Fire Move To Cardinal Stadium

CHICAGO (Jan. 30, 2002) -- Chicago Fire General Manager Peter Wilt today announced that the team has reached a preliminary agreement with North Central College (NCC) in Naperville to expand Cardinal Stadium and play there through the 2002 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The Fire needs a new venue due to the renovation of Soldier Field, where the team had played since its inception in 1998. Chicago Fire season tickets will go on sale Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. (CT).

The agreement between the Fire and NCC is contingent upon the development of an acceptable traffic and parking plan and upon the Naperville City Council's approval of a zoning permit. The permit will allow a temporary seating expansion at Cardinal Stadium that will raise its current 5,000-seat capacity to approximately 15,000.

"This is a great solution to a temporary problem," said Fire GM Peter Wilt. "There will be a tremendous benefit to the city and team by having the Fire in Naperville as the first Chicago major league sports team to play in the suburbs. We will create an intimate atmosphere and seat scarcity by limiting ticket sales. The proximity to the heart of Illinois' soccer population will add to the team's popularity."

The Fire will kick-off the 2002 season at Cardinal Stadium in dramatic fashion, hosting its rival in the FC (CONCACAF) Champions Cup, CSD Municipal of Guatemala, winner of the 2001 Guatemalan national title, on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. (CT). The match will mark the second of a two-game, home and away series, as the "Men in Red" are scheduled to face Municipal on March 16 at Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala City for the first leg. The winner of the series will advance to the quarterfinals of the prestigious international tournament. The two finalists will qualify for the 2003 FIFA World Club Championship.

Just three days after its Champions Cup match against Municipal, the Fire will kick off its fifth MLS campaign by facing the Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) from Crew Stadium. The team's MLS home opener at Cardinal Stadium is set for Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. (CT), as the Fire hosts 2001 MLS MVP Alex Pineda Chacon, 2000 MLS Scoring Champ Mamadou Diallo, and the rest of the new-look New England Revolution.

Chicago has 89 percent of its total matches on weekends or holidays, while 12 of the 14 home games at Cardinal Stadium will fall on a weekend.

"I've heard from many Naperville soccer fans and they want to see this happen," said the Honorable George Pradel, Mayor of Naperville. "I'm excited that the Fire wants to play in Naperville, but they need to show the City Council a plan that demonstrates they have thought about our community and the neighboring residents. I know our dedicated staff is working with the Fire and the College to mitigate the negatives that come with a crowd. I believe they can do this."

The Fire is no stranger to Cardinal Stadium. The venue served as the scene for the Fire's 2000 Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup quarterfinals victory on August 9, 2000, as the "Men in Red" crushed the Dallas Burn 5-0 in front of 7,096 fans. The standing room crowd witnessed Fire star and U.S. National Team forward Josh Wolff score four goals and one assist on the night to help the Fire advance to the semifinals, before the team eventually captured its second U.S. Open Cup title on October 21, 2000.

"Working with the Fire has been an enjoyable experience," said Walter Johnson, North Central's athletic director. "They're a very professional, detail-oriented group of people. With the time and thought they've put into planning for coming to Naperville for the 2002 season, I think the outcome can be very positive for the City, the Fire and the College."

Cardinal Stadium, located on the south end of campus, just east of Downtown Naperville, is a state-of-the-art facility with a synthetic grass field for football and soccer, a new running track, and an over 50,000 square-foot multipurpose building containing fitness and training rooms, locker rooms, classrooms, offices and an equipped press box. The stadium replaced an earlier structure that suffered major damage during the "Hundred-Year Flood" that ravaged many parts of Naperville in 1996.

Since its 1999 opening, Cardinal Stadium has been the site for a number of important sporting and community events. In May 2000, NCC hosted the NCAA Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and for the past two years, the College has hosted the "Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic," the annual football showdown between Naperville North and Naperville Central high schools, bringing more than 15,000 fans to each game. Last fall, the Illinois High School Association Class A and AA Boys State Soccer finals were held at Cardinal, while the girls finals will be held there this spring.

"North Central College has been very good to work with through this process," added Wilt. "They have recognized the challenging position the Fire is in, they have facilitated planning efforts with the City and they have made sure we address the concerns of the neighbors."

The Fire has also announced its ticket plans and pricing for the 2002 season. Ticket packages will vary from full season to convenient "flex" plans during the Fire's 14-game MLS regular season at Cardinal Stadium, plus any additional Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, exhibition and playoff matches. Season ticket prices per game will range from $12 for the Fire's colorful "Firehouse" section to $32 for the newly created "VIP Gold" section. Discounts for groups of 15 or more are also available. See chart below.

The Fire reached new heights in attendance figures during the 2001 season, significantly increasing its total attendance by over 22% (from the previous season in 2000) and drawing an average of 16,388 fans per game during 14 regular season home games at Soldier Field. Season ticket sales in 2001 also jumped to a record 34%.

For more information on the Fire's 2002 ticket plans and pricing, or to purchase season tickets, please call 1-888-MLS-FIRE, or visit the Chicago Fire offices at 980 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1998 in Chicago. Information is also available on the team's web site at www.chicago-fire.com

The Chicago Fire was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire captured the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in the team's inaugural season in 1998. The Fire also won the 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and 2000 and 2001 MLS Central Division titles.

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