questionable
Marsch, Jesse - R ankle cartilage damage -- out
Razov, Ante - R ankle sprain -- questionable
Whitfield, Evan - R abdominal strain -- doubtful
Fire Set for Second Doubleheader This Saturday at Soldier Field
One week, two days, four games. That's the schedule of soccer at Soldier Field that will conclude this Saturday, July 17 when the Chicago Fire hosts its second doubleheader in seven days. The night's festivities will begin when the Fire hosts the MetroStars for the second time this season in a match that kicks off at 7:00 pm. CT. The match was previously scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. CT kick-off, but the start time has been moved up to 7:00 p.m. CT to accommodate the doubleheader. Fans can follow the Eastern Conference showdown live via radio stations WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish) and WNVR 1030 AM (Polish) and online via the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com (English). The evening will continue at 9:30 p.m. CT when the Fire's Mexican League sister club, Monarcas de Atletico Morelia, takes on another popular Mexican club side, Necaxa, in the nightcap. Note to Media: Fire season credentials WILL be honored for this Saturday's doubleheader. Media should use parking pass NINE, which was originally scheduled for July 24.
Tickets to the doubleheader are still available and range from $20 (Firehouse) to $45 (VIP). Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-559-1212. Tickets can also be purchased at the Chicago Fire offices, 980 N. Michigan, Suite 1998 in Chicago, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
The Mexican teams are expected to field their full squads for the exhibition contest as they prepare to enter the 2004 COMEX Apertura (Fall) season in August. Chicago's large Michoacan community will get its first chance in over two years to see Morelia, the Fire's Mexican League sister club, in person. The last time the "Monarchs" came to Chicagoland was on July 10, 2002, when Morelia knocked the Fire out of the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup despite the "Men in Red" claiming a 2-1 win at Naperville's Cardinal Stadium. Three-time Mexican League champions Necaxa will bring a talented roster of players that includes former U.N.A.M. (Pumas) megastar and Mexican National team member Braulio Luna and former MetroStars and New England Revolution standout Daniel Hernandez.
Fire to Unveil New Puma Third Kit Saturday Night; FireWorks For Kids Foundation to Auction Off New Duds
The "Men in Red" will take on a different hue or two this Saturday, as the club will debut its new Puma-produced third kits during the first match of Saturday's Fire-Monarcas Morelia doubleheader at Soldier Field. The Saturday unveiling of the Fire's alternate uniform is fitting, as the uniform is a tribute to the team's partnership with its Mexican sister club Morelia, as Chicago will don the yellow, red and blue of the popular Michoacan club. The third kit features a yellow shirt with the traditional "FIRE" logo, numbers and trim in red and the crests of both the Fire and Monarcas on the chest to go along with blue shorts and socks.
The members of the Fire won't have long to enjoy their new look, as the FireWorks for Kids Foundation will be selling the jersey of each Fire player to the highest bidders during its annual Jersey Auction at Saturday's contest. Fans can bid on the jersey of their favorite member of the "Men in Red" at the FWFK booth, located at Gate 0 at Soldier Field, until halftime of the Fire match Saturday night. The winners of each auction will not only receive the jersey, but will also have the opportunity to get their shirt signed by the Fire player whose back it come off of after the night's first match. All proceeds from the Jersey Auction will go directly to the FireWorks for Kids Foundation. For more information on the FWFK Jersey Auction, please call the FWFK offices at 312-705-7218.
Fire - U.S. Soccer Doubleheader Produces Record Crowd
With a little help from its friends, the Chicago Fire played in front of a record crowd at Soldier Field on Sunday night. The historic Fire- U.S. Soccer doubleheader yesterday produced an audience of 39,529, marking the largest crowd ever to watch the Fire at the lakefront venue. The assembled masses watched a pair of entertaining 1-1 draws between the Fire and New England Revolution and the U.S. Men's National Team and its counterpart from Poland. Sunday's audience surpassed the club's previous high of 37,122, a mark that stood nearly six years and was set during the Fire's inaugural season on Aug. 8, 1998 for a contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the old Soldier Field.
