I actually wouldn't be opposed to a naming convention similar to FC United of Manchester (I know it's lame but I don't care) I'd like the Sting or Sting SC though... I
In the "name the team" poll a few months back, I voted for the Sting, as well. Turns out, it is still ongoing: http://nameonchicago.com/ I voted for "Sting" again. FC Lincoln Park or FC Lincoln Park-Chicago would work for me, if they want to go that route. Nickname-Lincoln Park Rangers if we want to go all London-poseur. I was referring the Fire relocating, since the Fire (as they are currently set up) could not compete with a team in Lincoln Park. So let me be a bit more explicit: Fire United Club -the Kickers, Las Vegas!
It would make my day if a video of fans surrounded a headstone for the Fire and simultaneously poured one out. At some point, I hope they realize how stupid Fire Bank Pitch was when the Fire needed to do so much more. They could have: 1) Built a robust Academy / Affiliate network 2) Built a training ground 3) Worked with Bridgeview to develop the stadium area 4) Started a USL team or heavily collaborated with one 5) Made an official Fire Bar in Chicago much like SKC 6) Hired a real GM / Technical Director who had an ambitious plan for the future. FireBank Pitch does little if anything to actually help the Fire other than being a venue to host birthday parties / fire youtube video / team events/
As I made that thread .... anyone know what happened to French Academy director for the Fire. Where is he ... right now? Is this team's academy being run by that kid who was hired at a convention?
Cool, I just voted for "The Chicago City Soccer Club" on the website, because I want to be a poser, too. Also, LOLOLOL this is (maybe/probably/possibly) happening and we will have a USL team that outdraws the MLS team no matter how shitty the USL team plays simply because the USL team will be in a location that's 10 billion times (rough estimate) better. Also, I can't wait for the Open Cup match between the two teams. Although, we could end up with some weird sort of Crew to Austin type scenario where the Fire move and then the USL team comes to MLS as an expansion side? (I know Cincy isn't a Columbus team but OH is a giant trash hole anyway so it's similar, dammit).
Yes, and I said that if it actually happens, I owe you a beer. When beer is involved, I NEVER forget! Let's see how things develop.
I tried to post something like this somewhere, but bigsocccer apparently had a stroke. Apologies if this is already up in some thread: There is no way Ricketts is planning on staying in USL. He is clearly looking to build a club/culture/fanbase and then transition it into MLS as soon as the exclusivity contract with Bridgeview is gone via timing out or the increasingly desperate owner of the Fire (probably not Hauptman) buying out the contract. NY and LA already have two teams. It stands to reason that Chicago is up next for crosstown rivalry. When does the exclusivity end? 2035? So, at most Ricketts and Sterling Bay get to build their club for 15 years before making the jump. Seems like a good idea in the modern MLS. Edit: Found Guillermo's good article about the deal with Bridgeview http://www.chicagonow.com/fire-confidential/2016/08/fire-sale-at-least-three-groups-interested/
https://socceresq.com/2018/05/09/st...be-the-best-worst-lease-in-the-united-states/ Stadium Lease Snapshot: Bridgeview and the Chicago Fire, and the Best/Worst Sports Lease in the United States
Reminder to all you ********faces that long for the AEG years: AEG ********ed Chicago on their way out.
This is AWESOME, when do they break ground on the stadium? I'm all for naming the team Chicago Sting and hopefully Lee Stern is involved somehow.They would need Lee's approval to use the name, considering he still owns the name. Can you imagine the likes of Pato Margetic, Karl-Heniz Granitza, Rudy Glenn, Frantz Mathieu, Victor Nogueira etc.walking around the stadium. You know like Rocky has done with the Hawks, bringing back the old timers back to the team. Edit: I hope it's the latter, because I don't think I could EVER trust Andi again....... #ChicagoSting2021
Was it really on the way out though? AEG and MLS agreed to these terms long before there was a potential buyer.
I like to daydream about this, but I wouldn't count on it. There is a new model in the US and it doesn't really involve recycled names and logos. The Sounders and White Caps never really went away, so those are not analogous. San Jose revived the "Earthquakes" but I'm not sure that really gave them much of a boost. The new stadium was more significant than the name change, although you could have gone with "San Jose Hemorrhoids" and it would have been an upgrade over the Clash. Expect this team to create something entirely new like the successful teams in Sacramento, Indy, Cincinnatti along with MLS newbies Atlanta, Orlando, etc. I'm fine with that as well, even if I would love to see Stanley Sting take the first kick.
It seems the only way out for the Fire is for a new owner (or Hautptman, yeah yeah yeah) to pay off Bridgeview and get the hell out of there, plus actually building a new stadium and getting the political support to do so near mass transit. Ugh, this seems unlikely, but what would an appropriate number be for damages? This is a pipe dream, there's no getting out of that deal barring some soccer renaissance in Chicago that makes the Fire so popular as to make Bridgeview too small. Unlike most on here, I tend to think that a successful Fire is far more attractive to a buyer than a slowly faltering, and irrelevant one.