Honestly, yes. The last thing you want as a brand owner is brand confusion. I wouldn’t be surprised if they change the name of the league name to the “US Premier League” in a few years. They’re already doing that Championship, League 1, and League 2 thing in the USL.
Ironically, the same exact thing is true of MLS itself. For many years when you typed MLS into a Google search you got a bunch of real estate sites, and MLS soccer was way down at the bottom or on page 2. However, over the years the positions have switched as MLS has grown in popularity. The same will be true of the Chicago Fire if the management of the team improves. The TV show will end and the Fire will take the top position after Hauptmann is gone. The idea that the team has to be rebranded because of search engine results is a canard (I love using that word!)
MLS has a prefab landing page too. Night and day from the Fire's situation. The ad for the real estate agent service isn't ideal though, I'm sure that's upsetting for the league. On that note, maybe the way to fix this is to pay off Google and/or the Chicago Fire TV show somehow? Where there's a wallet, there's a way.
I've done it and I quite agree. Because, except for one season -- which they choked away -- the team always underperformed. There was no demand to watch a team that never made the playoffs. So that argument has yet to be tested. No, it's not THE most important thing. But a team that has a problem drawing fans should consider that. You don't cut off your nose to spite your face. And every other major league team in the city is A) much older than the Fire with well-established fan bases and season ticket holders, B) appear on every TV newscast even if they aren't playing a game (and why do they should "highlights" of pop fly outs?), C) haven't had a cheapskate owner (excepting the Hawks -- but then he died and they became great again) with a know-nothing GM (except the Bearssss but they finally wised up) that sabotaged any good outcomes from the on-field talent. So the Fire are a special case. I personally know James and he has always been honest. I would disagree that he is unreliable. Having been a reporter, I know how news can change or be misinterpreted. And not be the fault of the news bearer.
The Fire should buy search ads for brand keywords. That would put them all the way at the top, unless NBC decided to bid on it too.
You don’t change the name of a club that’s expected to last a century or more because of a TV show that has roughly a decade lifespan. It’s idiotic.
I doubt the search engine ranking has much to do with a rebrand. I believe the demise of the franchise under Hauptman is most of the reason.
Not kidding... My dad just now: "Hey Chris, where'd you get that Chicago Fire hat?" Me: I got it at the team's pro shop at the stadium a few weeks ago." Him: "Ohhhhhh, the TEAM, Chicago Fire. I thought it was from the TV show."
I wonder if this was Hauptman's plan from the start, to do the bare minimum and try to get out of the lease, but he's too fvcking cheap to buy out the leases. If all this is true and the lease is bought out and we move to Soldier's Field, this asshole better be gone.
I made the mistake of looking up #chicagofire instead of #cf97. Guess which had more activity today; I feel your pain...
The Fire did not really under perform in 2008 or 2009, we made it to the Conference Finals each year. We had Blanco, McBride in 2009. I did not say "unreliable." I said "not particularly reliable."
Too bad our cheapass owner went cheap in hiring Hamlett. We had a team that at the very least should have made it to MLS CUP 2008 and 2008. #HauptmanOut
So far I'm not buying anything regarding this rumor until I see official releases because this could be a slow moving April fool's joke however, something needs to happen. Regarding potential future stadium locations, what (if anything) is going on back there by the raised rail tracks on the near South side south of Roosevelt, west of Western yet North of Ogden? There is an abandoned school back there and lots of empty lots and former industrial wasteland and fencing and piles of dirt and gravel and fencing. Not sure of address but roughly 1400 south and 2600 West.
If they REALLY want to avoid confusion and maintain continuity, it should be "THE US Premier League", just like "The MLS". ffs
Paul Tenerio - multiple sources have confirmed MLS and Fire IN negotiations withBridgeview to get out of lease .
I saw Amy Morton (Sergeant Trudy Platt) on my brown line train home Wednesday evening. She got on at Fullerton. I really, really, really wanted to get a selfie with her but the train was too crowded and she looked kind of surprised to be noticed. Settled for saying hi and telling her she was great on the show. Trudy is now #1 with a bullet on my Brown Line brushes with greatness/people I recognize that don't want to talk to me. #1 - Trudy Platt #2 - Logan Pause, dressed like a dandy. (Of course the train went backwards one stop before continuing on it's route) #3 - Nate Jaqua (same day as the USA/Poland friendly in Rostock?) #4 - Rahm Emmanuel (made eye contact and got him to smile before giving him the finger)
I saw Jesus on the Blue line many years ago. He got on, with his cross at Belmont and exited at Logan Square. Said a word to no one. But was in full garb with a cross. It wasn't even stations of the cross season. You don't want to know what else I've witnessed on the el.
The Fire really really need to be in the city. Totally cool with Soldier Field for a few years if they have a plan for a new stadium eventually. Hate the idea of a rebrand especially if it is for something so generic.
Oh man, when I got said hat, Nikolic was in the pro shop buying a kid-sized Nikolic jersey for someone after practice. Then I grabbed lunch and Dax was at the Bridgeview (Summit?) Potbelly. I mostly just tried not to stare.
"Multiple sources" ? J Vlahakis tweets a bit of verbal jizz Someone quotes Vlahakis Posters on BigSoccer speculating wildly That dude who wrote the really well written, but meaningless, article Paul Tenerio "See, multiple sources" By the way, I want this to happen, but won't believe it until I see an actual "source".