The Deep Dish: Fire Preseason Events

FIRE PRESEASON SCHEDULE:  The Chicago Fire announced their 2019 Preseason Schedule on Thursday. Players will report to training camp on Monday and will depart for Spain two days later for 15 days. At present, the Fire have scheduled two friendlies. The first is against La Lifa AFE (The Spanish Footballers’ Union) on February 3rd at La Ciudad del Futbol de Las Rozas which is the official training facility of the Spanish National Team. The second will be against Segunda Division B side CF Fuenlabrada on February 6th at Estadio Fernando Torres.

The team returns to Chicago on February 7th and then head to Charleston, SC on February 11th for the Carolina Challenge Cup. There, they will face Columbus Crew on February 16th, FC Cincinnati on February 20th, and the host Charleston Battery on the 23rd.

HELLO MOTO:  On January 22nd, the Fire are planning a “major partnership” with mobile device maker Motorola for a fan event at Pioneer Court at 401 North Michigan Avenue. After the announcement, the club will hold its first media availability across the street at the Fire’s pop-up shop at the Wrigley Building for select Fire players, head coach Veljko Paunovic, and president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez.

Presumably, Motorola are set to become the Fire’s new kit sponsor succeeding Valspar.