The Chicago Fire soccer club is located in Chicago, Illinois and plays their home matches at Soldier Field. Soldier Field is located along Lake Michigan in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The Fire have played at Soldier Field since moving from SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview after the 2019 season.
Quick Summary
The Chicago Fire soccer club is an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. They compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference. The Fire have played their home matches at Soldier Field in Chicago since 2020 after spending the previous 15 seasons at SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview.
History of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club
The Chicago Fire soccer club was founded in 1997 as one of the charter clubs of Major League Soccer. They played their first eight seasons at Soldier Field before moving to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in 2006. After 15 seasons in Bridgeview, the team returned to a renovated Soldier Field in Chicago for the 2020 season.
The Fire experienced great success in their early MLS seasons. They won the MLS Cup in 1998 in just their inaugural season under head coach Bob Bradley. They also won the U.S. Open Cup in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. However, the last decade has been less successful for the Fire as they have not qualified for the playoffs since 2017.
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is a historic stadium located along Lake Michigan in Grant Park in Chicago. It opened in 1924 as Municipal Grant Park Stadium and was renamed Soldier Field in 1925 to honor American soldiers who died in combat. It has a current seating capacity of 61,500 for soccer matches.
In 2002, Soldier Field underwent a major renovation that changed its structure into a modern, spaceship-like facility with only the original colonnades and outer wall remaining from the original structure. The renovation was controversial but allowed Soldier Field to retain its status as an NFL stadium for the Chicago Bears.
SeatGeek Stadium
SeatGeek Stadium (formerly Toyota Park) is a soccer-specific stadium located in suburban Bridgeview, Illinois. It opened in 2006 and has a current capacity of 20,000. It was built to specifically host the Chicago Fire soccer club.
The Fire played 15 seasons at SeatGeek Stadium from 2006 to 2019 before returning to Soldier Field. SeatGeek Stadium is still used by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Chicago Fire Roster and Coaching Staff
The Chicago Fire first team roster for the 2023 MLS season features players from over 10 different countries. Here are some of the key players:
- Gaga Slonina – Starting Goalkeeper, U.S. youth international
- Rafael Czichos – Captain, Defender, from Poland
- Xherdan Shaqiri – Midfielder/Forward, Swiss international
- Jhon Durán – Forward, young designated player from Colombia
- Chris Mueller – Winger, U.S. international
The Fire are coached by Ezra Hendrickson who took over in 2022 after several seasons as an assistant coach with the Columbus Crew. Hendrickson is looking to lead the Fire back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Chicago Fire Ticket Information
Tickets for Chicago Fire home matches at Soldier Field can be purchased through the team’s website www.chicago-fire.com or by calling 888-MLS-FIRE. Tickets can also be purchased at the Soldier Field box office on matchdays.
The Chicago Fire have a dynamic pricing model for tickets which means prices fluctuate based on factors like opponent and day of the week. Fans can expect to pay anywhere from $30-100 for seats throughout the stadium. Premier seats like midfield club seats can cost over $200 per ticket.
Here are the 2023 Chicago Fire season ticket options:
Seating Section | Season Ticket Price |
---|---|
Supporter Section | $325 |
Corner Sideline | $450 |
Center Midfield Sideline | $900 |
Midfield Club | $1800 |
Season ticket members get access to exclusive events and discounts on merchandise and concessions. Payment plans are also available to split up the season ticket cost into multiple installments.
Getting to Chicago Fire Matches
There are several public transportation options to get to Soldier Field for Chicago Fire matches:
- CTA Bus – Several buses stop near Soldier Field including #3, #6, #10, #J14, #128
- CTA Train – The closest L stations are Roosevelt on the Red, Orange, and Green lines and 18th on the Pink line
- Metra – Closest stations are Museum Campus/11th Street, Roosevelt Road, and 18th Street
Driving and parking near Soldier Field for Fire matches can be difficult and expensive. If possible, public transportation is recommended. Soldier Field does have some parking available in surface lots and garages near the stadium starting around $40.
Fun Facts About Chicago Fire Soccer
- The Fire won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural 1998 season, the only MLS team to win the “domestic double” in their first year
- In 2000, Soldier Field hosted the MLS All-Star Game with over 39,000 fans attending
- From 2001-2003, the Fire won a league-record 21 consecutive home games at Soldier Field
- The club’s official mascot since 1998 has been Sparky the Fire Dog
- Bastian Schweinsteiger, a German World Cup winner, played for the Fire in 2017 and 2018
- The Fire led the league in attendance during their early years but have ranked near the bottom recently
- Their return to Soldier Field in 2020 was the first time the club played in the city since leaving for suburban Bridgeview in 2006
Conclusion
The Chicago Fire have a long and storied history as one of MLS’s original clubs. After years playing in the suburbs, their return to the world-famous Soldier Field has reinvigorated the club and fans. The Fire are looking to recapture the success of their early MLS seasons with an exciting new roster and stadium atmosphere. With affordable tickets and public transit access, Chicago Fire games are a great opportunity to experience the energy and community of MLS soccer culture.