(May 1, 2024 | Peoria, Illinois) – Peoria City will expand its 2024 schedule into international territory when the third-year USL League Two franchise welcomes the U23 squad from Mexico Liga BBVA MX power Chivas de Guadalajara for the inaugural Copa Peoria Series, a 4-day series of friendly competition and community events June 9-12 in Peoria.
Peoria City will play its first-ever international friendly match Sunday, June 9 by hosting Chivas de Guadalajara U23 in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition match at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium. The teams will conclude the Copa Peoria Series with a second exhibition Wednesday, June 12, also a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Shea Stadium.
In addition to the two friendly matches, Peoria City will partner with CD Guadalajara U23 and the Central Illinois Soccer Academy to host a player ID camp for Chivas de Guadalajara, as well as an evening meet-and-greet event and a one-day youth soccer camp featuring the players from both teams during CD Guadalajara U23’s four-day stay in Peoria. Final details for the additional activities during the Copa Peoria Series are being finalized and will be announced soon.
“For our club it will always be important to provide international activity for the development of all our youth categories, as well as helping to grow soccer in different latitudes. The fact that Peoria welcomes our U-23 team with open arms in a 4-day event and with a cup challenge highlights its importance for both parties, so we are thrilled to go and do our best to make it a very special event for the fans and the entire community of Peoria,” said Fran Perez, director of Club Deportivo Guadalajara’s youth academy.”
Peoria City is preparing for its third season as a member of USL League Two, the top pre-professional men’s soccer league in North America. The club qualified for the League Two playoffs in its first season in 2022 and ranked among the league’s attendance leaders in 2023.
Popularly known as Chivas, CD Guadalajara is one of the most historic and successful clubs in Mexico’s top professional division, Liga BBVA MX, with a 40 million fanbase between Mexico and the United States, while CD Guadalajara U23 also won the first championship for U23 teams in Liga MX history in 2023.
The announcement of the Copa Peoria Series featuring Chivas de Guadalajara U23 is the latest effort by Peoria City to expand and add excitement to its traditional USL League Two schedule. To date, Peoria City and USL League Two Heartland Division rival St. Charles FC have announced the creation of the River Cities Cup for its home-and-home league matchups and Peoria City has added a home-and-home series versus non-league program Springfield FC for the inaugural Lincoln Cup. All nine home games will be included in the 2024 Fieldhouse Bar and Grill season-tickets package and single-game sales for each of Peoria City’s nine home games will begin Wednesday, May 8.
The announcement came at a press conference on Wednesday, May 1, at Industry Brewing.
Peoria City is offering several options for season and single-game ticket experiences this season:
2024 Peoria City Season-Ticket Pricing
General Admission: $45
Family and Friends 4-Pack: $145 (add ons available for $38.50 each)
School of Carp Kids Club: $60
Shea Brigade seating with the 309 Supporters Group: $60
Fieldside Grandstand: $135
Fieldside Club: $240
Reserved Tailgate Parking: $25
2024 Peoria City Single-Game Ticket Pricing
General Admission: $6 ($10 for Copa Peoria Series matches vs. CD Guadalajara U23)
Shea Brigade with 309 Supporters Group: $10 ($15)
Fieldside Grandstand: $18 ($22)
Fieldside Club: $30 ($40)
Reserved Tailgate Parking: $10
General Admission Parking: Free
Prairie Home Alliance Play Packs: $5
Group ticket options are available by contacting Peoria City at peoriacitysoccer@gmail.com.
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