July 2, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO – Ahead of tomorrow’s home match versus Atlanta United FC – with Saturday marking the Club’s 4th of July Fireworks display, presented by Heineken – the Fire is asking fans to arrive early as special security measures will be in place due to the city of Chicago’s fireworks display along the Lakefront.
Traffic patterns for both vehicles and pedestrians will be impacted for those arriving after 7:15 p.m. CT. Fans arriving after 7:15 p.m. CT will have to show their game ticket at one of two access points to access Museum Campus:
Fans arriving by foot will enter via the Lake Shore Drive underpass from Grant Park on the north side of the stadium.
Fans arriving by vehicle will enter via the 18th exit from Lake Shore Drive as McFetridge Dr. will be closed.
With fans encouraged to arrive early to Soldier Field, the Fire will debut Burnham Downs, a pre-match tailgate hosted by the Club outside Soldier Field’s southeast entrance, that will open at 1:30 p.m. CT. The area features various fan-focused activities, including soccer skill games, live painting featuring the new crest and a Heineken Airstream Bar for fans 21-and-over. Burnham Downs is free and open to all fans.
Saturday’s match at Soldier Field will mark the Club’s return to full soccer capacity at Soldier Field, with tickets available here. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a woven patch, marking the first opportunity for fans to secure an item featuring the new Chicago Fire FC crest.
PARKING: The North Garage will be open for the entire day for those arriving before 4:00 p.m. CT. Fans are welcome to tailgate on the top of the Waldron Parking Deck starting at 4:00 p.m. CT. Fans with Waldron Deck parking passes looking to attend Burnham Downs will be allowed to use their pass in the North Garage for this game. For more information regarding parking, public transportation and mobile ticketing for parking click here.
GATES OPEN: Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. CT, an hour and a half prior to the 7:00 p.m. CT kickoff time.
PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES: In addition to Burnham Downs, the Fire will be hosting the first ever Day of Fútbol to highlight the world’s game. Fire play-by-play commentators Arlo White and Tyler Terens along with color analyst and U.S. Soccer Half of Famer Tony Meola, will make an appearance at 4:30 p.m. CT with a Q&A session. Day of Fútbol will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on the East Lawn with a viewing party that will feature the UEFA EURO Quarterfinals match between Ukraine and England (2:00 p.m. CT), followed by MLS matches and Copa América Quarterfinals match between Uruguay and Colombia (5:05 p.m. CT).
POP-UP COVID-19 VACCINATION STATION: The Fire and Cook County Health will have a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination station that will offer a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccination to individuals ages 18 and older. Located in the South Courtyard inside Gate 0, the first 50 fans who receive the vaccination will receive two tickets for the Fire’s home game against Toronto FC on Saturday, July 24. In addition, the city of Chicago will be offering a total of 40 pairs of single day Lollapalooza passes to be given out on a first come, first serve basis for those receiving the vaccination at Soldier Field.
GAMEDAY SUGGESTIONS: Plan for extra time in transportation to the stadium and arrive at Soldier Field no later than 6:30 p.m. CT. One clear bag per ticketed fan is allowed and must be no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 and small clutch bags no larger than 4.5 x 6.5.
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