FIRE DESCEND UPON SUNSHINE STATE; FIRST MATCH OF THE PRESEASON SET FOR THURSDAY
The Chicago Fire embark on the second leg of their 2011 preseason camp as the Men in Red descend upon Florida for two weeks of outdoor training in Ave Maria, Florida. The Fire will see their first on-field action of the preseason on Thursday when they face off against Florida Gulf Coast University at Ave Maria University at 6 PM CT.
The club released Nate Weiss, Graham Dugoni, Pedro Chicarelli, Leonardo, Matt Glaeser and Amadou Sanyang from camp as the team transitioned into phase two of preseason training. Joining the eight remaining trialists who participated in the Bridgeview sessions are Shane Clark, Gabriel Ferrari, Jordan Seabrook, Evan Schwarz, Joachim Bendu, Orr Barouch and two unnamed trialists. A total of 16 trialists, 20 signed players and three draft picks will spend the next 13 days working toward an Opening Day roster spot.
Coach Carlos de los Cobos’ side will meet their first MLS opponent of the preseason when the Fire take on the New York Red Bulls in a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL at 10 AM and noon CT. The Fire will play Seattle Sounders FC at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2:00 PM ET and an additional exhibition match while in Florida, that opponent, date and time will be announced at a later date.
CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE: February 15 – February 20
Chicago Fire players and coaches will be made available to media at Ave Maria University following each training session during double-days this week. Media are able to begin conducting interviews after training, which runs approximately two hours.
Tuesday, Feb. 15: Training 9 AM / 5 PM – OPEN TO MEDIA*^
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Training 9 AM / 5 PM – OPEN TO MEDIA*^
Thursday, Feb. 17: Chicago Fire vs. Florida Gulf Coast University – Ave Maria University – 6 PM CT*
Friday, Feb. 18: Training 9 AM / 5 PM – OPEN TO MEDIA*^
Saturday, Feb. 19: Training 9 AM / 5 PM – OPEN TO MEDIA*^
Sunday, Feb. 20: Training 9 AM / 5 PM – OPEN TO MEDIA*^
*Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training, which runs approximately two hours.
^Training times are subject to change. Please contact Brendan Hannan at 708.496.6725 for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE 2011 MLS SCHEDULE RELEASED
The 2011 Chicago Fire schedule was released last Thursday and the Fire are slated to appear in a total of 11 nationally televised broadcasts throughout its 14th season of MLS play. The Men in Red will play each of the other 17 clubs once at home, once away for a balanced, 34-game season. The Fire’s full schedule can be seen at www.Chicago-Fire.com/schedule.
The Fire host Opening Day at TOYOTA PARK against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 26 at 3:00 PM CT live on TeleFutura. Chicago Fire Season Tickets are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at Chicago-Fire.com.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS GO ON-SALE MONDAY, FEB. 14
Chicago Fire single game tickets went on sale Monday, Feb. 14 at 10 AM CT and can be purchased by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473) or heading to the club’s official website at Chicago-Fire.com or by clicking here.
To commemorate the Fire’s founding and mark the 140th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Men in Red will hold their 14th Anniversary Match at TOYOTA PARK on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 8:00 PM CT against MLS Cup runners-up FC Dallas. The anniversary match, annually held on Oct. 8, was pushed back four days due to FIFA fixed competition dates on Oct. 7-11.
Highlights for the 2011 campaign include when Carlos de los Cobos’ men welcome Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel and the LA Galaxy for the second match of the season at TOYOTA PARK on Sunday, April 17 at 3:00 PM CT (TeleFutura) and when long-time Eastern Conference rivals New York Red Bull visit TOYOTA PARK on Sunday, June 26 at 1 PM CT (ESPN/ESPN Deportes). Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and the New York side witnessed 21,868 Fire faithful, the largest crowd in TOYOTA PARK history, when the two clubs clashed Aug. 8 of 2010.
