CHICAGO (June 16, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC today announced plans to commemorate Juneteenth this weekend, including a local community service project, Juneteenth-inspired jerseys and festivities around the team’s home match this Saturday, June 18 against D.C. United at Soldier Field at 7 p.m. CT.
Community Service Event
The Club’s celebrations will begin Saturday morning with a special event at the South Shore Block Club’s Juneteenth Resource Fair. Club representatives will be on-site supporting set up for the event, repainting neighborhood buildings, sharing information about the Fire’s youth programs and providing giveaway items.
Gameday Activities
Ahead of the match, Section 8 Chicago and the Black Fires supporters’ groups will host a special Juneteenth tailgate starting at 4 p.m. CT in the South Lot. The tailgate will feature live music by local Black artists and food from local Black-owned restaurants. Fans attending the tailgate are encouraged to provide a donation to benefit Assata’s Daughters and Lupus Foundation of America.
Juneteenth festivities will also take place at Burnham Downs, where members of the Black Fires and the Urban Football League, a grassroots organization focused on bringing communities together through soccer, will host a table to spread awareness about their mission and local Black-owned businesses.
Other special guests attending Saturday’s match include Chicago Bears draft pick Kyler Gordon, who will serve as the Club’s Firestarter – a new Club tradition that takes place shortly before kickoff. Local artist Myron Laban will also create a mural inspired by ABLA Homes (Chicago Housing Authority) and Chicago performer Liberty Clay will sing ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ (the Black National Anthem) ahead of kickoff.
Additionally, all fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a limited-edition roster card print by TGi Movement founder and activist Devonta Boston.
Juneteenth Jerseys
The Club will also take part in a league-wide Juneteenth initiative through MLS’ partnership with Black Players for Change (BPC) – an independent organization of Black MLS players, coaches, and staff working to bridge the racial equality gap in soccer and society.
In every MLS match this weekend, players will wear jerseys featuring Juneteenth-inspired numbers designed by Tiffany Judah Middleton, a Black queer artist from Childersburg, Alabama. Middleton, who now resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., created the numbers which feature a vibrant yellow, green, and red color palette representing the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.
The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to fans from June 20 – July 5, with proceeds going towards local organizations supporting and uplifting Black communities in the markets of MLS clubs. Chicago Fire FC’s auctioned jerseys will benefit My Block My Hood My City – one of Chicago’s fastest growing social impact organizations providing education programs for teens and a network of volunteer initiatives that serve local communities. Additional auction information, including how to place a bid, can be found at MLSauctions.com.
Players will also wear Unity pre-match tops, created by adidas, to celebrate diversity and unity. Fans will have an opportunity to purchase the Unity pre-match tops at MLSstore.com and at the Club’s Team Shop at Soldier Field located inside Gate 0 and outside section 150.
More information on the league’s Juneteenth initiatives can be found here.
Ticket and Broadcast Information
Tickets for Saturday’s match against D.C. United at 7 p.m. CT can be purchased here. The match will also air nationally on UniMás, TUDN and Twitter (with English-language audio) and will be transmitted locally in Spanish on Univision Radio.
