Oh, I thought I was a little on the "low side," with the back of the envelope estimate, the buyout to Hauptman aside. I actually might guess at a replacement SSS to be closer to $500MM nowadays. To your second paragraph, MLS let the Chicago market take a giant shyte for the past decade, why would they suddenly take interest in it? Vlhakis wants us to believe that MLS will pay a significant part of the lease buyout, but they've let Hauptman run this team into the ground since he's taken over ownership. I don't want anyone to conflate my observations as me wanting this to not be true. I'd LOVE for the fire to play in the city; I'd love it MORE if/when Hauptman isn't involved in any way. I just don't see enough positive signals to call this rumor as being likely at this point.
Agreed. I don't want Hauptman involved at all. Honestly, I'd rather have a Fire team in Bridgeview without Hauptman, than a team in Chicago WITH Hauptman.
Eh, IDGAF at this point as long as someone else has the money and control. He sucks, but this organization's problems predate him, whether we want to admit it or not.
#HauptmanOut Not only out as our owner, but out completely. Have nothing to do with the league, because all he brings is negativity to all.
While I agree the league “turned a blind eye”, I think the truth is Hauptman was a salesman and “sold” the league on a bullshit vision. While it took us fans ~5 years to smell the shit it probably took the uppers at the league a bit longer. Once they realized he was a used car salesman they moved. Get Real Madrid for the All-Star game. Find a new owner. Get out. Etc. Considering the growth the league had during the last decade the league had bigger fish to fry than Hauptman’s negligence. They changed their minds ~2 years ago and we’re seeing the fruits of that labor. The scare of Ricketts and a team with true investment in Chicago really pushed the league to realize they had to make a move.
They are going to talk about the reboot on the halftime show of the Cincinnati/Kansas City game on ESPN.
Twellman said rebooting the name and moving to soldier field not enough the fire need to sign a big name like chicarito and commit to eventually building their own stadium in Chicago.
He's not wrong. Though we now have an owner who's willing to sign a ginourmous check. He's not going to spend that type of cash to remove Wilt's/AEG's albatross just to stop there.
Yes, because a German World Cup winner is not a "big name." Bastian Schweinsteiger is a big name (just look at all those letters!). He is one of the 5-6 best players to ever play in MLS. He is a big name, but is not the single "impact" player that the Fire need. For the record, I have been advocating for Chicarito to the Fire for the past 3-4 years. Going back 6 years or so, I have advocated for Klose, then Podolski and Chicarito. At 30 years old, Chicarito is the player we could build around for next 3-5 years. He would be a legend in Chicago and is being wasted at West Ham. As a West Ham fan, I have watched how he has been underused and misused for the better part of two years. Andriy Yarmolenko blew out his Achilles and it was announced he will not return this season, despite being healed. He should be back at full strength for preseason, so Chicarito may be rendered redundant. For 2020, if we had to choose between Chicarito joining the Fire and Bastian leaving, I would be sad to Bastian leave, but I would say: "Farewell and enjoy your well, well deserved retirement. Here is a place on the Chicago Fire Board of Directors*/Front Office." *assuming the Fire have a board at some time.
I'm surprised Schweinsteiger even came back this year. He'll be 35 at the end of the season. I don't expect him back.
I'd be shocked to see him not coaching or in the front office. I optimistically hope it'd be here, but expect it will be at Bayern.
Jesus H, I go out of the country for a week and THIS all pops up? Serious organizations in this league have a number of things real, world class organizations do: SSS, no doubt preliminary work being worked on in some fashion; a practice facility that all players (especially those from other teams/leagues) would want to spend the bulk of their professional work life in; and a DII squad to seriously develop players, academy and otherwise, in. This all doesn't happen in one month, but when I start to hear rumblings about any/all of these things I will believe that the franchise owner and league are serious about the team. And don't screw with our team name, and if they mess with our colors in a "rebranding" then screw 'em all.
