Go Fire!

It’ll be just $208 for a full season ticket. To me, that’s an amazing deal: last time I was in England, the cheapest ticket to go and see my League One side (who I can assure you do not feature the likes of Blanco, Wanchope or Rolfe) was over $50 for one game. A quarter of the price of an entire season at Toyota Park. MLS is a great deal.

Buy your season ticket today via the Section 8 website!

In fact, the only two groups that MLS hasn’t tried to attract are the ones that actually have showed up to see the games from day one: the hardcore fan, so to speak and those of us out here who actually follow and enjoy sports. You know us; we’re called sports fans.

Here in Chicago, I’ve watched with bemusement over the years as the Fire has chased after suburban whites and soccer kids while ignoring Polish and Latino community support. Ive watched security guards at Soldier Field go nuts on harmless fans because of the perception that all soccer fans are hooligans; Ive also listened to MLS higher-ups tut-tut the fan-friendly behavior of the team’s old GM, Peter Wilt, who made a point of sitting with the teams most die-hard support.

Why, you ask? Apparently, all these loud, happy folks are bad for business because they might scare off the tremulous whites in the suburbs and their towheaded young. Oddly enough, this has not hurt the Cubs’ bottom line, but I’m just repeating what people wearing suits who work for MLS have told me.

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to Fire GM John Guppy on the phone about Section 8. The interview was for another publication, so I won’t go into depth on what he said here, but suffice to say he said all the right things about Section 8. He certainly seems to understand their importance, and he seems to get on well on a personal level with their leadership. But as Trecker notes, problems are continually bedeviling Section 8’s attempts to expand, and I got the sense Guppy either can’t (due perhaps to the fact that stadium management is a separate entity) or won’t step in to deal with these small issues — that he feels they should be smoothed over by others, and are not too relevant to the big picture.

But they are relevant to the big picture. Things don’t change because someone has a vision and vaguely agrees something should happen. Life is more pedestrian than that in reality: it’s the everyday effort that counts. And it’s the Fire’s job to ensure Section 8 (within all legal and reasonable limits) is not impeded in its aim to fill the entire damned Harlem End with loud fans and make Toyota Park the intimidating place for opposing teams Guppy assured me he wants it to be.

I’d also like to recognise that he is one classy guy: remember the black headband he twirled after scoring on Saturday? Well, it was black (he usually wears white) in remembrance of Brandon Kitchens, the Fire fan and Section 8 regular whose passing we discussed yesterday. Nice touch, Calen.

Ben Burton, Chairman of Section 8 Chicago, had this to say in a letter sent to Fire management, the MLS Commissioner and the Mayor of Bridgeview (the village that owns Toyota Park):

I would like to suggest everyone consider wearing black to games from now on. Perhaps black hoodies or long sleeve t-shirts and hats. Not in protest, but as “urban camouflage” so individuals are no longer distinguishable from the “big eye in the sky”. At least until Toyota Park Management can instill some trust and faith in the process.

I’ve sent this to Dave Feely, Don Garber, Steve Landek, John Guppy and a few others.

Follow this link for the full story from Section 8 Chicago.

The positives:

- first game I’ve been to for a while where I haven’t been completely disgusted by our performance
- Bakary Soumare could turn out to be really, really good
- we generated plenty of opportunities
- crowd was loud, into the game; section 8 strong
- fun seeing away supporters for once
- good to see Justin Mapp back, running at people

The negatives:

- woeful finishing
- Calen Carr, bless his cotton socks, really needs to spend some time in the gym
- the fact i was actually happy we didn’t lose at home
- Chris Armas looked old
- still too many empty seats in Toyota Park

More pics of Section 8 and the Toronto fan after the jump.

For the Fire, too, this has been a difficult time on and off the field, with attendance at the year-old Toyota Park down in 2007 even from 2006’s disappointing numbers. When the Mayor of Bridgeview (the village who actually own the stadium) stepped in to prevent the above-mentioned pat-downs amidst concerns of a potential breach of civil rights, it was clear changes would have to be made in the operation of the stadium if the Fire’s biggest supporter’s groups – and the heart and soul of the stadium’s atmosphere – were not to be alienated.

