A sea of…blue and yellow?

They were expecting hundreds, but thousands came.

They filled the stands of Toyota Park, perhaps even more people present than the night in 2006 the Chicago Fire won the U.S. Open. They were men, women, children, families; all decked out in their replica gear, hungry just for a glimpse of their footballing hero Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the Fire’s biggest ever signing. They were a sea of blue and yellow.

Blue and yellow? Blue and yellow. The colours of Club America, Blanco’s current Mexican team, of course – few were decked out in Fire red last night. They had come to pay homage to a man they already adored who starred for a team they already loved.

But now we see Blanco himself, Fire shirt raised in front of him, a shy smile on his face. And the fans cheer, welcoming him to his new home. They will be back, to see their hero and fill Toyota Park. The question is: will they stay when he is gone?

[Photos via those great folks at Section 8.]

Category: Blanco, Off the field