At the Fire luncheon, Peter Wilt told the crowd that the Fire would play 3 games in the "renovated" Soldier Field in October, and that one of them would be an "international double-header". This is all I know, but perhaps you guys have heard more. I look at it this way. It probably won't be the US National Team. Chicago and the Upper Midwest are effectively banned from such games. The USMNT last played in Chicago 10 years ago, drawing around 36,000 for a US Cup match. Chicago may well be the best soccer city in the U.S. and the USMNT has played doubleheaders with all of the original 12 MLS teams except Chicago and Dallas. But Chicago is banned by the Chicago-based USSF. It probably won't be a Mexican club match either. Mexican League teams often play games in Chicago, but usually in August as a pre-season tuneup for the regular season. October is in the middle of the season. The Anchutz Entertainment Group announced that El Tri would play 5 games per year in the U.S., and specifically mentioned New York, Chicago, Texas and the LA area. El Tri has been a regular visitor to Chicago, drawing huge crowds, mainly from the big Mexican population here. By process of elimination, it seems likely El Tri will once again sell out Soldier Field. Comments?
i would be surprised if they did have the Tri at soldier field, unless they would play someone other than the US since it would be like a homefield advantage for the MX side.
El Tri will play inc Chicago versus someone other than the US. I don't think AEG was implying that El Tri would play all five of thier US games against US. What a great way to let the city know the FIRE have returned to the Soldier Spaceship!
Thanks for the input. I figured many of the Mexican fans on this board have been good about sharing information in the Spanish media and they may know more about it than I do. I am pretty sure it would not be Mexico-U.S. because USSF will not put any games in the Upper Midwest. The Mexican Federation has approved a number of El Tri games in Chicago, with big crowds and the long term improvement in TV ratings for El Tri in the U.S. If my memory serves me correctly, El Tri and Ecuador were going to play a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in June, 2001. It was scheduled a few days before El Tri went to England for a friendly at Pride Park Then the Ecuadorian coach got shot in the face and the game got canceled. The irony is amazing. The Mexican FA helps the Fire by partnering up for a doubleheader, something the USSF won't do. The USSF is currently working on YET ANOTHER USMNT game in DC as part of yet another DC United doubleheader. I would rather see the USMNT in Chicago, but I guess we should be grateful for the Mexican FA.
Thomas........ Why won't the USSF play their games in Chicago? Anyways...I went to the last Mexico game in Chicago - The Tripumas edition. They played against Ireland. excting stuff.
I thought of Morelia because I believe the Fire has an agreement to play Morelia once a year. But Peter was talking about the Fire playing MLS games at Soldier Field coupled with an "international double header." I kind of doubt the Fire would play an MLS team AND play Morelia in the same stadium on the same day. I don't know why the Upper Midwest is banned from USMNT games. Some have speculated that the terms given for Soldier Field are not attractive. But El Tri certainly does not seem to be fazed by this. I believe The Park District charged the Fire $50,000 for each game, with no cut for parking, beer and so on. But El Tri still made money hand over first under presumably the same terms by selling lots of tickets AND developing the market. The real payback is the regional TV ratings and advertising that flows from this. Also, a grudge against the Park District, Daley or Reinsdorf would hadrly be a reason for banning the entire Upper Midwest. There have to be other reasons. The USMNT has been drawing miserable crowds since the World Cup, with the exception of the Argentina game in Miami. You would have to sell a lot of beer to compensate for the 6,000 attendance at the Canada game and the 12,000 or so at the El Salvador game. El Tri is laughing all the way to the bank.
It is possible that the double header could be a match up between Morelia and another club and if the Mexican Natioonal team does get to play then it has not been confirmed yet but i wouldnt be surprised, their last game against Paraguay was also supposed to be a double header (URU/JAP)
Thank you VS. I had discounted the Mexican club chance but you are right. Chivas just played America in the US. Maybe this is how the Fire and Morelia will honor their commitment. I would rather see the USMNT!