CHICAGO FIRE TAKE ON HOUSTON DYNAMO AT BBVA COMPASS STADIUM
The Chicago Fire (7-9-3, 24 points) head to Texas to take on the Houston Dynamo (8-6-5, 29 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network/La Ley 107.9).
This is the second of three regular season matches between the two sides this season. Chris Rolfe’s 29th minute equalizer was not enough as Fire fell 2-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium on April 14. The Fire will host the third leg of the series at Toyota Park on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2:00 p.m. CT (UniMas/My50/La Ley 107.9)
Currently sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Dynamo will enter the match after hosting Barclay’s Premier League side Stoke City FC on July 24 in the fifth edition of the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup.
CHICAGO FIRE TRAINING SCHEDULE: July 23 – July 29
Tuesday, July 23 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Wednesday, July 24 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Thursday, July 25 Training 9:30 a.m.^
Friday, July 26 Training 8:30 a.m.^
Depart for Houston
Saturday, July 27 Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo – BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas – 8:00 p.m. CT – NBC Sports Network/La Ley 107.9
Sunday, July 28 Return to Chicago
Monday, July 29 Off
*Training will take place on the Toyota Park Practice Field unless otherwise noted
^Times are approximate and subject to change. Fire players and coaches will be made available following training. Please contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department for updated times and locations. Please contact Eunice Kim for media requests.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. Houston Dynamo
-The Fire hold a 4-7-5 all-time regular season record against the Dynamo, including a 2-4-2 record in matches played on the road.
-Current Dynamo forward Calen Carr began his professional career as a member of the Fire. Drafted in the first round (10th overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, Carr made 82 regular season appearances, scoring nine goals and adding three assists across five seasons.
-Two Fire players are Texas products. Defender Hunter Jumper, who notched an assist in his first professional start against the Red Bulls on April 7, and midfielder Corben Bone, who made his 2013 season debut also against the Red Bulls, are both Plano, Texas natives.
-Joel Lindpere’s goal in the 11th minute of the Fire’s 4-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday, July 20 was his first in a Fire shirt and his 16th career MLS regular season goal.
-Chris Rolfe’s brace on Saturday marked his sixth multi-goal game of his MLS career.
-Fire captain Logan Pause returned from injury when he entered Saturday’s match in the 77th minute for his first competitive action since June 22. Pause started and played 58 minutes in the Fire’s MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday, July 17.
-Mike Magee’s goal in the 56th minute of Saturday’s match marked his 12th goal of season. Magee now sits in second place atop the tightly-contested MLS Golden Boot race.
-Magee’s 12 goals marks a career best in his 11 years as a professional soccer player. This is the first year Magee’s goal tally has topped double digits. His previous best was his 2003 rookie season when he tallied seven goals for the MetroStars.
TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE VS. D.C. UNITED LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL MATCH NOW ON SALE
Tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match at Toyota Park on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. CT are now on sale.
Advance tickets for the match are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com or Ticketmaster.
The Open Cup match will be included in the Second Star Club and Suite season ticket packages.
The Fire advanced to the semifinals of the storied tournament with a 5-1 victory over the Orlando City SC June 26 at Toyota Park. A Chris Rolfe brace and goals from Patrick Nyarko, Mike Magee and Joel Lindpere led the Men in Red to their 33rd all-time victory of the 100-year old tournament.
D.C. United advanced after a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution at the SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD CHRIS ROLFE NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Major League Soccer announced that Fire forward Chris Rolfe was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for week 21 of the 2013 MLS season.
The Kettering, Ohio native’s first half brace helped the Fire defeat long-time Eastern Conference nemesis D.C. United 4-1 Saturday evening at Toyota Park.
Rolfe opened scoring just two minutes into the match when Joel Lindpere played a perfectly weighted ball in the air to Rolfe at the top of the 18-yard-box. Rolfe leaped into the air and sent his right-footed volley over D.C. United ‘keeper Joe Willis to give the Fire the early lead.
Rolfe completed his brace one minute into first half stoppage time when Lindpere played a one-time chip over the United defense. Rolfe raced behind the defense and slotted his shot into the lower right corner.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
CHICAGO FIRE LAUNCE NEW AND IMPROVED OFFICIAL CHICAGO FIRE MOBILE APP POWERED BY CRICKET WIRELESS
The new and improved official Chicago Fire mobile app, powered by Cricket Wireless, is now available for both Apple and Android phone users. Current Chicago Fire app users will not be required to re-download the new app; they will instead receive an update notification.
