CHICAGO (September 8, 2014) — The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is set to celebrate Latin American Heritage Night as the Men In Red take on Toronto FC on Saturday, September 13, presented by Vivir. With kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Park, the match will feature Latin American-themed entertainment and game elements, including Latin music throughout warm-ups, a display of Latin American flags during the pre-match procession, and a special game day program featuring a poster of the Fire’s Latin American players.
Pre-game festivities will also include a brief recognition of Costa Rican defender Gonzalo Segares, who was selected as the 2014 Modern Hispanic Gentleman for his charitable efforts within the Chicagoland community. Segares, along with fellow Latin American teammates Benji Joya and Alex, will be among the players highlighted throughout the night.
In addition, Mexican food trucks, such as The Salsa Truck will be on site at Fire Fest, the Club’s pre-game interactive festival, and $7 Jose Cuervo margarita specials will be available at liquor stands near sections 110, 118 and 123.
“As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on September 15, we are excited to help jumpstart the festivities here in Chicago with a match dedicated to celebrating the rich, vibrant Latin American culture,” said Chicago Fire COO Atul Khosla.
The celebration will continue into halftime as the Club acknowledges the 2014 Fiesta del Sol Guadalupe A. Reyes Scholarship recipients. Awarded to Latin American students each year, the scholarship aims to provide financial aid to deserving individuals who demonstrate commitment to service within their community or school. This year’s winners, chosen by the scholarship committee for Fiesta del Sol, the largest annual Latino festival in the Midwest, will be recognized on field as a part of the Fire’s Latin American Heritage Night festivities.
“Fiesta del Sol and Pilsen Neighbors is proud to partner with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club on Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize this year’s scholarship recipients,” said Gardenia Rangel, Fiesta del Sol Co-Chair. “These students are our future leaders and already demonstrate outstanding leadership. The opportunity that the Fire has presented for them to be recognized on the field is not only an exciting one, but also allows us to highlight these exceptional individuals by giving them the recognition they deserve, in front of a crowd of Fire fans, as they receive our highly competitive scholarship award.”
For more information on the match or to purchase tickets, please visit www.chicago-fire.com.
