Trip to Chicago

Having not been to a professional soccer game in over a year I was excited, to say the least, as game day approached. We decided to leave to the game a couple of hours early so we could walk the grounds and spend some time at a real-life soccer specific stadium (SSS). We hear so much about them...could Chicago's SSS really live up to the hype? Well I wouldn't find out as quick as I was hoping. Coming back from downtown using the metro system we happened to board the 'little train that couldn't'...our usual 30 minute train ride to the hotel took an hour and 15.

While it didn't take too long to get to Toyota Park, it is in the middle of a run down neighborhood with the nicest restaurant we passed getting to the stadium, once we got off the freeway, being White Castle. I liked the stadium (and will get to that in a minute), but the location is horrible. For anybody that still opposes the Sandy site they really should step back and see how good we have it. It is really too bad that the Fire couldn't find a spot in the city. I have to believe that part of the difficulties that they have with attendance has something to do with the fact that the trains don't make it down there like they do to the stadiums of the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, and Cubs. A few things we have going for us with the Sandy location is that the area is nice and improving constantly...in 10 years it could really be sweet. We also have the Trax line that will help bring people into that area (also, though not nearly as expansive...Trax is a much smoother ride). And...no toll stops along the way for those driving!

As for the stadium it is great. I now know that soccer is not made to be played in a football stadium. I've heard complaints in the past that it is very plain, but I really liked it. Even though there is a certain simplicity it is very sharp and well taken care of. It is also easy to get around and lines to food or restrooms were very reasonable. Then there is the fact that Toyota Park can take a 13,000 crowd and make a game-time atmosphere out of it while 13,000 (if they could get that many) in a place like Arrowhead Stadium makes it look like a practice or preseason scrimmage. My next trip will be to KC in July so more on that in the future.

Chicago and the Chicago Fire

I was very disappointed with the inter-city marketing or lack thereof. I didn't see one advertisement for the team during my stay in Chicago and sadly enough I saw multiple ads for their WNBA team the Sky. Then I went into a Chicago-sports store where they were selling jerseys from all of the area teams and they had a lot of just about everything. Everything except for the Fire. And to top it off I watched the local news and sports casts that night. They had scores, highlights, and analysis of everything from lacrosse to women's softball...fairly extensive coverage I might add. For the Fire? A ten second blurb mentioned nothing more than the score, showing no highlights, and not even putting the Fire logo above the reporters shoulder when announcing the draw. As far as local media coverage goes we should be grateful in Utah (I say we because I still consider myself a Utahn despite relocation). Though mostly negative RSL does get quite about of coverage in the local media. And how can it really be all that positive? We haven't won a game in a long, long time.

Section 8

I have mentioned a few ways in which RSL is better than Chicago or has an advantage over Chicago...that ends with supporter groups. Section 8 is organized, loud, and impressive. They don't stop the whole game and everybody in the stadium knows it. In fact they have a few cheers that the whole stadium does with them. What really helps their cause is that they have one guy on a stand leading the group for all 90 minutes and it is enough to cause jealousy. For RSL to have that same role in our games the Loyalists, Samba Gringa, and RCB would have to join forces, get a in-game leader, and recruit a few more. Though, it would be worth it. I also understand that RCB and the Loyalits have different standards in reference to what makes the game fun, but I don't know that the RCB would have time to swear if ran like Section 8. In fact I would have nothing negative to say about the group had a beer bottle not been thrown onto the field just feet from Nick Rimando. Classless. I would have lost respect for the group, but a similar thing has happened in Salt Lake this year. I guess every group has to have one moron.

The Fans

Now that I have praised Section 8 I don't need to praise Chicago fans any more because outside that one area they were weak. I'm not talking about numbers...I'm talking about involvement. There was only one time during the whole game I had to stand up to see what was going on because everybody else was standing too and that was during those seemingly endless Chicago corner kicks in extra time. (That didn't prevent me from standing up quite often on my own) I also wanted to talk to some of the fans around me. The guy on my right was at his very first soccer game ever and was asking his daughter about the rules most of the game and the guy on our left was quiet except for the every 15 minute "You Suck Freddy!". As a fairly vocal fan I also was curious how the fans would react to my pro-RSL/anti-Chicago sentiments. Unimpressive. Once while protesting a foul a guy up top yelled "Shut-up and sit down. You know that was a foul", but that was it. I guess they were out for their Memorial-weekend tan.

Eddie Pope

I thought it was noteworthy that after the game Eddie stayed and signed autographs longer than any player from either team. The guy is all class and a lot of people even cheered when they announced his name in the line-up...they still love him there. He had a great game too. I think that he is RSL's MOTY so far. If it wasn't for him teams could kick 5 goals in on us every game.

The Game

Looking at the boards I see many use the term 'yawner' when describing the game. I may have had my rose colored glasses on due to being away from the game for so long, but I thought it was tons of fun and RSL played better than they had in a long time. If they just knew how to kick with their left foot we would have won.

XanGo

At halftime my buddy and I decided to walk around and see the stadium a little bit more. While doing so we spotted a group of three people wearing RSL XANGO jerseys. I thought 'How cool is this?' It was sure it had to be some die-hards that had made the trip and I was going to meet some of the people I associate with daily through RCB, BigSoccer, or RSLFM. So I went up and said hi and how nice it was to see other RSL fans. They said they were actually from Chicago and then about 30 seconds into the conversation a business card comes out and I'm asked, "So, have you tried XanGo yet? We've got all the players drinking it." Turns out they were XanGo distributors out for the game to show of their (likely) free shiny jerseys. It guess it is nice they went, but I have to say I was disappointed that they were really only pseudo-fans. Oh well.

The Windy City

Overall the trip was great. What a cool place. We went and did all the touristy things and despite being such a large city the people were really nice. I would love to go back just to see and do all the things we couldn't in our short weekend there.

If any Chicago fans are reading this I would love to know your thoughts. I understand that I based all my judgments on one game and a 5 hour experience. Thanks for the great time.