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Chicago, IL Chicago Fire Jump to: [TAG=ussochouse]U.S. Soccer House[ETAG] The Chicago Fire began play at the start of the third season of Major League Soccer in 1998 under the direction of GM Peter Wilt and Bob Bradley (former assistant coach of the 1996 and 1997 MLS Cup Champion DC United). Bradley’s first major player signing was former Poland national team captain Peter Nowak from 1860 Munich of the Bundesliga. It was a popular move in a city that boasts the largest Polish population of any city outside of Warsaw. Nowak would be the first member of the group that would come to be known as the "Eastern Bloc." Joining Nowak would be fellow Poles Jerzy Podbrozny and Roman Kosecki as well as Czech defender Lubos Kubik. The Fire spent 1998 surprising everyone finishing the regular season 22-10 helped by an 11-match winning streak. The combination of tough defense and an emphasis on ball distribution (paced by the passing and playmaking of Nowak) gave the Fire a competitive club right out of the box. The end of the season found Chicago in the MLS Cup Final with Coach Bradley meeting his mentor Bruce Arena and the DC United hoping to add their third straight title. Chicago would thoroughly outplay United with goals by Podbrozny and Guttierez to with the 1998 MLS Cup in their first year. The celebration would continue the following weekend when Frank Klopas would notch a golden goal over Columbus to win the US Open Cup and complete the Double. While the 1999 season may have been frustrating, there were plenty of reasons to be upbeat as well. A third round exit in the US Open Cup, a semifinal overtime loss to Alajuela in The Football Confederation Champions Cup (decided by penalty kicks), and a first round MLS playoff series loss to the Dallas Burn were all frustrating. The positives began with Razov and Wolff emerging as two of the best strikers in the league. Newcomer Dema Kovalenko, the Fire’s top pick in the college draft that year, started to make noise in the second half of the season notching 6 points in his rookie campaign. And Armas would become a fixture in Arena’s World Cup plans. Probably the most important development in 1999 was the full blooming of the rivalry with the Burn. Mostly egged on by Dallas Coach Dave Dir’s comments on the Fire, the matches between the two teams were full of passion, fouls and last-minute goals that made this a derby as good as those you saw in Europe. The rivalry would eventually get its own cup competition, as supporters on both sides would chip in to create the Brimstone Cup. Chicago faced a retooling in 2000. . Focusing on getting younger, Bradley drafted defender Carlos Bocanegra from UCLA, a player who would make an impact almost immediately on the way to being named Rookie of the Year. Trading draft picks to the Galaxy would also bring 17-year-old midfielder DaMarcus Beasley to the Fire. Those deals would overshadow the coming of Hristo Stoitchkov. The former Bulgarian international had fond memories of Chicago when his team beat Greece in the 1994 World Cup and sought out the Fire. Chicago became a much more offensive team, leading the league in goals scored. Razov had his best year scoring 18 goals, Kovalenko had a breakout year scoring 10 goals from the midfield, and the biggest impact was Stoitchkov who elevated the play of the team overall with his skills and presence on the field. The Fire had some of their most memorable matches of the year in the US Open Cup, destroying Dallas in the quarterfinal before playing Los Angeles in one of the greatest Open Cup matches of all time. Down 1-0 and a man down the Fire would get a late goal by Razov followed by a Wolff golden goal to send them into the Final for the second time in two seasons. Meanwhile Chicago would have to go to 3 games in their MLS Cup playoff series against New England and MetroStars, but would win the deciding matches in each series to send them back to the 2000 MLS Cup Final. Standing in the way was Kansas City and the combination of Miklos Molnar’s goal and Tony Meola’s performance in goal to deny another league title for Chicago. They would get their revenge on Miami at home the following weekend to become the first MLS side to win multiple Open Cups. In 2001, the Fire had a successful regular season leading the MLS Central Division again, but were eliminated from both the US Open Cup and MLS Cup in the semifinal round by the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2002, the Fire struggled to make the MLS playoffs and lost their quarterfinal series to the New England Revolution. Injuries and salary cap issues have been the