Is this going to happen? I need to go see a professional soccer game soon. No way in hell will I be going to a FIRE game anytime soon. Last game I went to was July 2013 close to three years.
To be fair he did say "professional" but I've had a blast watching that 5th division amateur team more than watching Fire of the past three years or so.
September 6, 2007, to be exact. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090600013.html
Probably not gonna happen..... However, for the 40th I envision Chicago's NASL club doing something in earnest to mark the anniversary with class and a genuine appreciation of the Sting's accomplishments and contribution to soccer in Chicago and North America. While the Fire stand out in the burbs holding their dicks in a rundown unnamed stadium wondering why so many people are watching a lesser league in such a big sports town.
which is so ********ed, because I probably wouldn't have ever gone to a single Fire game if it there had been no Sting. I mean, sure, I had Soccer Made in Germany, but that didn't engender anything but a love of green and white.
Heard on Glenn Davis Soccer Matters podcast & FB page Dynamo are doing something similar later this season. The Houston Dynamo have chosen August 13, 2016 vs. Toronto 7:30 to honor members of former professional soccer teams in Houston. If you played on the Houston Stars (United Soccer Association), Houston Hurricanes (NASL), Houston Summit (MISL), Houston Dynamos (USL), Houston Force (USISL), Houston Hotshots (CISL) we are hoping to see you! The weekend will include a cocktail party on Friday night, honoring at halftime briefly at the beautiful BBVA Compass Stadium and an opportunity to re-connect. We have secured a $129 rate at the beautiful downtown Marriott that puts you near the stadium and planned events. I was at match in 2006 and 2014 where Fire honored Sting.... hopefully they can do it again. I read one of the indoor teams here did this a few years ago, did anyone go to that, and what was it like? are
I worked for the Chicago Riot in it's brief but incredibly fun existence. The team didn't often win, the venue had a Slapshot vibe, but boy were games fun and community spirit apparent. The best night of all was the Chicago Soccer Heritage Night. Some of the guests that evening: CJ Brown: Chicago Fire 1998-2010 Pato Margetic: Chicago Sting 1981 and 1984 NASL Champion and Chicago Power Player/Coach 1990-91 NPSL Champion Willy Roy: Forward with Chicago Spurs and Sting and Head Coach Chicago Sting (1981 and 1984 NASL Champions) Brian McBride: Forward Chicago Fire and USMNT Bret Hall: Chicago Sting 1981 and 1984 NASL Champion and Chicago Power Player/Captain 1990-91 NPSL Champion Evan Whitfield: Chicago Fire Frantz Mathieu: Chicago Sting 1981 NASL Champion Hayden Knight: Chicago Sting and Chicago Shoccers Mark Simanton: Chicago Sting 1981 and 1984 NASL Soccer Bowl Champions Larry Sunderland: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Louis Mateus: Chicago Shoccers Erwin Fleps: Chicago Shoccers Tony Pierce: Chicago Power Hudson Fortune: Chicago Power Michael Richardson: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Tommy Isirov: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Ed Puskarich: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Mirko Castillo: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Teddy Krafft: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power and Chicago Sting Russ Prince: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Goalkeeper Rudy Glenn: Chicago Sting and Shoccers. 1981 NASL Soccer Bowl game winning shootout goal Yaro Dachniwsky: Chicago Shoccers goalkeeper, Chicago Fire staff Tony Dallas: Chicago Horizon Goalkeeper 1980-81 Dave Huson: Chicago Sting 1981 NASL Soccer Bowl Champions, Shoccers Julianne Sitch: Defender and Midfielder Chicago Red Stars Horst Fleps: Chicago Horizon and Shoccers Peter Wilt: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power GM, Fire, Red Stars and Riot Steve Davidson: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Director of PR and Operations Denise Wilmer: Chicago Power and Chicago Fire staff Deb Puskarich: 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power National Anthem Singer Steve Cetera: Mascot, 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Captain Power and Stanley Sting Chris Glanzman: Chicago Power staff Willy Steinmiller: Chicago Sting staff Howard Balson: Chicago Sting and 1990-91 NPSL Champion with Chicago Power Play by Play Announcer Nic DiBenedetto: Chicago Fire PR and Chicago Storm Asst. GM Charlie Corr: Chicago Storm and Red Stars staff Blayne Sim: Chicago Red Stars staff Willie Fajkus: Chicago Power, Fire, Red Stars and Riot Gary Baker: Chicago Power, Fire, Red Stars and Riot Greg Zaskowski: Chicago Fire, Storm, Red Stars and Riot Ko Thanadabouth: Chicago Power and I almost forgot Stanley Sting! Here's the man behind it all explaining Chicago Soccer Heritage Night: Andrew Hauptman did not attend, I think he had an editorial draft to work on or something.
Epic never in a million years would I have thought Stanley Sting and Captain Power were the same guy. If Sting NASL comes back would they look to former Sting players as coach(es) ?
That was a fun night. Seeing all of those legends was great. The best moment for me was seeing two of the older players, I forget which two, but they hugged each other like they were brothers who haven't seen each other in 50 years. There was a sense of community that night that can't be matched by any current Fire game.
It was a great evening. Having been a fan since the very early 80's, it was great to see a lot of the players I had followed over the years with a number of Chicago teams. And some may consider the Odeum less than a first-class facility, but a lot of great soccer players have played on their turf over the years. I don't think anyone but Peter would have the contacts and the respect of all the people who attended to pull an event like that off.
Wait, what about Mr. Andrew Hauptman? He OWNS the soccer conversation in Chicago. Oh, wait, you mentioned contacts AND respect of the people who attended. You are definitely right.
As much as I like the idea of soccer coming back to Chicago proper, I'm really beginning to think Wilt is just a fraud looking to get more money out of tax payers.