Fresno Fuego News Release -- www.fresnofuego.com
Friday, April 29, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. -- Even before the kickoff for the inaugural match of the 2011 USL Premier Development League season, the Fresno Fuego had a major reason to celebrate; a new attendance record had been set for a Fuego game. Almost 8,000 fans (7,853 to be exact) came to downtown Fresno to see the Fresno Fuego open the season with a 0-0 draw against the LA Blues 23.
It was a somewhat unusual scene for a soccer game in Fresno with huge lines outside Chukchansi Park and contested parking spots for fans arriving right at kickoff. Inside the stadium, with soccer chants and ‘waves’ going around during the entire game, fans were able to see an intense match-up between two clubs with serious aspirations in the Southwest Division. It was definitely an amazing sight for local soccer fans to see first hand a true soccer atmosphere in their hometown.
The Fuego-L.A. Blues 23 match, presented by Marquez Brothers and El Mexicano Brand, was hard-fought, with several scoring chances and both defenses having to be sharp to make last-gasp clearances on the goal line. Fans had plenty to cheer even during halftime when Univision Radio rewarded fans with $100 gas cards. But the defenses held sway, with the Blues 23’s goalkeeper Chris Lara recording five saves for his shutout and Gilbert Vega recording two for the Fuego.
The Fuego will travel to Ventura on Sunday morning to meet the Fusion at 5 p.m. PST and will return to Chukchansi Park on Thursday, May 12 and on Saturday, May 14th. The opponents for the next two home games will be BYU Cougars and Ogden Outlaws and both games are qualifying matches for the U.S. Open Cup.
In collaboration with Univision Radio, the Fuego will continue to provide free game passes to fans for all home games. Fans just need to call Univision Radio at (559) 430-8500 or become a Facebook friend of the Fuego and print their own game pass.