MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Weekly Update

Published on April 1, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Fire Prepares for "Soccer Saturday" Showdown at L.A.

After dropping a 2-0 result to three-time MLS Cup champion DC United, the Chicago Fire looks to invade the Rose Bowl to knock off the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, April 6 at 9:00 p.m. CT. The game will mark the Fire's first regional broadcast on Fox Sports Net, and the debut of WMAQ-TV (NBC) sports director Darrian Chapman as the Fire's new play-by-play announcer. The game can also be followed by tuning in to the Fire's new English language station WBIG AM 1280 (www.wbig1280.com), WIND 560 AM (Spanish) or WNVR 1030 AM (Polish).

Chicago's all-time record against the Galaxy is 5-6-1 with the Fire trying to improve on a 2-3-1 away mark. Los Angeles knocked the Fire out of both the MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinals and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals in 2001. Fire all-time leading scorer Ante Razov leads the team in scoring against his former team posting two goals and four assists for eight points. Midfielder DaMarcus Beasleyis just behind Razov with two goals and two helpers for six points.

Training Update

The Fire will be training at Lake Forest College this week. Training sessions are open to the media only. Details below. Sites/times are subject to change. For updates please call 312-705-7272.

Date Activity Site Time (CT)
Tuesday, April 2 Off; FWFK Foundation Luncheon Hyatt Regency Chicago 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 3 Training Lake Forest College 10:30 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 4 Training Lake Forest College 10:30 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m.
Friday, April 5 Training; Travel to Los Angeles Lake Forest College 10:30 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 Game @ Los Angeles, Live on Fox Sports Net Rose Bowl 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 Return to Chicago, IL -- --

FWFK Luncheon Tomorrow

The fifth annual FireWorks for Kids Foundation (FWFK) Season Kickoff Luncheon will take place tomorrow Tuesday, April 2 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. The scheduled guest speakers at this year's event are former U.S. National Team members Harry and Ty Keough...The featured speaker for the afternoon is Harry Keough, who has 17 Caps for the U.S. National Team and was a member of the 1950 World Cup squad that shocked the world by upsetting England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

His son, Ty, will perform the emcee duties and is also a veteran of the U.S. National Team, having made eight appearances (from 1979-80) for the Red, White, and Blue. Now a sports analyst for ABC/ESPN, the younger Keough has been serving for over six years as the main analyst for nationally televised MLS contests. The luncheon will also feature Fire and other sports memorabilia, gift certificates, and much more in a silent auction. The first twenty, full paid tables will sit with a Chicago Fire player or coach. Tickets to the event are $50 each and tables of 10 are $450. For more information or to order tickets, please call the FireWorks for Kids Foundation at 312-705-7218 or visit .

The FWFK Foundation - the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire and a non-profit organization - has been established to help the Chicago Fire continue its service and commitment to the community through grants to charitable groups catering to the development of economically disadvantaged children throughout the Chicagoland area.

ACE/Tru-Fit Injury Report

Curtin, Jim - left ankle sprain - out, 15-day IR
Korol, Aleksey - left knee bursitis - out, 15-day IR
Stoitchkov, Hristo - right hernia repair - out, 15-day IR
Whitfield, Evan - left knee ligament sprain - out

Individual Tickets on Sale!!!

Individual game tickets for the Chicago Fire's 14-match home schedule for the 2002 Major League Soccer regular season at Cardinal Stadium at North Central College in Naperville are currently on sale. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Chicago Fire office located at 980 N. Michigan, Suite 1998, in Chicago from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticketmaster will also begin the sale next Monday at 10:00 a.m. through outlets, over the phone at (312) 559-1212, and online at Ticketmaster.com

Ticket prices for each home game are $30 for VIP, $25 for Premier, $20 for Reserved, and $15 for the Firehouse. Doubleheaders will be subject to price increases. Discounted group tickets and season tickets are available through the Chicago Fire Ticket Office at (312) 705-7200 or (888) MLS-FIRE.

Fire Faces Morelia in Next Round of FC Champions Cup

The Chicago Fire advanced to the quarterfinals of the FC Champions Cup on March 20 with an impressive 2-0 win over Guatemalan champion and current Guatemalan leader CSD Municipal at Cardinal Stadium at North Central College in Naperville, IL. The "Men in Red" will now face Morelia of Mexico in a two-legged quarterfinal series with sites and times to be determined.

Morelia defeated Saprissa of Costa Rica last week on a 2-1 aggregate score to advance in the FC Champions Cup. Currently the "Moncarcas" have posted a 6-3-4 record (22 points) in the Torneo Verano 2002, placing the team in third in Group Two. Morelia is also competing in the Copa Libertadores and is in first place in Group Five with a 2-2-0 record (eight points). Since its inaugural season in 1913, Morelia won its first and only Mexican league title in 2000.

Milwaukee Rampage Comes to Town

The Chicago Fire will take on its A-League affiliate the Milwaukee Rampage on Sunday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m. CT at Cardinal Stadium at North Central College. The match will be the third between the affiliates with Chicago winning both prior contests. The last time the teams met the Fire downed the Rampage 3-1 on goals by Peter Nowak, Jesse Marsch, and Eric Wynalda on Friday, June 15, 2001, at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex in Franklin, WI. In 1999, the Fire defeated Milwaukee 2-0 on first half goals by Ritchie Kotschau and Roman Kosecki. The Rampage begins its 2002 A-League season on Friday, May 3 at the Indiana Blast in a battle of Fire affiliates.

Season ticket holders with a 20-game package have this game included in the plan. Please use "Bonus Game A" tickets for the match. Other season ticket holders do not have this included in their package, but can order through tickets in advance through the season ticket holder hotline at 312-705-7240. Flex holders can redeem vouchers for this game as well. Tickets are based on availability. Advance purchase is recommended. Tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Fire offices located at 980 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1998, in Chicago.

Etc.

Fire midfielder Peter Nowak made his 100th appearance for the "Men in Red" last weekend at DC.

Fire defender Billy Sleeth made his MLS debut in last weekend's 2-0 loss to DC United when he entered the game for the injured Evan Whitfield.

Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, and forwards Ante Razov and Josh Wolff have joined the U.S. National Team in Denver for its friendly confrontation with Mexico on Wednesday, April 3 at INVESCO Field starting at 9:00 p.m. CT. The game will be televised live on Telemundo.

WTTW's (Ch. 11 in Chicago) Wild Chicago will be featuring the Chicago Fire on its show set to air on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 and 11:30 p.m. The show will also be replayed on Saturday, April 13 at 12:00 a.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 10:30 p.m.

The Fire will face its A-League affiliate Indiana Blast on Tuesday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT from Kuntz Stadium in an exhibition match. For ticket information please call MorSports, Inc. at (317) 585-9203 or visit www.indianablast.com. Tickets will go on sale May 10 at 9:00 a.m.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from April 1, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central