road, the Fire return to Chicago for their 2009 home opener at TOYOTA PARK this Sunday, April 5 (My50 Chicago, TeleFutura, 2 p.m. CT) against the New York Red Bulls. Tickets are available now by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com.
The Fire defeated the Red Bulls in all three matches last season, posting a season high five goals in two of the games. Fire designated player Cuauhtémoc Blanco earned Player of the Week for his one goal, three assist effort against the Red Bulls on May 25 and Chris Rolfe recorded his first career hat trick in the final meeting of the two teams in the season finale on Oct. 23. The Fire own a 18-10-6 record against New York in all-time regular season competition and a commanding 9-3-4 record in games played in Chicago.
CHICAGO FIRE DOWNTOWN ON THE PLAZA TOMORROW
The Fire will be out on the plaza in front of the FOX Building at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Lake Street downtown on Wednesday, April 1 from 10:30a.m.-2:30p.m. Fans can try their skills on the penalty kick and a well placed kick can win free tickets, t-shirts and more. The Chicago Fire fire truck will also be cruising up and down Michigan Ave tossing out t-shirts.
SOUMARE AND SEGARES WITH NATIONAL TEAMS
Fire defenders Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) and Bakary Soumare (Mali) are currently with their respective national teams for World Cup Qualifiers. Segares was on the roster for Costa Rica's 2-0 loss to Mexico on March 28, but did not play. Costa Rica next faces El Salvador on Wednesday, April 1. Soumare and Mali tied Sudan 1-1 for a valuable point on March 28. Both players missed the Fire's match last week against D.C. United, but will return for the Fire's home opener against New York on April 5.
FIRE TO HOST SUEÑO MLS TRYOUTS
The Chicago Fire, along with D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy, will host Sueño MLS 2009 - Built by The Home Depot tryouts on April 4-5 at Olympic Park in Schaumberg, IL. Over 600 athletes will be fighting for the opportunity to move on to the Final which will be held in Los Angeles from April 8-12. Tryouts begin at 8:00 a.m. and Fire defender Gonzalo Segares will join Senadora Alba Galindo from Republica Deportiva during the course of the tryouts to scout talent, sign autographs, and take photos with fans.
The four local winners from Chicago will move on to an exciting four-day "Final Event" in Los Angeles. While over 1,000 players signed up, only 600 tryout spots were made available at each city on a first come, first serve basis. Most field positions filled in only hours. Registrations were received from 36 different states and 23 foreign countries. "República Deportiva", the highest-rated weekly sports magazine program on Spanish-language television in the United States which airs nationally every Sunday, will follow the action weekly in a unique "reality show within a show" format with the ultimate winner being crowned live on Sunday, April 12. For more information, visit www.SuenoMLS.com.
FIRE TO FACE UIC FLAMES IN BENEFIT MATCH ON APRIL 7
For the third consecutive year the Fire will face the UIC men's soccer team in an exhibition match to benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation. The match will take place on Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Flames Field, located on the UIC campus.
General admission tickets for the match between the Flames and the Fire are $12 pre-sale through April 6. Tickets can be purchased prior to the day of the game through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office by calling 312-413-UIC1. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the game for $15, and a special group rate of $10 per ticket is available in advance for groups of 20 or more. UIC students can get in at the gate with a valid i-Card for $10.
CHICAGO FIRE JOINS NOTHING BUT NETS COMPETITION
Chicago Fire Soccer will participate in a four-team fundraising challenge to benefit the Nothing But Nets campaign. The Fire, D.C. United, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and Seattle Sounders FC will each collect donations to see which club can raise the most funds for Nothing But Nets during a month-long Major League Soccer initiative that culminates on World Malaria Day on April 25. The team that raises the most money will randomly select one donating fan to win a trip for two to the 2009 MLS All-Star Game in Salt Lake City in July. Fans interested in contributing to the cause by visiting www.mynothingbutnets.net/chicagofire, or clicking on the MY NOTHING BUT NETS button of the team's official website, www.chicago-fire.com.
CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION RAISES $62,000 AT LUNCHEON
Chicago Fire Soccer is proud to announce that the 2009 Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon raised $62,000 with proceeds benefiting the team's charitable arm, the Chicago Fire Foundation. Over 700 guests attended the Fire's annual event, contributing to the success of the day. Fans in attendance enjoyed an exclusive screening of the special video "Jim Belushi on the Pitch" which is available online now by CLICKING HERE.
BUFFETT RETURNS TO TOYOTA PARK
After the success of last summer's two TOYOTA PARK concerts, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will return to the stadium again this summer for two more unforgettable concert experiences as part of the "Summerzcool" Tour 2009. The concert dates are set for Saturday, Aug. 8 and Saturday Aug. 15. The seating setup at the stadium will be similar to last year's concerts, as all seats will be reserved both on the field and in the stadium bowl. Tickets are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets including the TOYOTA PARK box office, Tickemaster.com, and by calling (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.toyotapark.com.
BLANCO'S 'DIRECTO AL BLANCO' RADIO PROGRAM TUESDAY
"Directo al Blanco" a full-hour live radio program hosted by Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco will air this and every Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. CT. Listeners are encouraged to call and talk to Blanco about the latest soccer-related news regarding the Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, and the Mexican Primera Division. The show airs nationally on RadioCadena stations in Chicago (WRTO-AM), Las Vegas (KLSQ-AM), Los Angeles (KTNQ-AM), San Francisco (KLOK-AM), El Paso (KAMA-AM), San Antonio (KCOR-AM), Dallas (KFLC-AM), McAllen (KGBT-AM), Houston (KLAT-AM), New York (WADO-AM), and Miami (WQBA-AM).
