PEORIA, Ill. -- Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, the four-time champion of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, is bidding for a return to Peoria in a quest for its fifth national title. Chicago is one of eight MLS teams that will enter the main draw of 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the third round June 29, and if both the Fire and Columbus Crew win their third-round games, the two MLS sides will meet in the quarterfinals July 6 at Bradley University's Shea Stadium.
Unlike last season when both Chicago and Columbus were sent on the road in the third round before their potential quarterfinal matchup at Shea Stadium, both MLS teams will host third-round games Tuesday night: the Fire will welcome the Charleston Battery to Toyota Park and the Crew will host the Rochester Rhinos at Crew Stadium.
If Chicago and Columbus both advance to Peoria, tickets will go on sale July 1 at the Shea Stadium Box Office, any TicketMaster outlet and online at www.BradleyBraves.com. Ticket prices will be $25 for reserved bleacher seating and $15 for general admission lawn seating.
Bradley University previously served as the host to a 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying game between the Fire and Crew, drawing a sold-out, Shea Stadium record crowd of 3,829 fans. Chicago pulled out a 3-2 win in double overtime on a 116th-minute goal by Andy Herron to qualify for the tournament's main draw. The Fire went on to advance to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion D.C. United, while Columbus gained its revenge by knocking off Chicago in the Eastern Conference finals en route to the 2008 MLS Cup championship.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup dates back to 1914 and is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the 2010 tournament is the 97th in the history of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The 2010 champion will receive a $100,000 payday and earn a spot in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League, a 24-team club championship for teams in the North and Central American region that will reward the winner with a $1 million prize.
For more information on the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, visit www.thecup.us.
Bradley has another connection to the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as former Brave Luke Kreamalmeyer's AC St. Louis squad has advanced to a third-round matchup at the Los Angeles Galaxy. Kreamalmeyer starred at Bradley from 2001-04 and remains the sixth-leading scorer in program history with 72 career points on the strength of 26 goals and 20 assists. Former Brave Joe Donoho's Tampa Bay Rowdies were eliminated from the Open Cup with a 2-1 loss to Miami FC in Tuesday's second round.
