MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire Preseason Training Update

Published on March 24, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


The "Men in Red" continue to train in the Portland, OR area as their 12-day West Coast training camp winds down. The Fire kept up its busy spring last week with four days of training sessions and a pair of exhibition contests between Oregon and San Jose, CA. The Fire's first match of the West Coast trip last Thursday against the San Jose Earthquakes was a hard-fought, defensive contest that ended on a down note when the Earthquakes converted an 86th minute penalty kick en route to a 1-0 victory at West Valley College in Saratoga, CA. The "Men in Red" rebounded on Sunday afternoon by notching a 6-0 victory against a joint Portland/Seattle A-League squad at the University of Portland. Forward Rodrigo Faria collected a hat trick by scoring three goals in his Fire debut and forwards Damani Ralph and McKinley Tennyson and midfielder Craig Capano each added one goal apiece in the victory. Chicago will conclude its training camp this week with three more days of practice at the Nike Campus in Beaverton, OR before returning to Chicago on Thursday.

In addition to Tennyson, the Fire has invited midfielder Jon Cullen into its preseason camp for a trial. The 30-year-old native of England has spent his entire 12-year career in his home country, including a stint with Sheffield United of the English First Division from 1998-2000 and, most recently, with Darlington of the Third Division last fall. The trial of midfielder Miro Bilaver concluded last Thursday without a signing, as the midfielder was not invited to join the Fire on the second leg of its West Coast trip to Oregon.

The Chicago Fire announced last Thursday that the club's final tune-up for the 2003 MLS season will take place on April 5 at the LSU Soccer Complex on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against the Colorado Rapids at 6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the exhibition contest in "Cajun Country" will be $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 8-17 if bought in advance. Group, family and team package discounts are also available for the contest. For more information on the match and tickets, contact Kevin Mooney either by email (Kmmooney1@cs.com) or by phone (337-289-6500).

2003 Chicago Fire Preseason Schedule (subject to change)

Monday, March 24-25 Training at Nike Campus in Beaverton, OR at 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. PT
Thursday, March 27 Return to Chicago
Friday, March 28-April 11 Training in Chicago (Sites and Times TBD)
Saturday, April 5 Game vs. Colorado Rapids at LSU Soccer Complex in Baton Rouge, LA at 6:30 p.m. CT

Chris Armas Returns To Action

Chicago Fire midfielder Chris Armas returned to game action for the first time in over 10 months when he came in as a second-half sub Sunday afternoon, helping the "Men in Red" to a 6-0 victory over the joint Portland/Seattle A-League squad at the University of Portland. After coming onto the field in the 67th minute to replace midfielder Craig Capano, Armas was immediately given the captain's armband by fellow Fire original Jesse Marsch. The U.S. international had been in full training with the Fire for much of the last month, but was kept out of the club's preseason matches until Sunday. Armas had not taken the field during a match since he tore his right ACL on May 12, 2002 while playing for the U.S. Men's National Team in an international friendly against Uruguay. Armas is expected to return to the starting 11 in time for the Fire's 2003 MLS opener at Cardinal Stadium against the New England Revolution on Sunday, April 13.

Injury Report

Ante Razov - right shoulder and left ankle surgeries - day-to-day
Selolwane, Dipsy - fractured left fibula and dislocated left ankle - 3 to 5 weeks

Season Kickoff Luncheon to Feature MLS Commissioner Don Garber

The FireWorks for Kids Foundation has announced that the 2003 Season Kickoff Luncheon, sponsored by Athletico, is set for Thursday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This year's keynote speaker will be MLS Commissioner Don Garber. 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 $60 each and tables of 10 are $500. For more information or to order tickets, please call the FireWorks for Kids Foundation at 312-705-7218 or visit

Hot Ticket

The Fire has put season tickets on sale for the team's 2003 season at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville. The Fire is holding the line on individual ticket prices with the exception of a $2 increase on the south end reserved FireHouse seats. The range of ticket prices will continue to be $15 for the general admission Supporters Section to $35 for the VIP Gold. Discounts up to $3 per ticket are available for season and group purchase for the Fire's 15-game MLS regular season, plus any additional Open Cup, exhibition and playoff matches. Season ticket prices per game will range from $12 per game for the Fire's "Supporters Section" to $32 for the "VIP Gold" section. To order season tickets please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE or visit the Chicago Fire offices at 980 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1998, Chicago, IL 60611.

Etc.

* The Fire will hold an "Open House" at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, IL on Saturday, March 29, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. CT. The event will give fans an opportunity to see the new-look Fire up-close-and-personal for the first time in 2003 and will include an autograph session and the FireFest interactive fan section. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase season and pick out the seats they will call home for the 2003 season in Cardinal Stadium.

* The Chicago Fire Academy has released the schedule for the Academy Soccer Camps that will take place around the Chicagoland area this summer. The Fire Academy will host one dozen five-day camps this summer to help educate and develop youth players throughout the area and give them the opportunity to try out for the Fire Academy, the area's premier youth training program. For more details on dates and locations of this summer's Chicago Fire Academy Soccer Camps, visit .

* Fox Sports Net color analyst Kenny Stern will appear at The Soccer Field in Wheaton, IL, located at 225 Rice Lake Square, on Saturday, April 5 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. to sign copies of his new novel kicks. A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the many programs provided through the FireWorks For Kids Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 24, 2003


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