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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire Announces Plans for 2006 Preseason

January 17, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (Tuesday, January 17, 2006) - The Chicago Fire has announced that the club will divide the preseason portion of its 2006 season between four stops: Bradenton, FL; Carson, CA; Jackson, MS, and an international site that will be announced in near future. The Fire will begin its 2006 preseason at the IMG Academy in Bradenton on Saturday, Feb. 4 and will conclude with a weeklong stint in Jackson that ends on Sunday, Mar. 26. A match schedule for each portion of the Fire's 2006 preseason will be released as details become finalized.

The Fire's first trip will serve as a familiar starting point, as the "Men in Red" will head to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL for a two-week visit from Feb. 4-17. The IMG Academy, which also serves as the home of U.S. Soccer's Under-17 Residency Program, is a comfortable spot for the squad, which has kicked off the preseason on the IMG campus in each of Head Coach Dave Sarachan's three previous seasons at the helm of the Fire.

Following a weekend return to Chicago, the "Men in Red" will embark on the international leg of the preseason that will run from Feb. 21-Mar. 2. The Fire has whittled down its options to one of three sites: Guadalajara, Mexico; Vitoria, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Fire visited Guadalajara last season, when it took part in scrimmages against Mexican First Division clubs U.A.G. (Tecos) and Atlas in addition to an exhibition contest against a Select XI side consisting of players from the Guadalajara area.

Another weekend stay in Chicago will be followed quickly by another trip westward, this time for an 11-day training stint at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA from Mar. 6-16. The Home Depot Center, which also serves as the home of both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA, in addition to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center, will be hosting several MLS squads throughout the two months of preseason, guaranteeing that there will be no shortage of available scrimmages for the Fire during its stay.

Following one final weekend back in the Windy City, the Fire will make its annual trip to Jackson, MS for a weeklong stay from Mar. 20-26, a stint that will include at least one exhibition contest. Jackson has served as the anchor leg of the Fire's postseason plans for the last two years, a trip that has been highlighted by the return home of Fire midfielder Justin Mapp, who was born and raised in nearby Brandon, MS.

To inquire about media availability during each leg of the preseason, please contact Diana Lopez, Fire Director of Media Relations, by phone at 312-705-7272 or via email at Dlopez@Chicago-Fire.com.

The Fire will begin its 2006 MLS regular season schedule as it did last year, opening on the road against archrival FC Dallas. The season opener between the Brimstone Cup combatants is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 1 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX (time TBA).

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