Tryout to Join the Chicago Fire Ahead of the 2012 Campaign
At the Fire’s Third Annual Open Tryout in January, Chicago Fire defender Pari Pantazopoulos emerged from a group of over 200 participants from 19 different countries to win the club’s Open Tryout and a spot on the first team’s preseason roster. The Mt. Prospect, IL product advanced through all three phases of the club’s preseason camp to sign on as a member of the Chicago Fire. Pantazopoulos made his first team debut on June 28, 2011 in a U.S. Open Cup match vs. the Rochester Rhinos and went on to appear in the club’s midseason friendly against English giants Manchester United at Soldier Field on July 23.
Early tryout registration is $150 (non-refundable) if done before Friday, Nov. 18 at 5pm CT ($175 afterwards) with each player guaranteed an hour of playing time. Space at the tryout is limited. All interested players must register online by visiting Chicago-Fire.com: http://www.chicago-fire.com/development/open-tryouts. Applications must be submitted online and applicants must have a valid e-mail address as registration forms will not be accepted via fax or over the phone. All registrants will be contacted with a schedule via e-mail on or before Tuesday, Dec. 13.
The registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 12 at 5 PM CT. No registration forms will be accepted after that date.
Questions can be answered by calling (708) 496-6649 or by e-mailing [email protected]. For more information visit the club’s official website www.chicago-fire.com.
TRYOUT FORMAT*:
The first round of tryouts will take place on Thursday, Dec. 15 (Regional Participants) and Friday, Dec. 16 (Long Distance Participants) from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CT. Each player is required to attend the first round of tryouts and is guaranteed one hour of playing time. Each registrant will receive their time slot via email on or before Tuesday, Dec. 13. All players will be notified on site if they are to return for Day Three of the tryouts on Saturday, December 17 at 9:00 AM CT.
Day 1 December 15 (Regional Participants)
Day 2 December 16 (International/Long Distance Participants)
Day 3 December 17 (Call backs from previous two days)
Day (1) & Day (2)
Players will be placed into teams of (8) v (8) + goalkeepers and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Players will be notified on site if they have been selected for the next stage.
DAY (3)
Players will be placed into teams of (11) v (11) and each team will be allocated a one hour time slot. Systematically players will be selected to move onto the next stage or notified if they have been cut.
*Information is subject to change.
ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer’s national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into its world-class home of TOYOTA PARK, located in Bridgeview, IL. For more information on the Chicago Fire, please visit the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
ABOUT TOYOTA PARK
Located 15 minutes from downtown Chicago and minutes from Midway airport off of I-55 on Harlem Avenue, TOYOTA PARK is the Midwest’s preeminent outdoor live entertainment and sporting facility. Opened in 2006, TOYOTA PARK not only serves as the home of the Chicago Fire, but also hosts a variety of sporting events, special events and concerts by national and international artists. In 2010, TOYOTA PARK hosted Jimmy Buffett and Phish, while welcoming back Eric Clapton and his Crossroads tour.