The is a professional
Soccer club based in
Chicago, Illinois that participates in
Major League Soccer . The club was founded October 8th, 1997 on the 126th anniversary of the
Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Fire won the
MLS Cup in
1998 , their first season in the league. It also won the
1998 ,
2000 , and
2003 editions of the
US Open Cup . The Fire played at
Soldier Field from
1998 -
2001 . It played at
North Central College 's
Cardinal Stadium in the suburb of
Naperville in
2002 , moving back to the remodeled Soldier Field late in October
2003 and will move to
Bridgeview Stadium at 71st and Harlem Avenue for the
2006 season. The team colors are red, white, and navy blue.
Since 2001, the Fire and its chief rival
FC Dallas (originally the Dallas Burn) play for the
Brimstone Cup , which goes to the team that wins the season series between the two clubs.
The Chicago Fire has had a cooperative agreement with
Monarcas Morelia , a
Mexican First Division football club, since
2001 . The partnership incorporates playing, coaching, and executive personnel; as well as sharing of business and development practices. The club also has (in its reserves program, Chicago Fire Premier collegiate amateur team playing in the
Premier Development League , and Chicago Fire Juniors youth club) a substantial youth development scheme by American standards; as well as a charitable community entity, the FireWorks for Kids Foundation.
Notably, there is a considerable ultras culture for the club, relatively unique in North America.
Ultras groups and fan clubs occupy an area loosely referred to as ''Section 8'' which stems from both the numbering of the original sector of Soldier Field they occupied, as well as the
American Military Designation of discharged soldiers declared mentally unfit for service.
Section 8 Chicago , the Independent Supporters' Association for the club, oversees the activities of the various groups which include ''Barn Burners 1871'' (the oldest group, established before the club was founded), ''Fire Ultras '98'' (a Polish ultras group), ''Ultras Red-Side'' (a newer multiethnic ultras group), ''Sector Latino'' (a latin "barra"-style group that often sits separate from Section 8), ''Mike Ditka Street Crew'', and ''Arsonists''.
''As of April 1, 2006''
Source: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/roster.jsp?club=chf
- ''Chicago Fire'' - MLS (First Team)
- ''Chicago Fire Reserves'' - MLS Reserves Division (Professional Reserve Team)
- ''Chicago Fire Premier'' - Premier Development League (Collegiate Amateur Select Team)
- ''Chicago Fire Juniors'' - Local (U-8 to U-23 Youth Club)
''regular season/playoffs''
- 1998: 17,887
- 1999: 16,016
- 2000: 13,387
- 2001: 16,338
- 2002: 12,992
- 2003: 14,005/14,871
- 2004: 17,153/missed playoffs
- 2005: 17,238/11,193
- All-Time: 15,419
The "Ring of Fire" was established in 2003 by the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Fire Alumni Association as permanent tribute to honor those who have made the Chicago Fire a proud and successful club over the course of its history. Aside from the inaugural member, only "Ring of Fire" members can appoint new inductees, and only one can be selected each year. The names of the "Ring of Fire" are prominently displayed in Chicago's home stadium.
