CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire, in conjunction with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) and Tamayo Entertainment, Inc., today announced that it will host a prestigious doubleheader featuring the national teams of Mexico and Poland and the Fire versus the New England Revolution in an Eastern Conference showdown on Wednesday, Apr. 27 at Soldier Field. The first game will feature the two MLS sides squaring off at 6:00 p.m. CT, followed by the international game. To accommodate what is expected to be one of the biggest soccer events Chicago has ever hosted, the Fire's game against the Revolution was moved up from May 25.
In an exclusive sales offer that starts today, Chicago Fire season ticket holders and group leaders will have a priority opportunity to purchase the best seats to this unique doubleheader event by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE. Executive Suites are also available and can be purchased by calling the Fire's Premium Seating Department at 312-705-7239. Tickets to the doubleheader, which will range in price from $30 to $75, will go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster beginning Thursday, Mar. 24 at 10:00 a.m. CT by calling 312-559-1212 or at www.ticketmaster.com
"The Fire is pleased to partner with SUM and Tamayo Entertainment to bring this international game to Chicago," said Fire President & GM Peter Wilt. "The opportunity to showcase the Fire to a large crowd of Mexico and Poland supporters is very important, also."
The doubleheader is included in the Fire's full season ticket package, but is not included in the seven-game package. Fire flex plan holders can redeem two vouchers for every 10 purchased until Friday, Apr. 15, which is the cut-off date for the acceptance of vouchers for the event. Each side of passionate fans will have its own designated area, as the Mexican supporters block will be located on the northwest side of Soldier Field, while Polish fans will be seated on the southeast side of stadium.
The international doubleheader will be the Fire's second such event in as many years, and will once again feature the Polish National Team. In 2004, the "Men in Red" hosted an audience of 39,529 for a friendly between Poland and the United States on July 11, with the event helping the Fire garner its largest crowd in history for an MLS match.
The most recent encounter between Mexico and Poland took place during the fall of 1993 in Oakland, California. On that occasion, Mexico and Poland played to a scoreless tie. Poland has visited the Windy City four times, the last of which came during last year's visit to Soldier Field in its 1-1 draw with the U.S. In 1990, Poland defeated Costa Rica 2-0 in Chicago, one of the goals scored by former Chicago Fire star and current head coach of MLS Cup champion, D.C. United, Peter Nowak.
Mexico (No. 6 in the latest FIFA world ranking) and Poland have met on six occasions all-time, with the first meeting resulting in a 1-0 Poland win on Aug. 5, 1973. In the all-time series between the two countries, Mexico has won two times, with Poland claiming three victories and one tie. Mexico holds the all-time edge in goals scored with 10 goals compared to Poland's seven.
Both countries are currently in the midst of regional qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup, which will be held in Germany. Mexico, coached by Argentine Ricardo Lavolpe, defeated Costa Rica 2-1 in a historic win at San Jose's Saprissa Stadium and is now tied with the United States for first place in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying after the first match day. The region's top two nations will next face off on March 27 at Mexico's Estadio Azteca in their next qualifier.
Poland, coached by Pawel Janas, stands in second place Group 6 of the UEFA World Cup qualifying with nine points (three wins, one loss). Janas and his team will travel to the United States in preparation for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan (March 26) and North Ireland (March 30).
The Mexican National Team's 2005 tour in the U.S. has seen the Tricolores appear twice this year, with Lavolpe's squad playing Sweden to a scoreless tie at PETCO Park in San Diego before 35,000 fans, followed by a 1-1 tie in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum against world power Argentina earlier this month.
All-Time Mexican National Team Games vs. Poland
Aug. 5, 1973 Friendly 0-1
Aug. 8, 1973 Friendly 0-1
June 10, 1978 FIFA World Cup 1-3
Feb. 5, 1985 Friendly 5-0
Feb. 14, 1989 Friendly 3-1
Sep. 29, 1993 Friendly 0-0
About Soccer United Marketing
Founded in 2002, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) is the preeminent commercial soccer company in the United States. SUM holds the exclusive rights to the most important soccer properties in the nation, including: all commercial rights to Major League Soccer; the United States Soccer Federation and all men's and women's national teams; promotional and marketing rights to Mexican National Team games on U.S. soil; and marketing, promotional and broadcast rights to the prestigious eight-team Mexican club tournament - InterLiga(tm). In addition, SUM holds the English-language broadcast rights in the U.S. to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(tm). The most recent addition to SUM's portfolio is the CONCACAF Gold Cup(tm), with promotional and on-site activation rights to the region's premier soccer tournament for national teams. This extensive list of holdings is represented by SUM's slogan: One Sport. One Company.
