The Chicago Fire will be all business this weekend for April Fools Day, as the "Men in Red" will open up their 32-game MLS regular season schedule this Saturday, Apr. 1 in a Brimstone Cup showdown against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX. The match, part of MLS First Kick 2006, will be broadcast live nationally on ABC Sports, beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT. Fans can also follow the action locally on radio stations WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish) and WNVR-AM 1030 (Polish), with those broadcasts also being made available to a worldwide audience via the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com.
The Fire and FC Dallas will renew one of the League's most even and established rivalries in Saturday's clash, a series the Fire trails 10-12-1 in MLS regular season play, but is even at 15-15-2 when factoring in all competitions, including MLS Cup Playoff and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. The Fire is 2-9-0 in regular season play in "Big D" and dropped its first and only contest at the new Pizza Hut Park last Sept. 14 in a 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas in the semifinals of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup. The victory helped FC Dallas win or retain the Brimstone Cup, the trophy awarded annually to the winner of the series by the supporters sections of the two clubs, for a fourth straight season. The Fire last raised the Brimstone Cup in the trophy's inaugural year of 2001, when Chicago won the points-based series (3W, 1T, 0L) by an 11-5 margin on the strength of a 2-0-1 record in the 2001 MLS Cup Quarterfinals.
Chicago Fire/Performance PT "Recovery Room"
Armas, Chris - L ACL surgery - Doubtful
Herron, Andy - R MCL sprain - Doubtful
Jaqua, Nate - R MCL sprain - Doubtful
Sanneh, Tony - R lower back strain - Out
Tomorrow's FireWorks for Kids Foundation 2006 Season Kickoff Luncheon Sold Out
Chicago Fire Soccer and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the club's charitable arm, are proud to announce that tomorrow's 2006 edition of the FWFK Foundation Season Kickoff Luncheon at the Chicago Marriott Downtown (540 N. Michigan Ave.) is officially sold out. More than 600 Fire and soccer enthusiasts have secured their seats for the annual event, which will be emceed by FOX Chicago News anchor Robin Robinson. The entire Fire roster and coaching staff will be in attendance at the Luncheon and will be made available to members of the media during the event's reception from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT.
Paraguay Arrives, Mexico to Follow in Advance of Wednesday's Soldier Field Friendly
One half of Wednesday's international friendly at Soldier Field (8:00 p.m. CT) has made it to the Windy City, as the national team of Paraguay arrived safely at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport earlier this morning. There will be no rest for the weary South Americans, as Paraguay is slated to train this afternoon at Flames Field, located on the University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC) campus at 839 W. Roosevelt Rd. (corner of Morgan/Roosevelt), for an approximately 90-minute practice session beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT. Members of the media will have access to the Paraguay contingent following the practice session. Meanwhile, the other participant in Wednesday's tilt, the Mexican National Team, is slated to arrive at O'Hare later this evening. The "tri-colores" will arrive to Chicago on Mexicana Airlines Flight #812, with a scheduled arrival time of 9:20 p.m. CT. Mexico will conduct only one training session on Tuesday, Mar. 28 at Flames Field from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. CT, with media members allowed to enter the practice for only the final 15 minutes.
Tickets for Mar. 29 Mexico-Paraguay at Soldier Field, Including Special Fire Two-Pack, Still Available
Tickets are still available for Wednesday's Mexico vs. Paraguay international friendly at Soldier Field (8:00 p.m. CT kick-off). Tickets for the match between the two 2006 FIFA World Cup contenders can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 312-559-1212 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Fire offices (980 N. Michigan, Suite 1998 in Chicago) or the Soldier Field Box Office (Gate 2), this Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT and on gameday beginning at 9:00 a.m. CT. Tickets for the friendly are available for $25, $35, $50 and $60. In an effort to celebrate the pre-World Cup match between the two Latin American countries, the Fire has introduced a special two-game package that includes tickets to the Mar. 29 friendly as well as a regular season Fire game during the club's inaugural season in Bridgeview. For information on the Fire's two-game package please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.
Fire and FireWorks for Kids Foundation Team Up With National Sports Center for the Disabled to Host Soccer Clinic
Chicago Fire Soccer, the FireWorks for Kids Foundation and the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) will join together to conduct a free soccer clinic for children and youth with disabilities at the Foster Avenue Soccer Fields (5200 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago) on Saturday, Apr. 22 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. CT. As part of the popular NSCD AbilityCAMP program, this free interactive clinic will give children ages 6-18 with disabilities, either physical or developmental, the opportunity to experience first hand the fun the sport of soccer can provide. The AbilityCAMP will include instruction and skill development, use of equipment, games, prizes and snacks, in addition to appearances by Fire players and coaches and the Fire mascot. Individuals and groups are welcome to attend. For more information on the event, including how to register, please visit www.ncsd.org or contact Gaven Attwood at 303-293-5317.
MLS Direct Kick Package Returns
Major League Soccer has announced the return of MLS Direct Kick, providing fans the opportunity to watch more than 125 MLS games through the MLS Direct Kick television package. Direct Kick returns for the League's 11th season and is available to fans on any of three separate outlets. Starting this Saturday, Apr. 1, satellite TV providers DIRECTV and DISH Network, along with digital cable provider iN DEMAND Networks, will once again each present MLS regional telecasts. The residential price remains at just $69 across each of the three platforms, while commercial establishments can purchase the package for a flat rate of $100.
Nearly all of the 192 MLS regular season games will be available between the following outlets: MLS Direct Kick package and national broadcast partners ABC, ESPN2 and HDNet. Once again, MLS has collaborated with all three providers to offer two separate free preview periods for the MLS Direct Kick package, one on opening weekend (Apr. 1 and 2) and the other during the extended July 4th weekend (July 1 and 4). All MLS Direct Kick package telecasts are subject to change. Fore more information on MLS Direct Kick, including how to order and the full broadcast schedule for the 2006 season, visit www.MLSnet.com.
What's Your Priority (Number)? Buy a Fire Full- or Half-Season Ticket Plan Now to Make Our List
The seat selection process for all sections at Bridgeview Stadium for current Fire Full Season and Half Season ticket holders is now underway. Fans can stake their spot on the Fire's growing seat priority list by acquiring a season ticket package for the team's first season at Bridgeview Stadium. Season ticket packages are available now and can be purchased by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE or by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com. Fans can scout out which seats they would like by checking out the Bridgeview seating chart in the Ticket section at www.Chicago-Fire.com.
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