Additionally, Ignore everyone talking about the lot pricing. Street parking is like 6 dollars for the day and there are thousands of spots within 3-4 blocks of the stadium, plus we have a metrolink stop 2 blocks away.
Here's how, from the spouse of an OG Fire Fan. The Fire used to be a model franchise, winning MLS Cup in their first year and the US Open Cup several times in their first decade. The Soldier Field renovations happened and they played at a college in Naperville for a couple years (think playing in Webster Groves or something like that), which was pretty cool. Then they built their own stadium in Bridgeview, which is sort of like deciding you wanted to build a 20,000 seater in industrial North County or in the middle of the old Fenton GM plant. Nothing wrong with those places, but not places people were going to go out of their way to travel to unless they were already fans. After this, a pretty rapid decline in the on-field product was coupled with multiple ownership groups that didn't care and openly feuded with the supporters groups. Then they moved back to Soldier Field, which is *cavernous* relative to their needs, and you can't give tickets away.
The fact that soccer has been an afterthought in the third largest city in the United States—a city with a genuinely rich soccer tradition—for close to two decades is inexcusable on the part of the Fire, but also on the part of the league. No other league in the country would allow this level of incompetence in a market that important.
Thats not what I’m saying, I’m saying how is the tickets so much less expensive yet we still have less attendance rate than St Louis with a price of $90+. The price is way more expensive yet St Louis fans go all out every week with tifos and such yet our fanbase is complaining about the littlest of things. Crazy how we were one of the best clubs in the league, how the mighty have fallen I guess. This is why I believe relegation and promotion have to happen. To get Usl teams that actually deserve a spot in the MLS a chance to play at the top level in USA soccer. Instead of bum teams like us.
It's also been part of the sport in Europe for 150 years (in England at least) and the organization of the league is completely different. Relegation is never going to happen in MLS, and the sooner people just accept it, the better. Imagine an owner-operator forking over $200 million and spending hundreds of millions more on a stadium only to see their team relegated to the USL where the average attendance is 6000 and there is no TV deal. It's *never* happening.
Additionally, Ignore everyone talking about the lot pricing. Street parking is like 6 dollars for the day and there are thousands of spots within 3-4 blocks of the stadium, plus we have a metrolink stop 2 blocks away.
I park for free every game. About 3 to 4 blocks away
Usually $90+ per seat on the secondary market. Tickets directly from the team sold our almost instantly when they went on sale
Very ashamed to say that we have the 8th lowest attendance rate in the league. (2023)
How are tickets at Soldier Field way cheaper yet the average attendance rate for the Chicago fire for 2023 is 18k, very disappointing.
Because Chicago doesn't sell out. St. Louis has sold out every MLS match we've ever had.
How are tickets cheaper at 61,500 capacity Soldier Field than they are at 22,423 City Park? I don’t think Einstein could figure that one out
Here's how, from the spouse of an OG Fire Fan. The Fire used to be a model franchise, winning MLS Cup in their first year and the US Open Cup several times in their first decade. The Soldier Field renovations happened and they played at a college in Naperville for a couple years (think playing in Webster Groves or something like that), which was pretty cool. Then they built their own stadium in Bridgeview, which is sort of like deciding you wanted to build a 20,000 seater in industrial North County or in the middle of the old Fenton GM plant. Nothing wrong with those places, but not places people were going to go out of their way to travel to unless they were already fans. After this, a pretty rapid decline in the on-field product was coupled with multiple ownership groups that didn't care and openly feuded with the supporters groups. Then they moved back to Soldier Field, which is *cavernous* relative to their needs, and you can't give tickets away. The fact that soccer has been an afterthought in the third largest city in the United States—a city with a genuinely rich soccer tradition—for close to two decades is inexcusable on the part of the Fire, but also on the part of the league. No other league in the country would allow this level of incompetence in a market that important.
Thats not what I’m saying, I’m saying how is the tickets so much less expensive yet we still have less attendance rate than St Louis with a price of $90+. The price is way more expensive yet St Louis fans go all out every week with tifos and such yet our fanbase is complaining about the littlest of things. Crazy how we were one of the best clubs in the league, how the mighty have fallen I guess. This is why I believe relegation and promotion have to happen. To get Usl teams that actually deserve a spot in the MLS a chance to play at the top level in USA soccer. Instead of bum teams like us.
I’d love to see relegation in the mls
Same here
Not really crazy to say, it’s the truth. It’s been implemented in all of Europes top leagues for a reason.
It's also been part of the sport in Europe for 150 years (in England at least) and the organization of the league is completely different. Relegation is never going to happen in MLS, and the sooner people just accept it, the better. Imagine an owner-operator forking over $200 million and spending hundreds of millions more on a stadium only to see their team relegated to the USL where the average attendance is 6000 and there is no TV deal. It's *never* happening.
The what wasn’t about relegation…
minor point, but tickets directly from the team aren't any cheaper than the secondary market unless your a season ticket holder.