Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United – Thursday, October 25, 2007 – Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Game One

 

TV: ESPN2 (Glenn Davis, Eric Wynalda, Allen Hopkins, Rob Stone, Julie Foudy)

RADIO: WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, “Batata” DaSilva, Enrique “Tico” Fernandez)

 

CHICAGO FIRE VS. D.C. UNITED

On Sunday, the Chicago Fire seized the seventh seed in the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 21,374 at TOYOTA PARK. Surging into the playoffs on an eight-game unbeaten streak (3-0-5), the Fire will host D.C. United this Thursday at TOYOTA PARK. The Fire play a home-and-away series with United, who suffered 3-2 loss in their regular season finale against the Columbus Crew last Saturday. Kick-off for Thursday's game is at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and broadcast over the airwaves on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-1200 AM (Spanish).

 

CHICAGO FIRE WEEKLY AGENDA

** Sites/times subject to change.  Please call 708.496.6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.

Monday, Oct. 22                       Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 23                      Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 24                 Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 25                  Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. – TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill.

Friday, Oct. 26                          Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 27                     OFF

Sunday, Oct. 28                       OFF

 

MLS CUP PLAYOFF TICKETS AVAILABLE

Tickets for the Chicago Fire's MLS Cup Conference Semifinal Series game one with D.C. United are now on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets start at just $20 for Firehouse section seats. Flex vouchers may not be redeemed.

 

Fire Full Season, Half Season, and Flex Plan Ticket holders will have the option to purchase additional tickets at the discounted group rate and lock away their seat location for the match by calling the Fire’s Season Ticket Service hotline at 708-496-6800.  Discounted ticket prices will also be available for groups of 10 or more by calling 888-MLS-Fire or visiting www.chicago-fire.com.

 

FIRE AWARDS RECEPTION AT EMILIO'S TAPAS

The 2007 Chicago Fire Awards Reception will be held Monday at Emilio’s Tapas, located at 215 East Ohio St., beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT.  The event will offer attendees the opportunity to mingle with Fire players and coaches, take part in a raffle to benefit the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, and help the Fire honor the 2007 award winners. The evening will include speeches from Fire President/CEO John Guppy and Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio, as well as an awards ceremony presenting the Fire Honda Most Valuable Player, Budweiser Golden Boot, Defender of the Year, the USSF Humanitarian of the Year, and the Sierra Mist Top 10 Fire Goals of the Year.  The entire Chicago Fire team and coaching staff are scheduled to be in attendance for the event.

 

CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER WEEKLY– ONE HOUR PLAYOFF EDITION – FIRE GOALKEEPER MATT PICKENS

A special one hour MLS Cup Playoffs edition of “Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly,” airs its next broadcast via WXAV 88.3 FM from the campus of Saint Xavier University (SXU) this Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 6:00 p.m. CT, and each week throughout the rest of the Fire’s 2007 MLS campaign. Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens joins the show to discuss his club-record tenth shutout in the Fire's 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Hosts Kevin Kellam, Angelo Bonadonna, and Terry Bonadonna will also preview the upcoming match against D.C. United on Thursday. Fans are encouraged to call in at 773.429.0463 to talk about all things Fire-related - live over the airwaves and the internet, with podcasts available through Chicago Fire or WXAV subscriptions on iTunes. For more information visit www.wxav.com or www.chicago-fire.com.

 

DIRECTO AL BLANCO BEGINS TUESDAY

Chicago Fire Soccer's first player-specific radio show, Directo al Blanco or Blanco Direct, is set to debut this Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6:00 p.m. CT. The full-hour live show will be hosted by Chicago Fire broadcast radio talent Oscar Guzman and Nilton "Batata" DaSilva, and will feature Fire star attacker Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the trio speak on the latest soccer-related news regarding the Chicago Fire, Major League Soccer, and Mexican soccer. The debut show will include commentary from in-studio guest Chicago Bears linebacker Roberto Garza and Club América head coach Daniel "El Ruso" Brailovsky will join via phone from Brazil, as his club prepares for Copa Libertadores.

 

Directo al Blanco will air live in Chicago on Univision Radio 1200 AM, online at www.univision.com and www.chicago-fire.com, as well as pre-recorded in Mexico on 88.9 FM as part of the Acir Group, the "lider nacional en radio". The show will air in concurrence with the MLS season and will include special call-in guests both from the United States and Mexico, as Latin sports celebrities from around the globe join the show. Fans listening both domestically and internationally will have the opportunity to call in at 312.642.1212 and e-mail questions to Blanco about his thoughts on the Fire, MLS, Primera Division, and more.

 

PICKENS BREAKS SINGLE SEASON SHUTOUT RECORD WITH 10

With the 1-0 shutout on Sunday, Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens broke the Fire single regular season shutout record with ten, breaking the previously held record of nine by Zach Thornton earned during the 2001 season.  Pickens recorded shutouts in the following 2007 matches: April 7 vs. New England (1-0), April 29 at Houston Dynamo (1-0), May 27 vs. Real Salt Lake (0-0), July 1 at Colorado (0-0), July 29 at Toronto FC (3-0), Aug. 4 versus Columbus (0-0), Aug. 25 vs. Kansas City (2-0), Sept. 8 at Columbus (1-0), Oct. 13 at D.C. United (0-0), and Oct. 21 vs. Los Angeles (1-0).

 

CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER TO HOST INAUGURAL FALL WONDERGIRL 5K RUN

Chicago Fire Soccer and the Village of Bridgeview have teamed-up with Girls on the Run for the Inaugural Chicago Fire Wondergirl 5K, presented by Takeda, on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 9:00 a.m. CT at TOYOTA PARK. The Wondergirl 5k brings the enthusiasm of Girls on the Run, a non-profit prevention program that educates and prepares girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Celebrate the end of the Girls on the Run season with hundreds of young girls, many running their first 5K. Everyone can participate, and for the families out there, this is the rare event where kids and adults can run together in one race. The race benefits the Girls on the Run-Chicago and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation. For more information on the Wondergirl 5K, visit www.gotrchicago.org.

 

2008 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW

2008 Chicago Fire Season Tickets are available with Full, Half, and Flex plans now available for purchase.  For more information regarding 2008 Season Tickets contact the Chicago Fire at 888.MLS.FIRE or visit our website at www.chicago-fire.com.

 

2008 TOYOTA PARK CLUB SEATS AVAILABLE

2008 Chicago Fire Club Seats are now available for purchase.  Some of the key benefits of becoming a Club seat holder are; midfield seat locations, Stadium Club access, VIP Parking, VIP Stadium Entrance and Pre-sale to all TOYOTA PARK events. A limited amount of Club seats are still available for the 2008 season. For more information on 2008 TOYOTA PARK club seats, call 708.496.6890.