Section 8 Chicago

By: Tom | April 12th, 2007

I’ve mentioned ‘Section 8′ on this blog a few times, but it occurs to me that reference might be a little opaque to many non-Fire fans and possibly newer Fire fans who have jumped on since the Blanco signing.
Fire megabandanera

The name refers to the grouping of supporters who occupy an area of the Fire’s stadium known as ‘Section 8′: they collectively provide the most noise and colour to the proceedings. They are known for non-stop chanting, large banners (an 80×25 megabandanera [above] is wheeled out on occasion), and undying group Fire loyalty, as expressed in their funeralesque attire to protest the firing of GM Peter Wilt in 2005 [below].
Section 8 Peter Wilt firing
Section 8 is actually located in sections 118/117 of Toyota Park. Their apparent misnomer comes from the fact that they once occupied Section 8 of Soldier Field back when the Fire played there and before it was redeveloped, in a designated section chosen in conjunction with Peter Wilt. A tailgating area in the Fire parking lots brings together Section 8 supporters before games.

Here is how Section 8 supporters describe their style:

Chicago Fire supporters are a unique breed, a cross between several different types of worldwide supporting styles - European ultras, English/Scottish fans, South American barras, even Asian support - and the distinctive culture of Chicago sports fans. Though the ultras style is dominant, there are clear elements of all visible at every match. Fans take turns leading their fellow supporters as ‘capo’ - taken from the Italian term - picking up songs and chants started in one area and spreading it throughout and keeping intensity high among all of Section 8.

Section 8 Chicago, meanwhile, is the name of the Independent Supporters’ Association for the Chicago Fire. You can’t actually join Section 8 Chicago, though there are a number of Fire supporter’s groups affiliated to it.

The oldest are the Barn Burners 1871, who occupied Section 8 at Soldier Field. Undoubtedly the best named are Mike Ditka’s Street Crew, who count Peter Wilt as a member. Some groups have an ethnic orientation, such as Sector Latino and Fire Ultras 98 (Polish). Some are locality-based, including Red Scare (Joliet) and The Western Front (Oak Park to Naperville). Others are more broadly defined: the Shandy Sisters (’it’s not just boys’ fun’), Whiskey Brothers Aught Five (’whiskey, foreign policy, the beautiful game’), the Partisans (’active interest in leftist politics’), Blitzer Mob (’industrial music’) and Ladder 97 (’who bring a taste of traditional English football’).

As the self-described mish-mash of supporting styles and the different backgrounds of the affiliated groups illustrates, Section 8 is quite unique, and perhaps suggests some of the potential for MLS culturally: in what other country of the world could such different groupings coexist in the same city, support the same team, and stand in the same section?

And best of all, thanks to a special arrangement with the Fire, season tickets for Section 8 are dirt cheap: just $12 per game.