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Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Weekly Update

November 13, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


Midfielder Justin Mapp earns first nod to RadioShack MLS Best XI squad

Major League Soccer named the RadioShack Best XI team for the 2006 MLS season during the MLS Gala Awards event held last Saturday at the Frisco Convention Center, and Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp earned his first nod to the League's top squad as one of the team's five midfielder selections. In already his fifth season in MLS, the 22-year-old Mapp enjoyed a true breakout campaign, registering two goals and a career-high eight assists while patrolling both flanks in the first half of the season and occupying the playmaking role during the Fire's red-hot second half of 2006. Mapp, who became the youngest player in MLS history to see action in 100 League matches in September, was part of a true youth movement on this year's RadioShack Best XI, as the Mississippi native was the youngest of six players age 25 or under named to the squad. Mapp's appointment to the season-ending list - which was determined by voting from the MLS players, MLS coaches and general managers, and media - was the first for a member of the "Men in Red" since the team's 2003 campaign, after which four members of the Fire (Chris Armas, DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra and Ante Razov) were named to the Best XI squad.

Let's make a deal? One-day trade window open today in advance of Friday's 2006 MLS Expansion Draft

With the 2006 season now in the books following Houston Dynamo's win in yesterday's MLS Cup, Major League Soccer will turn its focus to the 2007 campaign beginning today, as the League has opened up a one-day trade window that will remain open until 4:00 p.m. CT this afternoon, when rosters for all MLS sides will once again be frozen. Today's trade window comes in advance of another important day for player personal decision makers tomorrow, which is when the 12 current MLS sides must submit their protected player rosters in advance of this Friday's 2006 MLS Expansion Draft. Teams will be allowed to protect 11 players from their 28-man rosters (Senior and Developmental rosters combined), with Generation adidas players automatically protected. Each team may only leave one senior international player unprotected. The League's 13th team, Toronto FC, will begin the true building of its roster for their inaugural 2007 campaign this Friday, Nov. 17 during the 2006 MLS Expansion Draft, with the results of the club's selections set to be announced at 12:00 p.m. CT. The Canadian side will be allowed to chose up to 10 players in the draft, but can only chose one player from each existing MLS squad.

Fire to announce 2007 Boys High School Soccer All-State All-Academic Teams on Tuesday

Chicago Fire Soccer will tomorrow unveil the Seventh Annual Illinois Boys High School Soccer All-State All-Academic Team. Once again, a record number of talented student-athletes were under consideration for this year's All-State, Special Mention and Honorable mention teams, with 124 boys players from across Illinois earning distinction as part of this year's teams. The 23 members of the All-State squad will be honored at the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State Banquet this Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Diplomat West in Elmhurst, IL and will also be recognized at a Chicago Fire regular season game at TOYOTA PARK next season. High School soccer coaches from throughout Illinois were asked to nominate senior student athletes with at least a "B" grade point average that contributed to their high school soccer program for at least three years and were involved in at least two other school or community activities or sports.

2007 Chicago Fire Season Tickets now available

With the Fire's 2006 campaign now in the rear-view mirror, it's time to look ahead to 2007, and there's no better way to catch the excitement of MLS and international soccer next year at TOYOTA PARK than by becoming a Chicago Fire Soccer Season Ticket Holder. All Chicago Fire season tickets for the team's 2007 season at Bridgeview's TOYOTA PARK are now on sale, and the Fire is proud to announce that Full Season, Half Season (10 tickets) and Flex Plan (20 tickets) prices in all seating areas will remain at their 2006 prices, with packages starting at $320. Fans wanting more information, including all the benefits that go along with being a Fire Season Ticket Holder, are encouraged to call the Fire Ticket Hotline at 708-496-6800 or visit www.Chicago-Fire.com for more details.

Give the gift of soccer this upcoming holiday season with a Chicago Fire Gift Certificate

Just in time for the approaching holiday season, the Chicago Fire is now offering $10 and $20 gift certificates that will be good towards the purchase of tickets during the Fire's 2007 season at TOYOTA PARK. These Chicago Fire Gift Certificates can be redeemed towards the purchase of either 2007 Fire Season Tickets - including Full Season, Half Season and Flex Plans - or towards the purchase of single-game tickets for the 2007 season. To get your Chicago Fire gift certificates please order in person at the TOYOTA PARK Box Office, located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., or via phone at 1-888-MLS-FIRE.

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Need an original idea for your annual holiday cards this season? The FireWorks for Kids Foundation has your solution, as the Foundation is presenting a unique opportunity to turn TOYOTA PARK into the perfect backdrop. For a donation of $75, the FWFK will allow fans to have their family's name in lights while standing on the TOYOTA PARK field, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the home of the Fire their own. For more information on this special opportunity, please contact the FireWorks for Kids Foundation at 708-496-6740.

The Fire would like to congratulate the Judson College Eagles of Elgin, IL, who defeated Grand View College (IA) 2-1 last Saturday at TOYOTA PARK to earn the NAIA Region VII Tournament title and an automatic berth to this week's 48th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship in Daytona Beach, FL. Judson (17-3-1) earned the 13th seed in the 20-team tournament and will open its run for the national championship against the current title-holder, Lindsey-Wilson College (KY), this Wednesday, Nov. 15.

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