Fire builds on return to Soldier

The Chicago Fire is planning a series of promotional events to showcase its last two regular-season home matches this year — games set for the new Soldier Field, pending a lease agreement between the Fire and the Chicago Park District, which owns the stadium.

Fire Week is scheduled to kick off Oct. 5.

"We're going out of our way to make sure people are aware that the new Soldier Field will be a soccer venue as well as a football venue," said Steve Pastorino, the team's assistant general manager.

Besides the Fire games Oct. 10 and 18, plans call for a major international soccer match at Soldier Field in mid-October. Details are still in the works, but the Fire organization would help stage the match.

Because Soldier Field was undergoing a $606 million renovation, the Fire moved its home games last season and this season to Cardinal Stadium in nearby Naperville, Ill.

Among the planned Fire Week activities:

On Oct. 5, there will be a 150-person relay, in which a soccer ball will be kicked from Cardinal Stadium to Soldier Field. Puma will help sponsor the event, Pastorino said.

On Oct. 8, the 132nd anniversary of the city's great disaster and the sixth anniversary of the formation of the MLS team, Fire-themed parties will take place at several bars and restaurants in Chicago. Budweiser will be a sponsor, Pastorino said.

The team will offer its fans and sponsors a chance to tour Soldier Field on Oct. 9.

A pregame ceremony at Soldier Field on Oct. 10 will feature several Chicago celebrities.

The Fire will look to tie into the Oct. 12 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon by sponsoring an aid station or a hospitality tent on race day and a booth at the marathon's trade show the day before.