SEAN JOHNSON BEING HONORED AS “FIRE OF THE YEAR” AT COMCAST SPORTSNET SPORTS AWARDS DINNER
Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson is being honored as the “Fire of the Year” at 23rd Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards Dinner Monday evening at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan Ave). The March of Dimes and Comcast SportsNet will honor Chicago sports stars Johnson, Gordon Beckham (White Sox), Taj Gibson (Bulls), Duncan Keith (Blackhawks), Marlon Byrd (Cubs), Isreal Idonije (Bears) and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
The annual event will honor inspirational athlete Jonathan Ruiz, a 16-year-old with Spinal Bifida who has persevered to play basketball and win a gold medal at the Youth Under-20 Paralympic Games. Radio legend Steve Dahl will serve as Master of Ceremonies with the event airing live on Comcast SportsNet starting at 7:30 PM CT.
FIRE ENGAGE COMMUNITY, IMPACT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHILE IN FLORIDA
During the Fire’s stay at Ave Maria University, the club will be assisted operationally by the Chicago Fire Juniors – Florida, an extension of the Fire’s player development system who operate just 17 miles west of Ave Maria University, where the team will call home for the next 13 days.
To help foster stronger relationships in the community and to show their appreciation for the hospitality, the Fire will host a soccer clinic presented by the Chicago Fire Juniors – Florida on Sunday, Feb. 20 at North Collier Park from 3-5 PM ET. The interactive clinic will engage local youth in an instructional soccer session with the entire Fire team. For information regarding registration, please visit www.ChicagoFireJuniorsFlorida.com.
FIRE PRESEASON GAME SCHEDULE
Feb. 17: Chicago Fire vs. Florida Gulf Coast University (6 PM CT) – Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, FL
Feb. 23: Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls (10 and noon) – Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Feb. 26: Chicago Fire vs. Seattle Sounders FC (1 PM) – IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL
March 5: Chicago Fire vs. Toronto FC (4:00 PM) – Carolina Challenge Cup, Charleston, SC
March 6: Chicago Fire vs. UNC-Greensboro – time and location TBD, Charleston, SC
March 9: Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United (4:00 PM) – Carolina Challenge Cup, Charleston, SC
March 12: Chicago Fire vs. Charleston Battery (6:15 PM) – Carolina Challenge Cup, Charleston, SC
(All times central)
FIRE IN THE NEWS
Fire set to shift training camp to Florida – Len Ziehm – Chicago Sun-Times – Feb 11, 2011
El nuevo Chicago Fire empieza a tomar forma – Por José Luis Sánchez Pando – Hoy
Feb 10, 2011
http://www.vivelohoy.com/deportes/7980700/el-nuevo-chicago-fire-empieza-a-tomar-forma
Prospect soccer star giving Fire his best shot – Orrin Schwarz – Daily Herald
Feb 9, 2011
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110209/sports/702099876/
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
QuickFire with Marco Pappa and Amani Walker – Feb. 10, 2011
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/02/quickfire-marco-and-amani
All-In with Bratislav Ristic – Feb. 10, 2011
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/02/all-ristic
The Johnson-Conway Dynamic – Feb. 8, 2011
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/02/johnson-conway-dynamic
FOLLOW THE CHICAGO FIRE 24/7 VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the Chicago Fire on the web at Chicago-Fire.com, on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChicagoFire on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ChicagoFire or the Fire’s blog EN FUEGO.
ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer’s national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into its world-class home of TOYOTA PARK, located in Bridgeview, IL. For more information on the Chicago Fire, please visit the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
ABOUT TOYOTA PARK
Located 15 minutes from downtown Chicago and minutes from Midway airport off of I-55 on Harlem Avenue, TOYOTA PARK is the Midwest’s preeminent outdoor live entertainment and sporting facility. Opened in 2006, TOYOTA PARK not only serves as the home of the Chicago Fire, but also hosts a variety of sporting events, special events and concerts by national and international artists. In 2010, TOYOTA PARK hosted Jimmy Buffett and Phish, while welcoming back Eric Clapton and his Crossroads tour.