FIRE TRAVEL TO COLORADO TO FACE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOE; DEFEAT UNION IN HOME OPENER
The Chicago Fire (1-0-1, four points) challenge their first Western Conference foe when they take on the Colorado Rapids (2-1-0, six points) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Sunday, April 1 at 6:00 p.m. CT (Galavision).
The Men in Red opened their 2012 home campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union in front of a raucous crowd of 18,075 last Saturday evening at Toyota Park. The game’s lone goal came in the 28th minute as Guatemalan international Marco Pappa beat two defenders on the right before swinging a cross into the box that met the head of Dominic Oduro, who calmly nodded the ball just past the outstretched hands of Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
With the victory, the Fire improved to 9-3-3 all-time in their first home match of the year.
When the Fire head to Colorado this weekend, it’ll mark the return for two defensive stalwarts to the Mile High City. Fire right back Dan Gargan was drafted 43rd overall by Colorado in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and went on to appear in 49 regular season matches for the Rapids from 2005-08. In 2008, Cory Gibbs returned to MLS after a successful career in Europe and was allocated to the Rapids. Gibbs went on to earn the team’s Defender of the Year award that year, recording 29 appearances for the Rapids through 2009.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: March 26 – April 1
Chicago Fire players and coaches will be made available to media at the Toyota Park Practice Field. Media are able to begin conducting interviews after training, which runs approximately two hours. (All times central unless otherwise noted)
Monday, March 26: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Tuesday, March 27: RESERVE GAME - Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake – Toyota Park Practice Field - 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, March 28: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Thursday, March 29: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Friday, March 30: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Saturday, March 31: Depart for Colorado
Sunday, April 1: Chicago Fire at Colorado Rapids – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park - 6:00 p.m. – TV: Galavision
*Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training.
^Training times are subject to change. Please contact Brendan Hannan at 720.937.8962 or Jeff Crandall at 734.751.4820 for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Colorado Rapids
- The Fire hold a 17-11-8 all-time record against the Rapids, including a 3-8-6 record in matches played in the Mile High City.
- The Fire are 1-1-3 against the Rapids since the Denver-based club moved into Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in 2007.
- In addition to two regular season matches in 2011, the Fire used a first half strike from Gaston Puerari and a long distance effort from Jalil Anibaba to tally a 2-1 victory in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in match, played March 30 in Peoria, Ill.
- With his 28th minute strike against the Union, Fire forward Dominic Oduro has now scored in each of the Fire’s two matches this season. The Ghanaian striker has tallied 14 league goals since joining the Fire via trade from Houston on March 23, 2011.
- With an appearance in Saturday’s match vs. the Union, Ghanaian Patrick Nyarko tied former Fire winger DaMarcus Beasley at 14th on the club’s all-time regular season appearance list with 98 games played. He’ll move into sole possession of 14th place if he steps on the field Saturday vs. Colorado.
- Colorado (2-1-0, six points) comes into Sunday’s match having dropped their last match, a 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on March 25.
- Fire defender Dan Gargan will face off against former high school teammate Jeff Larentowicz on the weekend. The two seven-year MLS vets led Chestnut Hill Academy (Philadelphia, Penn.) to back-to-back Pennsylvania Interacademic League championships in 2000 and 2001.
CHICAGO FIRE DEFENDER ARNE FRIEDRICH TRAINS FOR FIRST TIME IN CHICAGO
German World Cup veteran Arne Friedrich trained with the Chicago Fire for the first time Tuesday, March 20. Friedrich, who signed with the club on March 7, has represented the German national team 82 times, and helped Germany to matching third place finishes at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Friedrich will likely see his first match action when the Fire take on Real Salt Lake in reserve league action on Tuesday, March 27 at the Toyota Park practice field at 10:00 a.m. CT.
FIRE UNVEIL PLANS FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE ‘SECOND-STAR CLUB’ AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced that the Fire has broken ground on the Second Star Club, a premier, all-inclusive club at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The luxury club area will provide Fire guests unrivaled sightlines of the players on the pitch, while also enjoying a world-class match-day experience in superb style with concierge activities.
