CHICAGO FIRE CONTINUE TO BUILD ROSTER AT 2015 MLS SUPERDRAFT
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club continues its preparations for the upcoming season at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The Fire currently hold the seventh and 28th picks in the SuperDraft, set for Thursday, Jan. 15 at 11:30 a.m. CT in Philadelphia, Pa. The SuperDraft will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com.
Six players on the current roster got their professional start through the MLS SuperDraft:
- Mike Magee – Selected in the first round (fourth overall) by the MetroStars in 2003.
- Patrick Nyarko – Selected in the first round (seventh overall) by the Fire in 2008.
- Quincy Amarikwa – Selected in the third round (32nd overall) by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2009.
- Sean Johnson – Selected in the fourth round (51st overall) by the Fire in 2010.
- Greg Cochrane – Selected in the second round (38th overall) by the LA Galaxy in 2013.
Additionally, assistant coach Clint Mathis was selected in the first round (sixth overall) in the 1998 MLS College Draft by the LA Galaxy.
The full SuperDraft order can be found here.
CHICAGO FIRE PLAYERS RETURN TO TOYOTA PARK ON SUNDAY, JAN. 25
Chicago Fire players return to Toyota Park on Sunday, Jan. 25 for entrance physicals and will hold the first media availability of 2015 on Monday, Jan. 26.
The Fire will train in the Chicagoland area for six days from Jan. 26-31, utilizing the new PrivateBank Fire Pitch located on the north side of the city (3626 N. Talman Avenue) and the Bridgeview Sports Dome (8900 South 77th Avenue).
The Fire then head to England from Feb. 1 through Feb. 13. While in England, the Men in Red first train at the Norwich City Football Club Colney Training Centre from Feb. 2-10 prior to spending the final four days training in London at the Queens Park Rangers Training Centre.
For the final leg, the Men in Red close out preseason from Feb. 19 – March 1 in Portland, Ore. as part of The 2015 Simple Invitational where they face fellow MLS sides Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps SC, and Norwegian Tippeligaen club Stabaek, led by former Fire Head Coach Bob Bradley. Tickets for The 2015 Simple Invitational are available at www.timbers.com.
FIRE ROSTER TAKES SHAPE WITH NINE ADDITIONS
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Yallop continues to build his roster, adding nine new players to the team since the conclusion of the 2014 season.
Signed to a Designated Player contract in early December, Nigerian striker Kennedy Igboananike joins the Fire from Swedish Allsvenskan side AIK. The second Designated Player added to the roster is striker David Accam, who recently plied his trade with Swedish side Helsingborgs IF. The 24-year-old striker is currently with Ghana as they compete in the 2015 African Cup of Nations.
Two Homegrown Players joined the first team in Patrick Doody, who recently capped off a standout collegiate career at Indiana University, and 17-year-old Fire Academy product Collin Fernandez.
Naperville, Ill. native and Fire PDL product Michael Stephens was acquired from Norwegian Tippeligaen side Stabaek. Another Fire PDL alum Eric Gehrig joined the Fire in a trade with Orlando City SC, bringing the total count of local players on the Fire roster to seven.
Depth and experience was added with the signings of Trinidad and Tobago international defender Joevin Jones, Brazilian center back Adailton and Brazilian striker Guly do Prado.
The full list of Fire transactions can be found at www.chicago-fire.com/transactiontracker.
CHICAGO FIRE HOST OPENING DAY AT TOYOTA PARK ON MARCH 14
The Fire host Opening Day at Toyota Park when they welcome Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 14 at 5 p.m. CT. The Men in Red open the season the week prior on the road, taking on defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. on Friday, March 6 at 9 p.m. CT (UniMas).
Chicago Fire single game tickets go on sale on Friday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. CT on www.chicago-fire.com. Chicago Fire season tickets and group tickets for the 2015 season are now available by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
The Fire’s full schedule can be found at www.chicago-fire.com/schedule.
CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION HOSTS SEASON KICKOFF LUNCHEON PRESENTED BY MAGELLAN CORPORATION
The Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, will hold its 17th annual Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon presented by Magellan Corporation on Monday, March 2 at 11 a.m. CT at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601).
The annual event, benefitting the Chicago Fire Foundation, offers Fire supporters the first opportunity to meet the 2015 Chicago Fire team and raise funds in the name of charity. In addition to interacting with Fire players, coaches and technical staff, the event includes a reception, lunch and silent auction where attendees can bid on autographed Fire and other sports memorabilia, gift certificates and much more. In 2014, the Season Kickoff Luncheon raised more than $70,000 benefiting soccer and education programs for underprivileged Chicagoland youths.
Tickets are now on sale here or by contacting Crystal Hassinger at 708-496-6657 or chassinger@chicago-fire.com. Through Jan. 31, early bird tickets start at $80 a person, with full tables for 10 guests starting at $750. The first 20 tables purchased for $850 will be seated with a member of the Fire first team or coaching staff.
On Feb. 1 the ticket prices will go up to $90 a person, with full tables for 10 guests at $850. Remaining player tables will be $1,000.