Fire and Home Run Inn to Host Copa America Viewing Party for Mexico - Ecuador Tuesday
The Chicago Fire has announced that it will host a viewing party for Tuesday's Copa America match between Mexico and Ecuador at the Home Run Inn, located at 4254 West 31st St. in Chicago, beginning at 5:15 p.m. CT. Fans are invited to enjoy free food courtesy of the Fire (first come, first serve) and Budweiser drink specials while watching the "Tricolores" take on Ecuador in the club's attempt to advance to the quarterfinal round of the prestigious international competition. Fans will also have the chance to win cool Fire and Budweiser prizes and can also receive information on how to purchase tickets to this Saturday's upcoming Fire - Monarcas Morelia doubleheader at Soldier Field. For more information on the Home Run Inn viewing party, please contact the Chicago Fire offices at 312-705-7211.
Fire Lands Five Starters On East Squad for Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game
The Chicago Fire will have plenty of representation in Washington, D.C. during this election year, as Major League Soccer has announced that five members of the Fire have been named to the Eastern Conference's starting XI in the 2004 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, which will take place at RFK Stadium in the Nation's Capital on July 31 at 1:00 p.m. CT (live on ABC Sports). The Fire contingent is led by midfielders Chris Armas, who will be making his seventh appearance in the MLS midseason classic, and DaMarcus Beasley, who will play in his fourth consecutive All-Star match. The three remaining Fire starters on the East squad - goalkeeper Henry Ring, defender Jim Curtin and forward Damani Ralph - will all be making their first-ever appearance in an MLS All-Star Game.
Got Capano? Midfielder to Get Taste of Northern Ireland Milk Cup With U.S. U-20s
Fire midfielder Craig Capano will depart the club on Tuesday to join the United States Under-20 Men's National Team that will compete in the prestigious Northern Ireland Milk Cup from July 17-23. The 19-year-old Capano, who has captained coach Thomas Rongen's U-20 squads in its last two contests, will be unavailable for the Fire for four matches (7-14 @ NE, 7-17 vs. MET, 7-20 @ CLB, 7-24 @ MET) during his time with the U-20s. The U.S.A. youth side will open play in the eight-team Elite Division with group matches against Denmark this Saturday, July 17 (9:15 a.m. CT); Turkey on Monday, July 19 (1:00 p.m. CT) and Wales on Wednesday, July 21 (6:00 a.m. CT) before finishing the tournament with a placement match against either Brazil, Israel, Northern Ireland or Russia on Friday, July 23.
Armas to Be Inducted Into Long Island Rough Riders Hall of Fame Tuesday
Fire captain Chris Armas will return to his first professional club on Tuesday, July 13, when he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the United Soccer League (USL) Pro Soccer League's (PSL) Long Island Rough Riders. The native of Brentwood, NY will be inducted into the Rough Riders Hall of Fame during halftime of "The Battle for New York," pitting the PSL side against the MetroStars at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY. During his two seasons with the Rough Riders, Armas led the club in scoring in its inaugural season in 1994 and helped the club to its first USISL Championship in 1995 before departing for a career in Major League Soccer.
Fire Academy Camps Coming to Cicero, Naperville and UIC Next Week
The Chicago Fire Youth Development Department will be coming to Cicero, Naperville and the heart of Chicago next week as its Chicago Fire Academy Camps series continues to blanket the Chicagoland area. Spots are still available for each location for next week's camps, which will run from Monday, July 19 through Friday, July 23 and feature both the Academy's development and advanced programs. Sites and times for each venue are listed below. To register for a camp or to receive more information about the Fire Academy Camps or the Fire Youth Development Program, please contact Roland Hahn at 312-705-7212 or Paul Cadwell at 312-7250.
Cicero, IL: Morton College - Advanced and Development Camps from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT.
Naperville, IL: North Central College - Development Camp from 1:00-4:00 p.m. CT; Advanced Camp from 5:00-8:00 p.m. CT.
Chicago, IL: University of Illinois @ Chicago - Advanced and Development Camps from 2:30-5:30 p.m. CT.
Etc.
