MLS Fire Agree To Deal To Play In Naperville; Burn Update

The MLS Fire on Tuesday agreed to play its home games at North Central College's Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, IL, for the '02 season, according to the AP, which noted the team is in need of a temporary home while Soldier Field is renovated. Fire GM Peter Wilt said of the new deal, "This is a great solution to a temporary problem. The proximity to the heart of Illinois' soccer population will add to the team's popularity." The college plans to expand seating at the stadium from about 5,000 to about 15,000 to accommodate Fire fans, and the town plans to make parking and traffic improvements in the area. Wilt added that the agreement "is for one year but the Fire hopes to play in Naperville again next year, then return to Chicago" (AP, 1/30).

CASH TO BURN: In Ft. Worth, Tobias Xavier Lopez noted the soccer stadium that McKinney, TX, plans to build for the Burn "has a projected cost" of $51M. While $35M will go toward the 20,000-seat stadium, $16M will go toward "land, streets, landscaping, a parking lot and water/sewer lines" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/30).