CHICAGO FIRE BUSY RUN CONTINUES WITH TWO GAMES THIS WEEK
The Chicago Fire (2-3-7, 13 points) continue their busy stretch with their second and third games in seven days when they head to the Rockies to face the Colorado Rapids (6-4-3, 21 points) on Wednesday, June 4 at 8 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley 107.9 FM). With a quick turnaround, the Fire then host league-leading Seattle Sounders FC (9-3-2, 29 points) on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9 FM).
The Rapids enter the match after defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-0 at home on Sunday evening.
The Sounders enter the weekend after a 4-0 home win over Real Salt Lake. Tickets to the match, presented by Athletico Physical Therapy, are available via Ticketmaster,www.Chicago-Fire.com or 888-MLS-FIRE. The first 5,000 fans in the stadium will receive a drawstring backpack.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: June 3 – June 13
Tuesday, June 3 Training 10:30 a.m. CT – Toyota Park^ - Entire session open to media – Media availability will take place immediately following training
Travel to Colorado
Wednesday, June 4 Chicago Fire at Colorado Rapids – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colo. – 8 p.m. CT – My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley 107.9 FM
Thursday, June 5 Return to Chicago
Friday, June 6 Training 10:30 a.m. CT – Toyota Park^
Saturday, June 7 Chicago Fire vs. Seattle Sounders FC – Toyota Park – 7:30 p.m. CT – My50/La Ley 107.9 FM
Sunday, June 8 Meet The Team Chicago Fire Season Ticket Holder Event
Monday, June 9 Off
Tuesday, June 10 Off
Wednesday, June 11 Off
Thursday, June 12 Off
Friday, June 13 Training 10:30 a.m. CT – Toyota Park^
Training will take place on the Toyota Park Practice Field unless otherwise noted.
^Media availability will be held in the Toyota Park Media Room one hour prior to the listed start time of training and will run for approximately 45 minutes, typically from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Training will be open to media for the first 15 minutes of the session.
Media members interested in attending training are asked to RSVP to Eunice Kim at ekim@chicago-fire.comthe evening before each session with the names of the players they are requesting to speak with to ensure that players are notified and available for interviews. Training times and locations are subject to change. Media members that have sent an email RSVP will be alerted of any changes.
CHICAGO FIRE AT COLORADO RAPIDS
- The Fire are 18-12-8 all-time against the Rapids in regular season play including 3-9-6 in matches played on the road.
- Two current Fire players spent time with the Rapids. Forward Quincy Amarikwa and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz played for the rapids from 2010-12, leading the team to their first MLS Cup championship in 2010.
- Fire Homegrown midfielder Harry Shipp will face two former Notre Dame teammates in Rapids midfielder and 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year Dillon Powers and defender Grant Van De Casteele.
CHICAGO FIRE VS. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
- The Fire are 0-4-4 against the Sounders, and 0-2-2 in matches played at Toyota Park.
- Fire defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Patrick Ianni joined the Fire in a trade on Jan. 15, 2014 in exchange for defender Jalil Anibaba. Hurtado signed with the Sounders in 2009 and made 108 regular season appearances for the Sounders in five seasons. Ianni also spent five seasons with the Sounders, scoring three goals in 83 appearances, including the 2012 MLS Goal of the Year.
- Three current Sounders got their MLS starts with the Fire. Chad Barrett was selected third overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by the Fire, scoring 18 goals in 82 regular season appearances before he was traded to Toronto FC in 2008.
- Midfielder Marco Pappa joined the Fire on loan from Guatemalan side C.S.D. Municipal in 2008 and officially signed with the Fire after a two-year loan. Pappa made 112 appearances and scored 26 goals before he departed for Dutch side Heerenveen in August 2012.
- The Fire selected current Seattle defender Jalil Anibaba 9th overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. In three seasons, the Davis, Calif. native played 96 regular season games for the Fire, scoring four goals and tallying five assists in three seasons.
CHICAGO FIRE TO HOST FOURTH ROUND LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP MATCH
The Chicago Fire will begin the journey for its fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in the fourth round of the storied tournament on Wednesday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Park against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO).
Single game tickets are currently on sale and available via Ticketmaster, www.Chicago-Fire.com, at the Toyota Park Box Office and by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
Fire Season Ticket Holder tickets are currently available on Account Manager. Group tickets are also available at a discounted price by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
Since 1998, the Fire have compiled an impressive 33-11-4 record in Open Cup play, 21-1-1 in matches played in the state of Illinois, reaching the semifinal round nine out of 16 times and the final six times. The Fire have previously hoisted the coveted Dewar Trophy four times, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The 2006 title marked the ninth time a team from Chicago won the Open Cup and made the Fire one of six teams to capture the crown at least four times in the tournament's 100-year-long history.
CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL “FIRE,BREWS AND BITES” BEER TASTING EVENT
The Chicago Fire Foundation will host its third annual “Fire, Brews and Bites” beer tasting event at Carmichael’s Steakhouse (1052 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Ill., 60607) on Saturday, June 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT.
The event will consist of an afternoon of beer, soccer and food as guests have an opportunity to taste a variety of samples from local breweries and snack on appetizers provided by Carmichael’s Steakhouse while catching international soccer games on the big screen.
This year’s beer tasting is highlighted by samples from Revolution Brewing, Chicago’s new hometown craft brewery located in Logan Square, 3 Floyds Brewery Co., and many other local favorites.
Tickets, which include a beer tasting, appetizers and a commemorative gift item, start at $40 and can be purchased here. Guests must be 21 years or over to attend. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.
CHICAGO FIRE HOST TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC JULY 26 AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will welcome Barclays Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to Toyota Park in an international friendly on Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2).
This is just the fifth time that the Fire will welcome an English side to the Chicagoland area. The Men in Red are 2-2-0 in international friendlies against clubs from England, including Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton and Derby County.
Tickets for July 26 friendly against the Spurs and to the Fire’s MLS Regular Season home matches are available via Ticketmasterandwww.Chicago-Fire.com.
ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is a premier franchise of Major League Soccer (MLS). We provide an engaging and authentic soccer experience for the city of Chicago and for all of our supporters around the world. The Fire enters its 17th season in 2014 looking to continue its winning legacy both on and off the pitch. The Club proudly embodies the spirit and diversity of our sport, and since its inception in 1997, the Fire have captured an MLS Cup in 1998, and remains the only MLS team to have won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times. The Fire's home venue is Toyota Park, a world-class soccer stadium located minutes from downtown Chicago in Bridgeview, Ill. For more information on the Fire and to purchase tickets, please visit the Club's official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
