Tuesday, April 14 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 15 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, April 16 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 17 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 18 Chicago vs. Kansas City–TOYOTA PARK – FSC/FSE–7:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 19 Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder Meet the Team event at Best Buy**
**For more information about becoming and Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder, call 888-MLS-FIRE.
MCBRIDE NOMINATED FOR GOAL OF THE WEEK
Fire forward Brian McBride is among this week’s nominees for MLS Goal of the Week. McBride contributed the Fire’s second goal last Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 3-3 road tie. In the 57th minute, Bakary Soumare played a ball out of the backfield which Cuauhtémoc Blanco headed on to McBride positioned at the top of the 18-yard box. McBride volleyed the ball with his left foot and finished on a shot with his right. Fans can vote for McBride’s goal by CLICKING HERE.
SATURDAY NIGHT IS COLLEGE NIGHT AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire are hosting College Night this Saturday, April 18, at TOYOTA PARK during the Fire match against the Kansas City Wizards. The first 500 college students with a valid student ID card can purchase tickets for just $15 at the TOYOTA PARK box office on game day. While at the game, all fans will enjoy $1 hot dogs all night and a 50 team bags tournament with great Chicago Fire prizes in FireFest. The Fire will also host college bands from around the Chicagoland area to perform in FireFest before the game. For more information about College Night, call 888-MLS-FIRE or email [email protected]
THE 2009 NOTHING BUT NETS CHALLENGE IS ON
Chicago Fire Soccer is one of four MLS teams in a 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 can contribute to the cause by visiting www.mynothingbutnets.net/chicagofire, or clicking on the NOTHING BUT NETS TEAM CHALLENGE button on the team’s official website, www.chicago-fire.com.
CHICAGO FIRE 2009 MEET THE TEAM THIS SUNDAY
The Chicago Fire will hold the 2009 Meet the Team event for Lower Bowl Full Season and Ten Game Plan Holders on Sunday, April 19 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. CT at the Best Buy location at 2100 N. Elston Ave. Season ticket holders will have the opportunity to mingle with the entire Chicago Fire roster and coaching staff, receive a free 2009 Meet the Team Poster, enjoy Connie’s Pizza and are automatically entered a raffle for great prizes like Jimmy Buffett concert tickets, 2009 team signed jersey’s and soccer balls. Season Ticket Holders will also receive special discounts on select Best Buy merchandise on April 19 from Noon-7 p.m. For more information on how to become a 2009 Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder, call 888-MLS-FIRE or email [email protected].
Media interested in covering this event must contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department by Friday at 5 p.m. for event credentials and information.
ALBERTO LOPEZ FROM AURORA WINS SUEÑO MLS 2009
Alberto Lopez, a promising 17-year-old midfielder from Aurora, IL, won the nationally-televised player search Sueño MLS 2009 – built by The Home Depot last Sunday. In additional to being named the Sueño MLS 09 Champion, Lopez received an invitation to join the Chicago Fire Juniors program. Lopez was one of 12 national finalists who emerged from the 1,800 aspiring players that participated in regional tryouts in Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago. The “Final 12” gathered April 8 in Los Angeles for four days of intense pro-style training sessions, scrimmages against the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA Under-18 teams and various media activities – all under the leadership of two-time MLS head coach and current MLS Technical Director, Alfonso Mondelo. Lopez was officially presented as the winner today, Sunday, April 12, live (EST) on “República Deportiva” (Sports Republic), the popular Univision weekly Spanish-language sports show that chronicles the tryouts in a “reality show within a show” format.
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS UNTIL THE FIRE FACE CLUB AMERICA ON APRIL 29 AT TOYOTA PARK
In less than three weeks, the Chicago Fire and Club America of the Mexican Primera Division will play the first first game of their home-and-home series at TOYOTA PARK on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Details about the Fire’s away match against Cuauhtémoc Blanco’s former team Club America at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will be announced at a later date. Individual tickets are available starting at $26 through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, by calling 888-MLS-FIRE, or by visiting www.chicago-fire.com. The exhibition is included in Chicago Fire season ticket packages and Ten Game Plans.
PHISH SUMMER TOUR STOPS AT TOYOTA PARK
On their first summer tour in five years, Phish has announced a concert date at TOYOTA PARK on Tuesday, August 11th. Tickets are on sale now. Reserved and general admission tickets are priced at just $49.50 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the TOYOTA PARK ticket offices, Ticketmaster.com and by calling (800) 745-3000.
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).