Comcast SportsNet to Air Ten Chicago Fire Games During 2006 Season
March 17, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO, IL (Friday, March 17, 2006) - The Chicago Fire and Comcast SportsNet have announced that the regional sports network will telecast 10 Fire matches during the club's upcoming 2006 MLS season. When combined with Chicago's seven appearances on national television, the regional telecasts bring the number of televised Fire matches for this season to 17, making more than half of the Fire's games available to audiences in Chicago and beyond.
"The Fire is pleased continue our partnership with Comcast SportsNet in what will be a special 2006 season for our club," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "Comcast SportsNet is the top destination for Chicago's die-hard sports fans to watch and follow their favorite teams, and we are thrilled to once again be a part of their impressive stable of partners."
In an effort to showcase the Fire's world-class stadium in Bridgeview, six of the 10 matches scheduled to air on Comcast SportsNet will originate from the club's new home on the corner of 71st & Harlem. Among the highlights of CSN's 10-game package will be the network's first-ever telecast from Bridgeview Stadium during the Fire's Grand Opening match on Sunday, June 25 against the New York Red Bulls at 6:00 p.m. CT.
"We're looking forward to another exciting season of Fire soccer on our network," said James J. Corno, Senior Vice President/General Manager for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. "We're also thrilled to be able to showcase the team's new stadium in Bridgeview for six of our ten telecasts, including the Grand Opening match on June 25th."
The Fire has also announced the regional telecast talent for the club's ninth MLS campaign. For the fourth consecutive year, the Fire has gathered an experienced three-man crew for its regional telecasts, and for the second straight season play-by-play man Kenn Tomasch, color analyst Kenny Stern and sideline reporter Chris Doran will bring all the action to fans of the "Men in Red."
"We are thrilled to welcome back what we feel is the best regional broadcast crew in all of MLS," Guppy said. "Just like the Fire players on the field, the trio of Kenn, Kenny and Chris has worked together tremendously as a team. They are a crew that brings great insight and knowledge to their broadcasts, and we look forward to them providing more outstanding coverage in 2006."
Returning for a second season with the club, Tomasch brings an extensive broadcast background with him to the Fire booth. He has served as sports director, reporter and anchor for various television affiliates throughout the country, including WRTV-TV in Indianapolis and WINK-TV in Fort Myers, FL. Tomasch handled play-by-play duties for the Fire's audio webcasts in 2004 and 2005 and currently serves as the radio announcer for the MISL's Chicago Storm.
Stern has served as the Fire's regional color analyst for all television broadcasts since the team's inception in 1998. The Las Vegas-based broadcaster - and former President and General Manager of the NASL's Chicago Sting - is also the author of KICKS, a 371-page soccer novel that was released in 2003.
Doran has served as the Fire's English-language radio play-by-play announcer since 2002 and has served as a sideline reporter for the team's regional broadcasts since 2003. Doran anchored Big 10 Championship broadcasts for College Sports Television last season and is the radio voice of the nationally recognized Indiana university soccer program for WGCL-AM in Bloomington, IN.
Comcast SportsNet currently consists of four regional sports networks servicing the Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, and Northern and Central California television markets. In addition, Comcast SportsNet manages SportsNet New York, which serves the greater New York region. Together, the five networks reach over 18 million households providing local sports coverage to each respective market, including live game action for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Chicago Blackhawks; the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento Kings; and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets.
The remainder of the Fire's broadcast schedule will be announced in the near future. An updated version of the Fire's 2006 MLS broadcast schedule is attached.
2006 Chicago Fire MLS Schedule
Date Day Opponent Time (CT) TV
4-01 Saturday @ FC Dallas 3:00 p.m. ABC
4-08 Saturday @ Los Angeles Galaxy 9:30 p.m.
4-15 Saturday @ Columbus Crew 3:00 p.m. ESPN2
4-30 Sunday @ New England Revolution 2:00 p.m.
5-06 Saturday @ Kansas City Wizards 7:30 p.m.
5-13 Saturday @ New York Red Bulls 6:30 p.m. CSN
5-20 Saturday @ Houston Dynamo 3:00 p.m. ESPN2
5-27 Saturday @ Chivas USA 9:00 p.m. CSN
6-03 Saturday @ Real Salt Lake 8:00 p.m. CSN
6-11 SUNDAY NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 6:00 p.m.
6-17 Saturday @ Kansas City Wizards 7:30 p.m.
6-21 Wednesday @ D.C. United 6:30 p.m.
6-25 SUNDAY NEW YORK RED BULLS 6:00 p.m. CSN
6-28 WEDNESDAY REAL SALT LAKE 8:00 p.m.
7-04 TUESDAY KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 7:00 p.m. CSN
7-08 SATURDAY NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 7:30 p.m.
7-15 SATURDAY FC DALLAS 3:00 p.m. ESPN2
7-22 SATURDAY DC UNITED 7:30 p.m. CSN
8-05 SATURDAY COLUMBUS CREW 5:00 p.m. ESPN2
8-12 SATURDAY CHIVAS USA 7:30 p.m.
8-16 WEDNESDAY KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 8:00 p.m.
8-19 Saturday @ New England Revolution 6:30 p.m.
8-26 SATURDAY COLORADO RAPIDS 7:30 p.m.
8-30 WEDNESDAY HOUSTON DYNAMO 8:00 p.m. CSN
9-03 SUNDAY NEW YORK RED BULLS 6:00 p.m. CSN
9-09 Saturday @ Columbus Crew 6:30 p.m.
9-13 Wednesday @ Colorado Rapids 8:30 p.m.
9-17 SUNDAY DC UNITED 3:00 p.m. ESPN2
9-23 SATURDAY LOS ANGELES GALAXY 7:30 p.m.
9-30 Saturday @ New York Red Bulls 6:30 p.m. CSN
10-07 SATURDAY COLUMBUS CREW 7:30 p.m. CSN
10-15 Sunday @ D.C. United 4:00 p.m. ESPN2
Central times listed; Times are tentative and subject to change. All games broadcast on WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish) and WNVR 1030 AM (Polish).
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Major League Soccer Stories from March 17, 2006
- RSL reserves lose 1-0 to LA Galaxy reserves - Real Salt Lake
- Mark Abbott named President of Major League Soccer - MLS
- Comcast SportsNet to Air Ten Chicago Fire Games During 2006 Season - Chicago Fire FC
- Chivas USA adds six players to roster - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
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