The days are quickly counting down to this year's MLS All-Star Week in Chicago, where some of the biggest stars of MLS will face off against Real Madrid in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game, presented by Target. Don't get caught out with FOMO once the fun hits your pals' social media -- make your plans now to turn this into your own ultimate summer road trip. Here are five reasons to hit the road to the festivities....
Stu Holden and Landon Donovan with Facebook employees during last year's festivities; photo via USA Today Sports Images
You never know who you might bump into (literally).
Imagine the whole traveling circus of the MLS scene, converging in one, relatively small geographical area. The chance that you could run into your personal MLS all-star favs is pretty high, whether it’s at one of our official events, or just hanging around town.
The Kimball House -- or part of the current home of U.S. Soccer -- on Prairie Avenue; photo via Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. Soccer House is a must-stop photo op.
The home of U.S. Soccer, at 1801 Prairie Ave., offers a killer photo opp and a bang for your buck if you’re a geek about the game, architecture, and the movies. The federation currently occupies two historic mansions in Chicago’s Prairie Avenue district dating to the 1870s, and while you can’t just pop in unannounced, you can surely take a browse around the outside. Recognize the place for non-soccer reasons? That’s because it’s also a popular filming location. (Richard Gere’s classic Primal Fear, anyone?)
North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Photo by benisntfunny on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Catch a pick-up game in a truly Insta-worthy setting.
If you’re looking to play while you travel, Chicago’s got you more than covered. The North Avenue fields off Lakeshore Drive offer organized kickabouts and pick-up games against a killer backdrop of the city skyline.
Just north of the city, the Fire have their own Fire Pitch, too, which you can visit anyways for an MLS viewing party on Saturday, July 29.
And there’s always beach soccer, too. You can play some on Sunday, July 30, courtesy of MLS, at the city’s famous North Avenue Beach. More details here.
Watch the MLS Homegrown Game, catch a live taping of Men in Blazers, check out a free X Ambassadors concert, or get to any of the other All-Star week events in the lead-up to the match.
The Men in Blazers taping and concert are free-99 if you download the free MLS Mobile Fan Pass. Some other events – like the MLS Homegrown Game, or open trainings for Real Madrid and the MLS All-Stars – are a bargain with your ticket package. Go here to read up on everything that’s happening in the days leading up to the match.
A huddle from last year's match; photo via USA Today Sports Images
Get up close and personal with the drama of the match itself.
Your favorites, some of the best in MLS, face off with Real Madrid, some of the best in the world, in front of tens of thousands of fans at Soldier Field. And it’s a pretty sweet bargain for the buck. Forget the FOMO and get tickets now, before they run out.