Here's my more Machiavelian approach, if I'm an advisor to Mansueto: 1) Buy out Bridgeview so that you have the option to relocate to the city. MLS's enabling of Hauptmann for the past decade should factor into its own contribution. (Hauptman's contribution to which will certainly get folded into the conversation below). Get what you can from the City of Chicago, but be sensitive to the already overburdened taxpayers' concerns. 2) Engage Hauptman in a friendly conversation THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE OF WHICH SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY TO BE CONSTRUED AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN HYPOTHETICAL: "Good morning Andrew, Mr. Mansuetto has asked me to meet with you for the purpose of arriving at a mutually agreeable price for his organization's outright purchase of the the remaining 1%-51% of Andell's right, title and interest in the Fire. My name? That's not important. Sorry, coffee? We won't be here that long. Anyhoo, while you're mulling over the general concept, here's a one-page handout to help us focus on what IS important. It contains a summary of what our finance people have determined will be the range of cost in dollars to re-establish the Fire as a top-tier MLS club, and the corresponding financial benefits resulting therefrom. Please note the high and low range of your anticipated contribution to those numbers over the course of the buyout. This is, of course, predicated upon our reaching a binding agreement before either of us leave the room today. If by chance in your contemplations, you happen to draw a correlation between this range of figures and the likelihood of your testicles becoming...or not...part of a soon-to-open "History of Early Man" exhibit at the Field Museum, well, what can I say. We're a civic-minded organization. In that regard, here's also a rather more detailed portfolio: It contains factual information that you may determine would be looked at, shall we say "unfavorably" by your future former father-in-law...particularly if it were to become available on Youtube, et al... Because we're nice peopleTM, you may wish to consider the costs and risks already undertaken by Mr. Mansueto, vis a vis the likelihood and time frame for resurrecting the Fire. We urge you to consider these good faith investments as sound reasons for your immediate agreement to a substantial reduction in Andell's holdings as a %age of the value of the Fire, along the time frames and time and price points offered. If I may be indelicate, this is so Mr. Mansueto will be able to attract other investors who have something of a more desirable profile and lower stench factor than association with yourself. 4) alternatively...Paco?! How're Mr. Hauptman's children enjoying their private tour of the La Brea tar pits this morning? Fascinating isn't it, kids...so rich in prehistoric treasure and yet, so tragic at the same time. Not to mention its convenience to downtown Los Angeles and its superior courts...including family court. Malort, Andy?
Twellman was talking about this on TV. Agree, don't change the name or crest. This team does have a history with trophies, no need to reinvent the wheel. Soldier ok for Fire even if long term temp. As for Bridgeview- Red Stars could still play there and maybe the Fire's Academy or reserves. I know they just affiliated with Lansing of USL-1, but maybe bring it closer to the parent team. OR, have the Fire move to the property that Chicago of USL-C was trying to build at and have the USL-C team play at Bridgeview. USL-C gets a team in the market they wanted and MLS team gets a more prime in town location and maybe then the Cubs would come back as interested parties (?) Bridgeview could also try rugby, lacrosse teams (if those leagues are viable still) , maybe an XFL team. Would also be a good spot for Big 10 Soccer Tournament. Have they tried state or Chicago city title games for Soccer, Football, Rugby or Lacrosse ? Just seem they would need to be more aggressive on some of this. -I saw my Galaxy vs Fire at Old Soldier and Bridgeview (lost both), i hope Chicago can sort things out. - Then after we get the Fire "fixed", maybe we can move on to New England, Colorado and San Jose
That one's dead. Alderman killed it after NIMBY concerns. Plus, people ain't driving out to Bridgeview for MLS, they certainly aren't driving out for USL. I'm worried about the Red Stars though. Bridgeview hasn't been super great for them either, but it's probably the best home they've had, and if the Fire leave the village might decide concerts and similar events are to be the priority.
Concerts for Bridgeview are a damn near impossible task, as Live Nation controls all the acts and they own the venue in Tinley. They'll work with Wrigley and Soldier for higher capacity and the UC for indoors, but there's no incentive for them to share profits with Bridgeview for a similar crowd. The stadium was definitely designed for concerts, with the permanent stage and most of the concessions on the opposite end, but apparently they never thought about how hard it would be to get anyone to play there.
Though when I say similar events I'm thinking more along the lines of motocross and monster truck rallies.
A few dates in the summer only that is going to be a white elephant. Red stars don't draw enough to make up for the loss of the fire. Bridgeview better be getting a ton of money.
AEG was working to break into concert promoting when the stadium was built. When they bailed, the action that was a trickle totally dried up.
Does any of this chatter change if the people involved can get the Orange line to extend to 71st and Harlem? It already goes to Midway stopping at about 58th and Cicero. If one continues driving south on Cicero there from the Midway drop off theretare rail tracks and and industrial corridor all along 70-73rd there. It's approximately a 5 mile distance.