Chicago’s 10 Best Ethnic Soccer Teams Compete in First-Ever Cricket Classic Soccer Tournament

~Winner to Play Match Against Chicago Storm Developmental Team Tormenta de Chicago~

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., March 20 /PRNewswire/ — The true international flavor of both Chicagoland and the sport of soccer will be on display Sunday, March 22, at the first annual Cricket Classic soccer tournament at the Sears Centre Arena. The Chicago Storm, a professional indoor soccer team, and Cricket, the official wireless provider of the Chicago Storm, will bring together ten local adult amateur teams representing a wide variety of ethnic groups, for a chance to play the Storm’s developmental team, Tormenta de Chicago.

“Bringing people together from different cultures and corners of Chicago with a common love of soccer is an exciting way for Cricket to celebrate joining the Chicago community,” said John Noelker, Midwest regional vice president for Cricket. “The Cricket Classic is just one of the many ways Cricket is continuing its partnership with the Chicago Storm this season as the official wireless sponsor of the Storm and Tormenta.”

The ten local teams will compete at the Sears Centre from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The champion of the single-elimination tournament will play a game at 1:00 p.m. against the Storm’s developmental team, Tormenta de Chicago. Members of the winning team receive a cell phone from Cricket and a Chicago Storm prize package. All players receive free tickets to the Chicago Storm’s Xtreme Soccer League match with the Detroit Ignition at 3:00 p.m. that day.

“As a Chicago-based soccer organization, we’re proud that in our first-ever adult tournament we’ve been able to secure participation from teams at three top-level leagues in Chicago,” said Brian Bauer, vice president of sales for the Chicago Storm. “It was important for the Chicago Storm and the sponsor of this tournament, Cricket, to have a quality cross-section of Chicagoland soccer. This tournament promises to be a great day of soccer for the participating amateur teams, the Tormenta de Chicago, and the Storm.”

Teams participating in the tournament include: JAHBAT, representing Jamaica, Asia, Haiti, Belize, Africa and Trinidad and Tobago; Hellenic United, representing Greece; United Serbs F.C., representing Serbia; Windy City F.C., representing Mexico; and four teams from the Chicago Latino American Soccer Association (CLASA).

The Cricket Classic and Chicago Storm sponsorship are part of Cricket’s launch in Chicago. Cricket products and services are now available in 26 retail stores and 650 dealer locations throughout the Chicagoland area. Cricket brings a new option for simple and affordable wireless services to Chicagoland by offering unlimited wireless services at a predictable flat rate, and does not require long term contracts or credit checks. Cricket service includes unlimited anytime minutes, U.S. long distance, text and picture messaging, text to Mexico, Mobile Web and directory assistance, with rate plans ranging from $30 to $60 per month. For more information, please visit a local Cricket retail location, or visit www.getsomerespekt.com.

Cricket service is offered in the Greater Chicago area by Denali Spectrum Operations, LLC, a company in which Cricket Communications, Inc. has a majority, non-controlling beneficial interest and in which Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC, has a controlling beneficial interest.

About Cricket

Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devices and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com.

Leap is a U.S. registered trademark and the Leap logo is a trademark of Leap. Cricket, Jump, the Cricket “K” and Flex Bucket are U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation and Cricket PAYGo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About the Chicago Storm

The Chicago Storm are in their fifth season of professional indoor soccer, and first in the new Xtreme Soccer League. Home games are played at the Sears Centre from December to April. Visit Chicagostorm.net for more information. Founded last summer by the Milwaukee Wave, Detroit Ignition, New Jersey Ironmen and Chicago Storm, the Xtreme Soccer League is more than an indoor soccer league. The Xtreme Soccer Xperience is an energetic and innovative 12-month sports lifestyle brand built around skilled soccer professionals, entertainment and fan participation — both live and online. For more information, visit XtremeSL.net.

SOURCE Cricket