(PEORIA, ILLINOIS) — Peoria City announces spring games, highlighted by Copa Peoria rematch and first college exhibitions versus Bradley and Northwestern.
As Peoria City prepares to defend its 2024 USL League Two Central Conference championship, the fourth-year club will open its 2025 schedule with a trio of spring friendlies, headlined by the return of the Chivas de Guadalajara U23 for the Copa Peoria Series.
While the full, 12-game league schedule will be announced later this month, Peoria City will kick start its 2025 campaign with a March 22 international friendly versus the U23 team of Mexico’s BBVA Liga MX power Chivas de Guadalajara in what will be the third game of the Copa Peoria Series. The opening game in Peoria City’s 2025 season-ticket package, the Copa Peoria matchup is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff March 22 at Peoria Stadium (315 E. War Memorial Drive).
“As we continue to grow our club and our vision of providing our community and passionate and loyal fan base with more games, we are incredibly excited to welcome Chivas U23 back to Peoria to launch our exhibition schedule,” said Peoria City president Jim DeRose. “We are thrilled to be hosting this match in Peoria’s most-iconic outdoor venue, Peoria Stadium, and in the heart of the city. We are incredibly thankful to Peoria Public Schools District 150 and the Peoria Park District for their support, and we look forward to a wonderful partnership moving forward.”
The inaugural games in the Copa Peoria Series last June attracted more than 5,000 fans to Shea Stadium for a pair of games between Peoria City and Chivas de Guadalajara U23. The teams played to a scoreless draw June 9 before Chivas U23 claimed a 3-2 win in the second matchup June 12.
In the lead up to the start of the USL League Two season, Peoria City also has added the club’s first two exhibitions versus collegiate teams to the 2025 schedule: April 26 in a city derby versus Bradley and May 3 against Big Ten Conference member Northwestern.
“The collegiate portion of our exhibition schedule offers our fans the opportunity to see future, current and former Peoria City players,” said DeRose. “Certainly, the incredible collaboration and partnership we have with Bradley University provides an exciting environment where our local soccer community can support both teams.
“Adding Northwestern and the Big 10 brand to the exhibition slate in Peoria provides yet another match for our fans to enjoy elite-level soccer, featuring future professional talent, both domestically and abroad.”
Peoria City’s 2024 roster included several members of the Bradley program – Elias Benitez Saiz, Charlie Dickerson, DJ Koulai, Pepe Mellado Alandi, Claudel Ngongang and Joao Saraiva – and the 2025 squad is expected to feature multiple players this summer who will suit up for the Braves in the spring exhibition against Peoria City. Now the Peoria City president and managing partner, DeRose retired as the winningest coach in Bradley Soccer history following the 2023 season, racking up 267 victories, seven Missouri Valley Conference championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances during his 28-year career leading the Braves.
Peoria City also is connected to the Northwestern program through both staff and players: assistant coach JR DeRose is the son of Jim DeRose and a native Peorian, while Wildcats sophomore defender and Peoria native Fritz Volmar was a member of the 2024 Peoria City squad.
Like the Copa Peoria Series game versus Chivas de Guadalajara U23, both college exhibition games will be included in Peoria City’s season-ticket packages, which are on sale now by visiting PeoriaCitySoccer.com/tickets with options starting at just $45 for the men’s games. The club also has introduced an expansion team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League to begin play this summer with bundled season tickets for both the men’s and women’s teams starting at just $65.
Digital single-game sales for the Copa Peoria Series game versus Chivas U23 are on sale now by visiting the Men’s Schedule page at peoriacitysoccer.com or directly by CLICKING HERE. Traditional paper tickets for the Copa Peoria Series game also may be purchased in person by visiting the following area businesses: Coco’s Tacos, Hacienda Fuentes, International Grocer, Las Delicias Mexican Ice Cream, Lorena’s Mexican Restaurant, Los Cabos Cantina and Grill, River City Grill, Yeni’s Palarte Mexican Ice Cream.
Single-game sales for the two college exhibition games will begin March 31. General admission tickets for the Copa Peoria Series game versus Chivas U23 begin at $10, while prices for the Bradley and Northwestern games start at just $6. The ability to purchase single-game tickets in person will begin in March at select sponsor locations.
Peoria City’s 2025 season tickets will be delivered in the form of Season Ticket Loyalty Cards, which will provide details on accessing discounts for goods and services offered to season-ticket holders by area club partners.
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