Great news for the future of the Fire and MLS, 400 million valuation !!!! Also I wish Hauptmann the best , appreciate the fact that he invested in MLS at a time when it wasn't cool to invest in MLS. Keep in mind he didn't have to sell his share, but did. He could've stuck around for the ride and sell when valuation hit half a billion or more.
This is more or less how I feel. He really sucked as an owner and was pretty much in over his head for the last 12 years, but I don't hold any ill-will to the guy. I just don't think he had a clue what he was getting himself into when he bought in. Thank U next...
He knew. Milk it until he can maximize profit. Is the Fire Indoor Facility included in the sale b/c that isn't owned by the FIre, it's owned by Andy and co.
I am a bit ambivalent about a name change. As for the crest, yes it's one of the best in American team sports, not just in the league. That said, if he wants to change it (and not something 'cartoonish'), I could be okay with it. We are all so giddy in Chicago at the moment, that Mansueto could probably start an actual fire on the field we would be okay with it.
The Fire is also staying there to use the training facility, which is supposed to get upgrades. Officially the lease was "amended", not bought out. Is is possible they might still play US Open Cup games in Bridgeview?
The Village of Bridgeview stated they are "looking into" alternatives, including more concerts and events. They are trying to spin it a positive to give them "flexibility" with the venue. We'll see. Only the Red Stars. The "Chicago Machine" MLL team disbanded, but there is lacrosse played at the stadium on occasion. The Village officials (and, previously, AEG when they owned the club) really want the concerts to ramp up, but it is difficult, as there are so many venues around. XFL-we'll see if it's even around in a year, but Chicago might be an appropriate expansion city if it is. USL-dead for now. But knowing the amazing historical instability of USL/NASL/USL, etc., who knows? There could also be: Rugby (which occurs on occasion there anyway). High school football championship games. Local college football games. USWNT games (which do occur there). USMNT games (which would be hysterical, if it happened). International club and national friendlies. Motor sports, like monster truck/demolition derby things (if they want to totally ruin the field) We'll see about this. They are staying for training purposes (at least for now). As for US Open Cup, that depends on 1) the amended Bridgeview lease and 2) the Soldier Field lease. When the Fire were originally at Soldier Field, they could play US Open games at other local venues. While at Bridgeview, they could not, at least without compensating Bridgeview.
I hadn't thought about that, but yeah, the Open Cup is a possibility. Not a lot of other secondary stadium options in Chicago, which explains some of the far-flung places they played USOC games in their first go around there.
If you look at the hard things on the Don's to-do list, there would be a stadium in New York, a stadium in Miami, and renewing some of the original franchises, with Chicago at the top of the list. Things are moving forward, slowly.
Considering that " getting the hell out of Columbus" has been at the top of Don's list since 2014, it's hard to say that hes riding a float in the "Ain't I Something?" Parade. Nothing is settled in Miami, Nashville is increasingly problematical and as for Chicago, it's hard to sing hosannahs to the man who got then into the mess in Bridgeview in the first place.
I understand that you guys take this personally, and I respect that, but I just don't see Columbus mattering that much in the scheme of things. It's more on Don's "whatever the owners want" list. But I want to emphasize the "hard" part of my comment. Expansion is towards the top of his list, but in reality, it's pretty easy. They've got cities lining up to get in and so all they have to do is pick a few. No disrespect to Nashville, but in or out, it's not going to be a big deal. On the other hand, fixing Chicago might be a big deal. And it's hard to do given the stadium situation; they needed to find someone to throw a lot of money at it, and I guess they did. Same with New York. Getting a stadium built in the city would be a huge triumph, likely more important than any expansion team they can find, it's just a nearly impossible task. Which is why they found the richest people they could and ignored their expansion guidelines. Because it mattered that much.
Eh, I was at the stadium today and needed a hat, and specifically got the one white one with the team crest in rainbow pride colors because when I had a navy hat with the crest on people mistook me for a fireman ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (which still could happen but I feel like the odds are a bit lower) They likely won’t change the name as the word is Mansueto wants to keep it. The crest looks good but as a soccer teams badge it’s a little awkward, but if the name stays it’d be foolish to change it. The white stripe across the chest of the kit could work with the current name or a rebrand but it’s tough to envision a name change where it’s retained. If they’re going to change the name, there’s no better time to do it, otherwise, I feel like keeping everything (logo, colors, etc) the same is probably the best move.
I am seeing the $400 million figure for the transaction on soccer message boards. But I haven't seen that figure in any published articles on the sale of the team. Where does that figure come from? Can someone provide a link?
This is pretty damn funny from the Nutmeg News... https://www.thenutmegnews.com/curre...re-soccer-club-into-ground-and-finally-leaves
I can't find it, but will try to find it, but it said that Joe paid $204 million for the remaining 51%, so if you go by those number he probably paid around $200 million for 49% in 2018. Oh he also paid $65.5 million to buy out the Bridgeview lease. So his total investment not including how much money he paid from the time he purchased 49% to when he bought the remaining 51% is $469.5 million. We signed a 3 year lease (with a 8 year option) to play in Soldiers Field, hopefully that means that he's looking to build a SSS in the city (giving him 3 years to get it done).
I'm sure that's on the list. Big city, downtown stadium, it should be doing better. But it's hard to go around saying that publicly about any ownership group. Potential Buyer: Hey Don, I'm looking for a team to buy. How about Houston, there seems to be room for improvement. Don: You might think that; I couldn't possibly comment.
Is the rumor still that they'll play in Soldier Field temporarily until a North Side stadium is built? Wonderful news though.
Rumor has them looking at a spot on the south side, on the site of a former hospital. There was talk about a north side stadium for a USL team as part of a larger project, but the stadium part of the project was scrapped. The rumored site on the south side is less than two miles due south of Soldier Field, fwiw.