Last night, the leaders of Section 8 Chicago met with the honchos of the Fire and Toyota Park, and it’s quite possible a turning point has been reached in relations between Section 8 and the Fire.

One example of the potential for progress came over perhaps the most important issue addressed: how Section 8 can spread and expand in size, to generate an atmosphere in the stadium similar to European football matches. Or how Major League Soccer can differentiate itself in a crowded sports market, so that it has a buzz about it far beyond that of, say, Major League Lacrosse games (whose markings deface the turf at Toyota Park, a so-called “soccer-specific-stadium”).

Right now, Section 8 only officially occupy Section 118 of the Harlem End of the stadium. Like most American supporter’s groups, this keeps their impact and reach to within what seems like an odd, artificial constraint: to this observer, it’s always been a strange sight at poorly attended games to see Section 118 packed with hollering Fire fans, yet flanked by empty benches and quieter fans. Only Section 118 is ticketed as general admission, meaning they cannot simply take over surrounding sections during games.

Section 8 Chicago have long held the ambition to spread their reach across the entire Harlem End of the stadium, in the manner of stands full of boisterous supporters that give European and South American games such atmosphere. Whilst that might not be feasible in the short-term, they have at least wished to reclaim the adjacent Section 117: despite the low attendance in the stadium in general this season, Section 118 has been sold-out most games. Yet negotiations on this were another sticking point; it seemed as if the Fire were putting obstacles in the way of producing the kind of supporters and atmosphere they desperately need to fill their stadium. Section 8 Chicago’s frustration grew, and their leadership determined to take a tougher stance.

It has paid off, as at their meeting with Fire GM John Guppy last night he acknowledged the benefits of Section 8 expanding throughout the Harlem End would bring. Progress was made on a number of problematic issues. Section 8 chairman Ben Burton told me that “Guppy shares our vision. The whole ‘end zone’ as Section 8.” Indeed, Ben said, Guppy was enthusiastic about all of the Harlem End becoming a supporter’s stand, saying bring it on. For a start, the Fire indicated they are prepared to make Section 117 available for Section 8, and are already planning to reinforce the benches ahead of the enthusiastic hordes spreading and standing on them throughout the game.

It’s great to see an MLS front office looking beyond the petty problems supporter’s groups do bring (swearing, spent alcohol containers, etc) that pale into comparison to developing the potential of soccer as a unique participatory American sports experience. Interestingly, another British writer over at The Guardian has started banging this drum as well. People are listening, and former GM’s Peter Wilt’s legacy at the Fire has not been lost.

That banner cost a lot of money to make, and it’s one of the many extensive efforts by Section 8 that give Fire games a unique flavour. That won’t last if such disrespect is shown.

If you were at the game and saw or know anything, please follow this link to help Section 8 Chicago. There will be no questions asked on the return of the banner, and there’ll be plenty of beer (as befits the banner) for anyone with information leading to its recovery.

MLS really needs away fans making the journey to games (such as us Fire fans, pictured above), and a bit of bitterness between teams is good for the game. I hope to see many Toronto FC fans in Chicago soon, where they’ll be met with handshakes before the game and raucous abuse during it, as it should be.

The Fire now have a short turnaround and play Thursday night in the ESPN2 game against the much-disliked Dallas FC. If they don’t win, the Fire Dave Sarachan campaign is going to get some real juice behind it. The performance at Toronto was simply disgraceful in the second half.

Sunday, May 6th
The Hidden Shamrock
Fire@New England Watch Party

Back room opens at 6pm
Kickoff 7pm (Comcast Sports Net)

Free Raffle
Drink specials,
Section 8 Merchandise on sale

The Hidden Shamrock
2723 N Halsted (Halsted/Diversey)
Chicago, IL
773 883 0304

[Organized by the Section 8 Chicago ISA]

I’ll be there, and if anyone wants to say hello to their favourite Fire fan blogger (OK, the only Fire fan blogger), look for the 140 pound scraggly red-haired guy with an English accent. I should be easy to spot.