cause of Chicago problems during these two years. With Soldier Field scheduled to be shut down in 2002 for two years for remodeling, Peter Wilt spent most of 2001 trying to find a home for the club. Uncertainty ruled the Fire’s off-season plans as they prepared for 2002. It would go down to the wire before the club was able to agree to a deal to play at Cardinal Stadium on the campus of North Central College in western suburban Naperville. While the eventual stadium setup of 15,000 would provide the intimate experience that lacks in most MLS stadiums, the field, narrow and covered by artificial surface, quickly became unpopular to players throughout the league. The Fire will face a lot of changes in 2003 beginning with Bradley who has taken the coaching job in New York (near his home) with the MetroStars. Replacing him at the helm is National Team assistant Dave Sarachan, who will be coaching his first pro side. Chicago will have to make a lot of hard choices during the offseason, as they will have to trade several key players in order to get under the salary cap. What Bradley left behind though is a core group of young players that should make the rebuilding effort a lot lest difficult. Soldier Field Temporary home for the 2002 & 2003 seasons: Soldier Field is located on the scenic Chicago waterfront and is situated on the “Museum Campus” which includes the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Adler Planetarium. The Fire will return to Soldier Field for the 2003 playoffs. What they will find there is unknown at this time. The $365 million spent on renovations points to ultra modern accommodations as does the $71M spent on an underground parking garage and $147M spent on above ground parking. "Soldier Field.” Say it slowly. It is not plural or possessive. Not “Soldier’s Field” or “Soldiers Field.” Tailgating is wide open in the South and East lots. The hired security generally let people be. Though, technically illegal, open containers, sometimes even open kegs, are allowed on what is Chicago Park District property. People have been handed fines for walking with open beers but it is extremely rare. What the new parking structures will bring with them is anyone’s guess. The temporary home in the suburb of Naperville is a sight different than a trip to Soldier Field with a drive through residential neighborhood streets leading you to Cardinal Stadium. The residential nature of the area makes it more difficult for the hardcore support and even some of the more “average” of the Chicago fans to have their style of fun but nevertheless despite flaps with the locals over language and beverage consumption this unsteady arrangement has worked. If you’re going there are various methods to reach Naperville from the heart of Chicago but renting a car and making the relatively short drive may be your best bet. Many Fire fans are hoping those arrangements won’t need to be made for too much longer, though, as the renovations to Soldier Field should be completed prior to the end of the 2003 MLS or roughly late-July or early-August. We are now once again offering outdoors tailgates! Here are the details: Where: Behind the River City Cafe From Washington St. - Walk down Washington Street away from Features in the direction of the small bridge. Before the bridge turn right and walk behind the Features building along the river. Capacity: Colors: red, blue, silver Honors: MLS Cup ’98, 1998 US Open Cup, 2000 US Open Cup By “El” train: “El” stands for elevated track. Take the red orange or green lines to Roosevelt Road station ($1.50 one way). Then jump on either the eastbound CTA bus #12 ($.30 transfer from El) or the free Green Trolley to Museum Campus. www.transitchicago.com By bus: Take CTA bus #12 to McFetridge Drive stops 127 or 146. 312 836 7000 or www.rtachicago.com. By trolley: The Green Trolley moves along Michigan Ave, Washington St., Canal St. and Adams St. Head south to Museum Campus. www.cityofchicago.org/transportation/trolleys/ Taxis: Cabs abound in Chicago and are a great way for the visitor to get around. The El (elevated train in the business district aka “the Loop”) and the subway are much cheaper and easy to use as well. Chicago trains are by in large very safe. Just don’t venture too far south late at night and expect to see all walks of life. Commuter trains: To get to and from the suburbs Metra Rail is the transport of choice. www.Metrarail.com Directions to Naperville: Tickets: Refreshers: Club Merchandise: Fan Culture: The unique thing about the Chicago fan culture is that everyone works together - all the supporters clubs, team management, and stadium security. All supporters sit in the