All current and new Chicago Fire app users can enter the Chicago Fire Mobile App contest through the appfor the chance to win an autographed Mike Magee jersey, a VIP experience at a Chicago Fire match, a Cricket Wireless prize pack, a $150 shopping spree at the Toyota Park Fan Shop, or dinner with two Fire players at a Chicago restaurant. For more information about the Chicago Fire Mobile app, as well as complete rules and regulations for the Mobile App contest, visitwww.chicago-fire.com/app.
CHICAGO FIRE LAUNCH THIRD KIT DESIGN CONTEST
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club has partnered with iconic jersey sponsor The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., to launch the #cf97ThirdKit design contest, asking Fire supporters to submit designs for the jersey the Fire plans to unveil at the club’s Anniversary game in 2014.
The five best designs will be chosen by the Chicago Fire and Quaker Oats. Once the final designs are selected, each winner will work directly with the club’s creative team to place the design into an adidas-approved jersey template. The final designs will then be put to a fan vote on www.Chicago-Fire.com.
The winning design will become a part of Fire history and will be scheduled to make its debut for the Anniversary game in 2014, in addition to other future matchday opportunities. The winner will also receive round trip airfare and accommodations for two to attend the Fire’s match against the Portland Timbers in 2014, including a private tour of the adidas campus in Portland, an opportunity to meet with adidas jersey designers and $500.00 to spend at the adidas employee store. All five selected designers will receive two tickets to sit in the Chicago Fire’s Second Star Club for a Fire match.
To be considered, entrants must download a template form for the design from www.Chicago-Fire.com. This template form will include blank outlines for entrant’s design. Using the template form, entrants must design the new team third jersey (front/sleeves/back). Submissionsmay be sent tocf97thirdkit@chicago-fire.com, delivered in-person or via mail per the official rules. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, August 14.
Full #cf97ThirdKit rules and regulations can be found here.
CHICAGO FIRE OFFER DISCOUNT TO MESSI & FRIENDS ATTENDEES
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is offering anyone with proof of purchase to the July 6 Messi & Friends event at Soldier Field a 50 percent discount on a ticket to the Aug. 7 Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match.
All discounted ticket offers must be redeemed at the Toyota Park Box Office only. Inquiries regarding the discount can be directed to 1-888-MLS-FIRE.
CHICAGO FIRE HOLD THIRD ANNUAL PRACTICE IN THE COMMUNITY
For the third consecutive year the club will hold a Practice in the Community, presented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart Field (31st and South Federal) on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT. Chicago Fire First Team training is scheduled to take place at 11:00 a.m. CT and is subject to change.
The Fire will venture away from their soccer-specific home of Toyota Park to the Practice in the Community event,bringing the entire Fire team to Chicago’s South Side for a full training session that is open to the general public. Following the practice, the Fire will interact with the fans and members of the local community by signing autographs and talking soccer.
Fans who attend Practice in the Community will also have the opportunity to win a VIP Gameday Experience for the Sept. 1 match against the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park. This package will include four field-side seats, the opportunity to watch warm ups from the field, access to a post-game autograph session in the Stadium Club and a Fire fan gift pack, including a team autographed Fire jersey.
The Practice in the Community eventispresented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UIH), the leaders in the delivery of patient care, education and research. UIH has the vision to create, nurture and sustain long-term relationships with the communities they serve.
Additional information on the Practice in the Community can be foundhere.
CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL WHITE PARTY
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will host the Third Annual White Party presented by Swissôtel Chicago at the MCA Warehouse (1747 W. Hubbard) on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. CT.
This unique, stylish event provides guests with an opportunity to sip cocktails while getting to know the Fire and the Chicago Fire Foundation. The White Party will feature a premium open bar, live DJ, hors d’oeuvres and a gift bag for each guest to top off the night. Guests are strongly encouraged to don their most stylish white attire.
Proceeds from the White Party will benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation. In 2012, the White Party sold out with 700 urban professionals in attendance and raised more than $40,000 for the Foundation.
Tickets to the event, which start at $60 for a general admission ticket and $80 for a VIP ticket that includes an upgraded gift bag and access to the VIP lounge with exclusive food and additional bars, can be purchasedhere.
For additional information, please emailwhiteparty@chicago-fire.com, visit Chicago-Fire.com or click here: http://2013whiteparty.eventbrite.com/.
