Peoria City to Recognize Area First-Responder or Emergency Service Organization Each Game Night
(APRIL 24, 2026 | PEORIA, IL) – Peoria City, the fifth-year USL League Two soccer franchise, is partnering with Peoria County to recognize the “Heroes of the Game” throughout the 2026 spring and summer season.
Among the key elements of the partnership, all Peoria County employees may request complimentary single-game, general admission tickets to any of Peoria City’s 11 home games by contacting Peoria County Director of Strategic Communications Gretchen Pearsall at the Peoria County Courthouse. In addition, any first-responder organization located within Peoria County (ex.: a village police department, fire department or emergency response organization) may contact Pearsall or the Peoria City front office to schedule recognition as a Hero of the Game. A selected individual from the requesting department, or the department as a whole, may request complimentary game tickets and will be invited to participate in Peoria City’s pregame international-style walkout for the introduction of starters and the playing of the national anthem.
Peoria City’s Hero-of-the-Game program has been extended to active and retired military personnel who are registered with the Veterans Tickets Foundation. Peoria City has donated a batch of general admission tickets for each of the 11 home games to the Vet Tix program, which allows military veterans, active-duty military and their families to claim complimentary tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, educational programs and family activities across the country.
Peoria City will continue the CEFCU Friendlies Series Saturday, May 2 by hosting the men’s soccer team from Big Ten Conference school Northwestern for a 6:00 pm kickoff at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium. Additional games in the CEFCU Friendlies Series will follow Tuesday, May 12 (6:00 pm vs Sueño FC); Saturday, May 16 (7:30 pm vs BOHFS St. Louis); and Tuesday, May 19 (6:00 pm vs River Light FC) before Peoria City hosts rival and perennial power Des Moines Menace in its League Two home opener Saturday, May 23 (7:30 pm), all at Shea Stadium.
Peoria City season and single-game tickets, as well as memberships in the School of Carp Kids Club and Booster Club, are available by visiting PeoriaCitySoccer.com.