same section, Section 8, and everyone sings together. After the first season the leaders of the two main groups got together and worked everything out. Whatever their differences outside the stadium, everyone has the same agenda inside the ground: brilliant football atmosphere. The supporters are the reason Chicago is a city every team hates to visit. The Barn Burners are a traditional American supporters club. They were started first on the internet. Then they organized in pubs to watch national team events. The club began a full year before the team set foot on the pitch. They worked immediately with team management to establish an all standing and singing section. They are a happy go lucky lot with no aggression here. Membership is strong and visiting supporters are always welcome. The Fire Ultras are a loose confederacy of first generation Polish immigrants. They are intense, volatile, and passionate. Singing at Fire matches is non-stop because the Ultras just don’t stop. Unfortunately this intensity has at times boiled over into altercations with visiting supporters. Give these fellas a wide berth when visiting and you’ll be fine. During a match all supporters are unified. The combination of the Barn Burners’ solid numbers and the Ultras’ solid intensity is the magic recipe that makes Section 8 the envy of the league. A single leader stands on a raised podium and directs the mayhem. The section is full of flags and banners and the Ultras always have a new trick up their sleeves. Outside Section 8 crowd participation is strong with call and response cheers. On the Web: www.barnburners.com www.october8th.com Print Coverage: Other Teams Chicago Cobras (USL W-League) – www.chicagocobras.com Milwaukee Wave United (A-League) – an hour and a half north to the home of Harley-Davidson. The Fire Reserves have been one of the better clubs of late in the U.S. fourth division also known as the PDL. The PDL serves as the major developmental league for players 23 and under besides the U.S. collegiate athletic soccer system. The Cobras are a respectable women’s team that play in the second division league, the W-League. Around Town Bars & Pubs As a result, pre and post match imbibement must be done on site at tailgates. Unfortunately, with the stadium redesign, the future parking lot layout is up in the air. Rumors abound that all parking will be in garages removing the possibility of BBQ grills. Saturday night matches are often topped off with “pub crawls” or clubbing. Visiting supporters are advised to hook up with the Barn Burners to organize proper beerlariness. Visiting supporters are well advised not to ask the Fire Ultras for any of their vodka. If you are in town looking for a place to watch footy on TV there are many options. Always call ahead and ask if they are playing a particular match. Iberico Café & Bar Club Lago Fado's Irish Pub Ginger's Ale House The Abbey Pub Map Room Hidden Shamrock Sedgwick's Hotels & Accommodations By far the best deal in town is the Hotel 6 right off Michigan Avenue aka. ”the Magnificent Mile.” A shopper’s paradise with every glitzy store and restaurant you can imagine. The Hotel 6 is often booked solid, so plan ahead. Failing that, utilize the internet to find the second best deal in the city. Hotel 6 (Red Roof) People should also be aware that there is a [L=www.hichicago.org/]HI-AYH hostel[EL] within a very short walk of Soldier Field when it is completed. Wheras the Red Roof Inn is about $90 a night, the hostel is about $20 to $25 per night very clean, close to the stadium, and right near public transit to both airports (via the Blue El trains to O'Hare, or the Orange El trains to Midway), and within walking distance of Union Station, which is Amtrak's Chicago hub, with trains to almost all MLS cities (except Columbus, which isn't on Amtrak). Airport hotels From O’Hare (ORD): take the Blue line into the city. The ride takes 45 minutes and trains run 24 hours a day every 8-10 minutes ($1.50 each way). The “El” station is on the lowest level of the airport parking garage. Exit baggage claim for terminals 1, 2, or 3 and head out through the underground pedestrian tunnels. International terminal 5 requires a free train ride to terminal 3. From Midway (MDW): take the Orange line into the city. The first train leaves at 3:55am daily or 7:00am on Sundays and holidays. The ride takes 30 minutes and the trains run every 7 – 10 minutes (every 15 minutes after hours). The last train to Midway from the city leaves at 1:29am, arriving at 1:53am. Midway airport is not located in the best of areas. Watch yourself if you are out late.
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