The Second Star Club’s all-inclusive match-day experience on the first concourse at Toyota Park is located mid-field and will include a dining room with a full-service bar. Second Star Club members also receive a number of benefits in the new state-of-the-art, 6,766 square-foot club such as premier seating, access to Fire players post-game, valet parking, a VIP entrance and private elevator and special pre-game talks led by a member of the Fire Technical staff. The Second Star Club will host hospitality events for Fire corporate partners, season ticket holders. Membership will also include Second Star access for all concerts and events at Toyota Park.
Located at midfield at Toyota Park, memberships for the Second Star Club are limited to the first 160 supporters and start at $6,500 for a three-year membership. For more information or to purchase a seat in the Second Star Club please call Senior Manager of Ticket Sales, Casey Klein at 708-496-6791 or email him at cklein@chicago-fire.com. For more information please visit: www.chicago-fire.com/second-star-club/about.
FIRE TEAMS WITH SUPPORTERS FOR FIREHOUSE EAST ON MAY 26 IN COLUMBUS
Following the 2011 invasion of Columbus in which over 500 Chicago Fire supporters saw the side earn a dramatic and late 1-0 victory over the Crew, the Fire are again teaming with the club’s Supporters Season Ticket holders to create rousing home support of the club when the team travels visits the Columbus Crew on Saturday, May 26.
All Fire fans are invited to “get on the bus” to Columbus:
Chicago Fire Fans: $45 (bus ticket)
$20 (match ticket & commemorative scarf)
RSVP for the Firehouse East Trip by Friday, May 11 by clicking here.
For more information on Firehouse East, visit www.firehouse-east.com.
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2012 MLS SEASON
Season Ticket packages are still available for the 2012 MLS season. The pricing for the 19 game full season ticket packages are as follows:
Second Star Club: $6,500 - $7,000 - $7,500
FieldSide: $2,850
Club: $949.05
Premier: $570
Corner Kick: $380
Harlem End/Sector Latino: $209
Skyway: $189.05
Miller Lite Party Deck: $570
Season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-(888)-MLS-FIRE or by clicking on Chicago-Fire.com
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR THE CLUB’S 2012 MLS CAMPAIGN AT TOYOTA PARK NOW ON SALE
Single game tickets and Family Four-Packs for the club’s historic 15th MLS season at Toyota Park are now ON SALE. Individual game tickets start as low as $15, while Family Four Packs which include 4 Pepsi’s, 4 hot dogs and 4 match tickets are $79 (Corner Kick) and $99 (Premier).
Both individual game tickets and Family Four-Packs can be purchased by calling 1-(888)-MLS-FIRE, visiting Ticketmaster online, via their Facebook page, or by clicking on Chicago-Fire.com. Download the 2012 Chicago Fire home schedule by clicking here (PDF).
FIRE IN THE NEWS
Fire blank Union 1-0 in home opener – Jack McCarthy – Chicago Tribune - March 24, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/ct-spt-0325-fire-philly-chicago--20120325,0,7252598.story?track=rss
Fire blank Union to win home opener – Seth Gruen – Chicago Sun-Times - March 24, 2012
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/11510535-626/fire-blanks-union-to-win-home-opener.html
7 on your sideline – Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas – ABC 7 - March 25, 2012
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8595136&syndicate=syndicate§ion
Red Alert: Fire goalie Sean Johnson wants team to get off to fast start – Scott Bolohan – RedEye - March 22, 2012
http://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/ct-red-0323-sean-johnson-talks-fire-home-opener-ag-20120322,0,6070516.story
Fire defender Gargan showcases road through preseason – Chicago-Fire.com - March 22, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/fire-defender-gargan-showcases-road-through-preseason
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
Are you ready for the Fire’s home opener? – March 23, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/are-you-ready-fires-home-opener
All-In Podcast with Paolo Tornaghi – March 22, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/podcast/paolo-tornaghi
Rookie Jumper performs admirably in Segares' injury absence – March 21, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/rookie-jumper-performs-admirably-segares-injury-absence
Wilkomen Arne! – March 21, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/willkomen-arne
