CHICAGO FIRE TO CELEBRATE FIRE FRIDAYS AT CREW BAR + GRILL
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will celebrate Fire Fridays at Crew Bar + Grill (4804 N. Broadway) on Friday, Sept. 27 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CT ahead of the Fire’s match against Eastern Conference opponent Montreal Impact at Toyota Park on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Anyone wearing Chicago Fire gear at the event will receive $3 Miller Lite drafts and $2 Malort shots.
The club launched the Fire Fridays campaign in an effort to engage soccer supporters, deepen relationships and build a stronger club culture throughout the Chicagoland area. The Fire have partnered with local bars, restaurants and establishments to wear Fire gear on Fridays and designated event days throughout the MLS season. The Fire will also bring together Fire players, partners, front office and supporters for a happy hour or event prior to each weekend Fire home match during the summer and fall of the 2013 season. Stay tuned to Chicago-Fire.com and the club’s social channels www.facebook.com/ChicagoFire and www.twitter.com/chicagofire for updates on each Fire Fridays event location. Supporters are encouraged to join the conversation by utilizing #cf97 and #firefridays on Twitter and Instagram.
FIRE WELCOME MONTREAL IMPACT IN EASTERN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN
The Chicago Fire (11-12-6, 39 points) welcome the Montreal Impact (13-9-6, 45 points) to Toyota Park on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9) in a match presented by Aldi. The first 5,000 fans in the stadium will receive a mini Aldi soccer ball.
Tickets for the match are available by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com, Ticketmaster or calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
This is the third and final match between the two sides this season. The Fire fell 2-0 at Stade Saputo on April 27 and downed the Impact 2-1 behind goals from Joel Lindpere and Dilly Duka at Toyota Park on Aug. 17.
The Impact enter the match after falling 3-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sept. 21. They play host to Guatemalan side C.D. Heredia in CONCACAF Champions League action on Tuesday, Sept. 24 prior to Saturday’s match.
With the Fire’s loss to the Columbus Crew Saturday evening, the Men in Red fell to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Sitting on 39 points, the Fire are just one point out of the fifth and final playoff spot, behind the New England Revolution, who are on 40 points.
The Men in Red are tied with the Philadelphia Union for points, but with 11 wins to the Union’s 10, hold the first tiebreaker of most wins.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: September 24 – September 30
Tuesday, Sept. 24 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Wednesday, Sept. 25 Training 9:30 a.m.^ - Toyota Park Stadium Field
Thursday, Sept. 26 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Friday, Sept. 27 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Saturday, Sept. 28 Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact – Toyota Park – 7:30 p.m. CT – My50/La Ley 107.9
Sunday, Sept. 29 MLS Reserve League – Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact – Toyota Park – 10:00 a.m. CT
Return to Chicago
Monday, Sept. 30 Off
Training will take place on the Toyota Park Practice Field unless otherwise noted
^Times are approximate and subject to change. Fire players and coaches will be made available following training. If you plan on attending practice this week, please contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department for updated times and locations. Please contact Eunice Kim at ekim@chicago-fire.com for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Montreal Impact
-The Fire are 2-1-1 all-time in regular season matches against the Montreal Impact including a 2-0-0 record in matches played at Toyota Park.
-Impact midfielder Justin Mapp spent seven seasons with the Fire. Acquired in a trade from D.C. United on Dec. 26, 2002, Mapp made 174 regular season appearances from 2003 to 2010, winning the Supporters Shield in 2003 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2003 and 2006. Mapp was also a MLS All-Star in 2005 and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2006.
-Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush and midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic are products of the Chicago Fire PDL system. Both players were part of the 2006 Chicago Fire PDL side that took the Great Lakes Division crown with a 14-2-0 regular season record.
-The Men in Red will be without the services of center back Bakary Soumare, who will be serving a one-game suspension for a red card he received in the 29th minute of the Fire’s match against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 21.
-The Fire hold a 7-3-1 record against Eastern Conference opponents at Toyota Park this season.
CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB PARTNERS WITH CITY YEAR CHICAGO
As a part of a new partnership with City Year Chicago, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club is sponsoring 11 City Year corps members who will work full time at Carl Schurz High School. Over the course of the 2013-2014 school year, corps members will help impact the lives of more than 730 ninth grade students. The partnership was made possible by a grant from the Hauptman Family Foundation.
City Year (cityyear.org) is an education-focused, nonprofit organization that combats the nation’s dropout epidemic by uniting young people of all backgrounds for a full year of full-time service in high-need schools. These young people, referred to as “corps members,” keep students in school and on track to graduation by serving as tutors, mentors, and role models. City Year currently has locations in 25 U.S. cities and two international affiliates.
City Year’s Team Sponsor Program provides its partners with a unique opportunity to leverage human and financial resources to impact, engage and invest in their local communities.
Chicago Fire owner Andrew Hauptman serves as a national trustee of City Year; he is the co-founder and founding board chair of City Year Los Angeles, and has seen the impact the program has had around the country.
“To be a true Club, what we do on the field is as important as our support of the community that we are a part of,” said Andrew Hauptman, Owner, Chicago Fire Soccer Club. “As a City Year Team Sponsor, we take tremendous pride in having a direct impact on improving the quality of life for young people and transforming schools and communities across Chicagoland.”
The 11 members of City Year’s Chicago Fire Soccer Club team will serve more than 730 ninth grade students at Carl Schurz High School this school year.
Over the past 16 years, the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Fire Foundation have contributed more than $1.5 million to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths throughout the Chicagoland area, deepening our connection between the club and the community.
Fire defender Michael Videira and Fire executives were in attendance as 206 young leaders committed to a year of service to Chicago Public School students at City Year Chicago’s Opening Day Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 20 at Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade North.
CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB JOINS GREAT CHICAGO FIRE HYDRANTS ART EXHIBITION
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club has joined the Great Chicago Fire Hydrants project, a public art exhibition celebrating the heroism of Chicago’s firefighters.
The citywide program will feature 101 hydrants, symbolically representing each Chicago firehouse, that will be placed in various locations throughout the city. Along with the Fire, local businesses, artists, architects, fashion and interior designers have sponsored the hydrants that will be auctioned on Dec. 4, 2013 to benefit the 100 Club of Chicago, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the families of fallen police and firefighters.
A 5-foot tall fiberglass fire hydrant, the Fire’s hydrant features two special features that appear on its rings. The top honors the seven members of the club’s Ring of Fire: Peter Nowak, Frank Klopas, Lubos Kubik, Peter Wilt, Bob Bradley, Chris Armas and C.J. Brown. While the club’s three tenets, Tradition. Honor. Passion, appear on the base ring
The Fire hydrant has been installed at the Hancock Plaza and will be on display through Nov. 11.
Additional information on the Great Chicago Fire Hydrants can be found here.
