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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire weekly notes

March 17, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The Fire begin their 12th season of play this Saturday, March 21, against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. The game will be broadcast LIVE on WFLD-TV FOX Chicago, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Fire are 4-3-4 in season openers, 3-3-2 in season openers played on the road. The Fire line up for their first of two matches against Dallas in 2009, having posted an all-time regular season record of 10-17-2 against their Brimstone Cup rival. The Fire will look to earn their eleventh playoff appearance in 12 season of play beginning this weekend against FC Dallas.

CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY AGENDA

** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6725 or 6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Wednesday, March 18 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 19 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Friday, March 20 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, March 21 Chicago @ Dallas - Pizza Hut Park - FOX CHICAGO - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 1 Return to Chicago, Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 1:00 p.m.

FIRE TIE GALAXY 1-1 IN PHX SOCCER CLASICO

The Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy played to a 1-1 tie last Saturday night in the PHX Soccer Clasico held at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. The Galaxy opened scoring early in the first half with a goal from midfielder Josh Tudela but Fire midfielder Marco Pappa recorded the game-tying goal in the 30th minute of play.

FIRE VIEWING PARTY AT SULLY'S HOUSE

Help celebrate the Fire's Season Opener against FC Dallas at Sully's House, the newest official Fire pub, and the newest stop on the Windy City Wanderers game day bus route. All Fire fans are welcome to join the viewing party that begins at 7 p.m. (7:30 p.m. game kickoff) on March 21. The Fire will provide free food, drink specials, a free raffle, including 2009 gear, and plenty of new 2009 giveaways. Sully's House is located at 1501 N. Dayton in Chicago. Media interested in covering the event should contact Becky Carroll, Chicago Fire Vice President of Communications, for more information.

JIM BELUSHI TO BE FEATURED GUEST AT 2009 CHICAGO FIRE SEASON KICKOFF LUNCHEON

Jim Belushi-venerable comedian and television, film and music star-will be a special guest at the 2009 Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon on March 24, 2009 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel. The annual event introduces Fire players to fans for the upcoming MLS season and serves as a fundraiser for the club's Chicago Fire Foundation. A proud Chicagoan, Belushi has been a favorite of film, television and stage audiences for more than 30 years, one of the great leading actors equally at home in drama and comedy, and a gifted performer who can also hold a room as a front man of the rhythm and blues band.

Tickets for the 2009 Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon are $65, with tables of 10 priced at $600, with all proceeds benefiting the Chicago Fire Foundation. As in the past, the first 20 full tables of 10 purchased will have the opportunity to sit with a Chicago Fire player. For more information about the 2009 Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon, please visit www.chicago-fire.com. To purchase tickets for the event, please call 708-496-6740.

FIRE TO HOST SUEÑO MLS TRYOUTS

The Chicago Fire, along with D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy, will host Sueño MLS 2009 - Built by The Home Depot tryouts on April 4-5 with four local winners from Chicago moving on to an exciting four-day "Final Event" in Los Angeles. Up to 600 tryout spots were made available at each city on a first come, first serve basis, with most field positions filled in only hours. Registrations were received from 36 different states and 23 foreign countries. "República Deportiva", the highest-rated weekly sports magazine program on Spanish-language television in the United States which airs nationally every Sunday, will follow the action weekly in a unique "reality show within a show" format with the ultimate winner being crowned live on Sunday, April 12. For more information, visit www.SuenoMLS.com.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Chicago Fire individual game tickets for the 2009 Major League Soccer season at TOYOTA PARK are on sale to the public now through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, through the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, by calling 888-MLS-FIRE, or visiting www.chicago-fire.com. Chicago Fire Ten Game packages, which consist of eight MLS regular season matches against key Fire opponents, the Chicago Fire versus Club America international friendly on April 29, and the Fire's first 2009 MLS Cup home playoff match are on sale now starting at just $170. For more information call 888-MLS-FIRE or e-mailing ticketsales@chicago-fire.com.

For a complete list of the eight MLS regular season matches included in the Ten Game Plan visit www.chicago-fire.com.

CHICAGO FIRE FACE CLUB AMERICA ON APRIL 29 AT TOYOTA PARK- TICKETS ON SALE NOW

The Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and Club America of the Mexican Primera Division have announced that the first game of their home-and-home series will be played at TOYOTA PARK on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Details about the Fire's away match against Club America at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will be announced at a later date. Individual tickets are available starting at $26 through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, by calling 888-MLS-FIRE, or by visiting www.chicago-fire.com. The exhibition is included in Chicago Fire season ticket packages and Ten Game Plans.

CHICAGO FIRE MEDIA CREDENTIAL APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Applications for 2009 Chicago Fire full-season media credentials are now available. Media members interested in covering the Fire's 12th season in Major League Soccer should contact Lauren Brophy by email, lbrophy@chicago-fire.com, to request the Fire full-season credential application. The deadline for media credential applications is Tuesday, March 17. Once received, the applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified of approval or denial.

BUFFETT RETURNS TO TOYOTA PARK

After the success of last summer's two TOYOTA PARK concerts, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will return to the stadium again this summer for two more unforgettable concert experiences as part of the "Summerzcool" Tour 2009. The concert dates are set for Saturday, Aug. 8 and Saturday Aug. 15. The seating setup at the stadium will be similar to last year's concerts, as all seats will be reserved both on the field and in the stadium bowl. Tickets are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets including the TOYOTA PARK box office, Tickemaster.com, and by calling (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.toyotapark.com.

CHICAGO TO FACE NEW YORK IN HOME OPENER

The Fire will host the New York Red Bulls for their home opener at TOYOTA PARK on Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m. CT. Season Ticket Packages are available now by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or clicking on the TICKETS link on the club's official website, www.chicago-fire.com.

BLANCO'S ‘DIRECTO AL BLANCO' RADIO PROGRAM TUESDAY

"Directo al Blanco" a full-hour live radio program hosted by Fire midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco will air this and every Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. CT. Listeners are encouraged to call and talk to Blanco about the latest soccer-related news regarding the Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, and the Mexican Primera Division. The show airs nationally on RadioCadena stations in Chicago (WRTO-AM), Las Vegas (KLSQ-AM), Los Angeles (KTNQ-AM), San Francisco (KLOK-AM), El Paso (KAMA-AM), San Antonio(KCOR-AM), Dallas (KFLC-AM), McAllen (KGBT-AM), Houston (KLAT-AM), New York (WADO-AM), and Miami (WQBA-AM).

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