CSN will air eight Fire games this season

Comcast SportsNet, along with NBC Chicago, announced Thursday that they will be official television broadcast partners of the Chicago Fire for the 2012 season. All games will include a 30-minute pregame show and a combined 22 matches will air on Comcast SportsNet and NBC. The first game on CSN will be the Fire's MLS regular-season opener against the Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Our club is excited to partner with our local NBC affiliate to air Chicago Fire matches on NBC Chicago Nonstop and we are happy to return to Comcast SportsNet for a third consecutive season, said Fire COO Atul Khosla in a statement released by the Fire. We recognize the tremendous growth potential of working with NBC Chicago and CSN and the MLSNBC Sports partnership is indicative of NBCs commitment to the growth of soccer in North America. The creation and production around a 30-minute pregame show will highlight our players, our club and will assist in the growth and promotion of the Fire throughout Chicagoland.

Were very pleased to bring back Chicago Fire soccer action to our viewers this season, said Greg Bowman, Vice President of Programming for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. With every game being presented in HD, Fire fans will have plenty to look forward to this MLS season starting March 17th.

Comcast SportsNet will televise a minimum of eight matches this season to its 4.8 million viewership base. All games will be called by former Blackhawks play-by-play announcer Dan Kelly and former Olympian and Fire player Evan Whitfield.

Below are the games that will air on Comcast SportsNet:

Date
Opponent
HomeAway
Time (CT)
Saturday, March 17
Montreal
Away
1:00
Saturday, March 24
Philadelphia
Home
7:30
Saturday, May 12
Kansas City
Home
7:30
Saturday, June 2
New England
Away
6:30
Saturday, July 14
Vancouver
Home
7:30
Wednesday, July 18
New York
Away
Noon
Wednesday, Aug. 22
D.C.
Away
6:30
Saturday, Sept. 15
Montreal
Home
7:30

For the Fire's complete 2012 schedule, click here.