BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (March 6, 2019) – Chicago Fire Soccer Club today announced its broadcast team for the 2019 season for locally broadcast matches on ESPN+. Returning to the booth are Dan Kelly (play-by-play) and Frank Klopas (color analyst), while Chicago native Brittany Arnold will join the team and serve as the Club’s host and sideline reporter.
The Fire will make its 2019 debut on ESPN+ in its home opener on Saturday, March 9 against Orlando City SC. Coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. CT with a live pregame show on ESPN+ presented by CIBC.
ESPN+ will have exclusive coverage of 28 Fire matches in 2019. Because ESPN+ is also the exclusive home for all MLS LIVE out-of-market matches, Fire fans – both in Chicago and around the country – will be able to watch all 28 ESPN+ matches anywhere in the U.S. The Fire’s other six regular season games will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and Univision.
Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and experience the platform on any of the following devices: Apple TV, iPhone, iPad; Android phone, tablet and TV; Roku; Fire TV and Fire tablet; Chromecast, Oculus Go, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV.
The 2019 season marks Kelly’s 10th campaign as a member of the Chicago Fire’s broadcast team. A native of St. Louis, MO., Kelly previously called play-by-play for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Additionally, Kelly has served as the play-by-play announcer for the Big Ten Network, including men’s and women’s soccer, and the men’s hockey team at the University of Denver.
Klopas is entering his fourth season as the color commentator for the Men in Red. As a player, he returned to Chicago ahead of the 1998 MLS campaign and helped his hometown team achieve the double in its expansion season. Klopas played a key role in the team’s 2-0 win over D.C. United in the 1998 MLS Cup before scoring the Golden Goal in the team’s 2-1 win over Columbus Crew SC in the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final just days later. Additionally, Klopas served as the head coach of the Fire from 2011-13. He has also earned 39 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, scoring 12 goals.
A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, Arnold is an experienced soccer host and reporter who has covered national and regional broadcasts since 2012. She served as the first-ever team reporter for Atlanta United FC in 2017, hosting a weekly show on regional sports network FOX Sports South that focused on the team, coaching staff and the club’s inaugural season. Additionally, Arnold served as the sideline reporter for each of the team’s matches during its 2017 expansion season. Prior to joining Atlanta United, she hosted beIn Sports’ coverage of international soccer – covering MLS, English Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
Below are the Club’s matches that will be shown live on ESPN+ in 2019:
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Kickoff (CT)</strong> |
<strong>Broadcast</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, March 9</strong> |
<strong>ORLANDO CITY SC</strong> |
<strong>Noon</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, March 16</strong> |
<strong>SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC</strong> |
<strong>Noon</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, March 30</strong> |
<strong>NEW YORK RED BULLS</strong> |
<strong>Noon</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Saturday, April 6</p> |
<p>at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>2:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Friday, April 12</strong> |
<strong>VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, April 20</strong> |
<strong>COLORADO RAPIDS</strong> |
<strong>Noon</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, April 24</p> |
<p>at New York City FC</p> |
<p>6:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<p>Sunday, April 28</p> |
<p>at Montreal Impact</p> |
<p>11:30 a.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN +</p> |
<p>Saturday, May 4</p> |
<p>at Los Angeles FC</p> |
<p>9:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Wednesday, May 8</strong> |
<strong>NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, May 11</strong> |
<strong>MINNESOTA UNITED FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, May 29</p> |
<p>at D.C. United</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Saturday, June 22</strong> |
<strong>REAL SALT LAKE</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, July 3</strong> |
<strong>ATLANTA UNITED FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Saturday, July 6</p> |
<p>at Sporting Kansas City</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Saturday, July 13</strong> |
<strong>FC CINCINNATI</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, July 17</strong> |
<strong>COLUMBUS CREW SC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Saturday, July 20</p> |
<p>at Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Saturday, July 27</strong> |
<strong>D.C. UNITED</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Saturday, Aug. 3</p> |
<p>at Houston Dynamo</p> |
<p>8:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Saturday, Aug. 10</strong> |
<strong>MONTREAL IMPACT</strong> |
<strong>8:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, Aug. 14</p> |
<p>at Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>10:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Saturday, Aug. 17</strong> |
<strong>PHILADELPHIA UNION</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Saturday, Aug. 24</p> |
<p>at New England Revolution</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<p>Saturday, Aug. 31</p> |
<p>at Columbus Crew SC</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<p>Saturday, Sept. 21</p> |
<p>at FC Cincinnati</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
<strong>Sunday, Sept. 29</strong> |
<strong>TORONTO FC</strong> |
<strong>4:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>ESPN+</strong> |
<p>Sunday, Oct. 6</p> |
<p>at Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>3:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>ESPN+</p> |
About ESPN+
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