FIRE HOST UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE DURING BYE WEEK
The Chicago Fire (1-1-1, four points) will use a break in MLS play to welcome the University of Louisville to Toyota Park on Saturday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. CT.
The Fire suffered their first loss of the season in Sunday night’s 2-0 defeat at Colorado. After taking the hosts into the break with a scoreless deadlock, the Fire conceded a 58th minute strike to Omar Cummings before debutant Kamani Hill put the game on ice in the 92nd minute.
With the loss, the Fire saw their MLS record when facing the Rapids in the altitude of the Mile High City drop to 3-9-6 all-time.
With a bye in MLS this weekend, the Fire face the University of Louisville Cardinals for a friendly match on the Toyota Park Practice Field, Saturday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. CT. One of the most successful NCAA Men’s Soccer programs in recent years, the Men in Red have two Cardinal alumni on the books. Louisville defender Austin Berry, the club’s first round selection in January’s MLS SuperDraft, and Tony Jouaux, the Fire’s Strength and Conditioning Coach who is in his second season with the club after spending three seasons (2008-11) working under Louisville head coach Ken Lolla. Both Berry and Jouaux were part of the Louisville team that fell 1-0 to Akron in the 2010 NCAA College Cup Final.
Now into their spring season, Louisville comes into the match at 1-1-0, having fallen 2-1 on March 24 at the University of Kentucky before taking a 3-1 decision this past Saturday against N.A.I.A. powerhouse Lindsey Wilson University.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: April 3 - April 8
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)
Tuesday, April 3: Off
Wednesday, April 4: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Thursday, April 5: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Friday, April 6: Training 10:30 a.m.^
Saturday, April 7: Chicago Fire vs. University of Louisville – Toyota Park Practice Field – 10:00 a.m. CT
Sunday, April 8: Off
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 TO HOST ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE ASTON VILLA ON SATURDAY, JULY 21 AT TOYOTA PARK
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced that the Fire will take on seven-time English League champions Aston Villa in an international friendly at Toyota Park on Saturday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Advance tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting Chicago-Fire.com or via Ticketmaster. The international friendly will serve as Bonus Game 1 in the Fire’s Season Ticket Package, and is also a part of the Ten Game Plan.
Aston Villa, one of the oldest and most successful clubs in English football history, will make their first trip to Chicago. Since its founding in 1874, Villa has amassed 19 major domestic honors, including seven English Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. The Villans also won the 1981-1982 European Cup. One of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa has competed in the top flight of English soccer ever since.
This is the second consecutive year the Fire will host an English Premier League team. In 2011, the Fire took on famed English club Manchester United in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 61,000 soccer supporters at Soldier Field, scoring first before falling 3-1 to the eventual Premier League Champions. The Fire currently hold a 2-1 record against English Premier League foes, defeating Everton FC by a score of 2-0 in 2008, and Derby County 1-0 in 1999.
Aston Villa features two former Chicago Fire Premier players, goalkeeper Brad Guzan, originally from Homer Glenn, Ill. and defender Eric Lichaj, a product of Downers Grove, Ill.
This is the first meeting between the Fire and AVFC. Aston Villa is 2-0 in previous games against Major League Soccer teams, defeating Toronto FC 4-2 and the Columbus Crew 3-1 in 2007.
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 say loss of discipline let them down in Rapids defeat – Anthony Zilis – April 1, 2012
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/04/01/fire-say-loss-discipline-let-them-down-rapids-loss
Gargan hopes to play vs. Rapids – Len Ziehm – CSNChicago.com – March 31, 2012
http://www.csnchicago.com/soccer-chicago-fire/news/Gargan-hopes-to-play-vs-Rapids?blockID=680526&feedID=5674
Fire midfielders fostering a feeling of control in early season – Seth Gruen – Chicago Sun-Times – March 30, 2012
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/soccer/fire/11626848-626/fires-midfielders-fostering-a-feeling-of-control-in-early-season.html
Fire’s Johnson on Olympic failure: “It was disappointing” – Jack McCarthy – Chicago Tribune – March 28, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/chi-fires-johnson-120328,0,4548580.story
CHICAGO FIRE TEAM WRITER, JEFF CRANDALL FEATURES ON CHICAGO-FIRE.COM
Five Things You Should Know for Sunday’s Game at Colorado – April 1, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/04/five-things-you-should-know-about-sundays-game-rapids
Looking Back on 2011 U.S. Open Cup qualifier in Peoria – March 30, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/looking-back-2011-us-open-cup-qualifying-match-peoria
All-In Podcast with Dominic Oduro – March 29, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/2012/podcast/dominic-oduro
Seven-Year Anniversary of Rolfe, Segares Signings – March 28, 2012
//www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/seven-year-anniversary-rolfe-segares-signings