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Chicago Hounds rugby announce plans for Dawg Town block party

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AND DROPKICK MURPHYS TO PERFORM AT 2023 MLR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. Full day of fan-focused entertainment announced, featuring “Dawg Town Block Party,” concerts, and rugby events

DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) and American Celtic band Dropkick Murphys are set to perform at the 2023 MLR Championship Final at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago on July 8.

In addition to the headline performers and Championship Game, the Chicago Hounds-hosted festivities will include the Dawg Town Block Party fan festival, showcasing the best of Chicago rugby and culture through Windy City-themed vendors, musicians, food, and drinks.

Rugby-specific activations will include a youth tournament, high-performance combine, social sevens tournament, and rugby 101 sessions. Tickets for the event are on-sale now and include access to all of the day’s festivities.

Full Schedule Announced (All times in ET):

10:30am – 1:30pm: Dawg Town Block Party – Food, Music, and Rugby
1:30pm – 3:00pm: Pregame concert featuring DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal)
3:00pm – 5:30pm: MLR Championship Final live on Fox (US) & The Rugby Network (International)
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Postgame concert featuring Dropkick Murphys

“The 2023 MLR Championship Final promises to be our biggest and best yet. It will be the culmination of an exciting season and will have something for everyone to enjoy. A trip to Chicago should be on every rugby fan’s to-do list this summer. We cannot wait,” said Nic Benson, MLR CEO.

“The Chicago Hounds are proud to host the 2023 Major League Rugby Championship Game. We’re throwing the Dawg Town Block Party for our die-hard rugby fans and for anyone looking to learn more about the sport. Come on out and enjoy an old-fashioned Chicago summer block party. Welcome to Dawg Town”, said Peter Bernick, Majority Owner, Chicago Hounds Rugby.

For information, tickets, and travel packages, for the Dawg Town Block Party and MLR Championship Final, visit www.chicagohounds.com/block-party . Tickets start at $ 40.

About Major League Rugby:

Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its sixth season that represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018 to 12 teams in 2023, featuring 11 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised by FOX Sports, among other national and local market platforms. Select matches are available to stream live in North America on The Rugby Network, and all matches are available on The Rugby Network for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit www.MajorLeague.Rugby.

About the Chicago Hounds:

Chicago Hounds Rugby is a professional rugby team competing in Major League Rugby (MLR), North America’s professional rugby competition. The Hounds were named as a Major League Rugby expansion franchise in 2022 and are currently playing their inaugural season at SEATGEEK Stadium.

About Dropkick Murphys:

Dropkick Murphys proudly remain Boston’s rock ‘n’ roll underdogs turned champions. Since 1996, the boys have created the kind of music that’s meant to be chanted at last call, in packed arenas, and during the fourth quarter, third period, or ninth inning of a comeback rally. Their celebrated discography includes four consecutive Billboard top 10 album debuts (Turn Up That Dial, 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory, Signed and Sealed in Blood, Going Out In Style), along with 2005’s gold-selling The Warrior’s Code, featuring the near double platinum classic “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” Dropkick Murphys’ music has generated half-a-billion streams, they’ve quietly moved 8 million-plus units worldwide and the band has sold out gigs on multiple continents. Dropkick Murphys’ 2022 album This Machine Still Kills Fascists–and their 2023 follow-up album Okemah Rising–breathe musical life into mostly unpublished lyrics by the legendary Woody Guthrie, curated for the band by Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie.

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

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