Rumours floating around Chicago that Fire ownership has done a deal with Bridgeview to buyout that awful lease ($125 million - would pay off debt of Bridgeview for the build + intererst) and will move to Soldier Field for 2020 - also rumours of a rebrand to "Chicago City Soccer Club"
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/jvlaha/status/1113182747466633216
They are really going to have to rename the Brimstone Cup now.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I think the Chicago-Dallas Rivalry is long dead. They won't even be the same names that started the whole thing. I'm just glad they're making changes.
Good move for Chicago and the league, it's a bad look to have such small crowds in the 3rd largest media market.
Soldier Field is natural grass + NFL + concerts, now add soccer. Similar climate to Toronto. That will be an interesting experiment!
I do really like the idea of them moving closer to downtown though.
They literally went down in attendance from the first year they went to bridgview. Instant flop
Moving to a stadium with 61,000 seats will be interesting, but they can't do much worse then 11,000 k / average.
New England, Columbus and Colorado also have bad situations. NYCFC needs a new stadium too.
Dallas plays in Frisco too which lots of fans there don't like so you can add that to the list of bad situations. I loved Chicago when I did the road trip for a TFC away game and stayed in the downtown core. Trekked it out to the suburbs for the game. I didn't mind too much because I live in Ajax and drive downtown to TFC games all the time so to me it was kind of the same deal for the gameday but going opposite direction from downtown to suburb. I guess it would have been nicer to get a shuttle from downtown right to Soldier Field though which I hear they have for free so I wouldn't have to drive. Might have to go back after they get settled in the new digs.
I don't mind the name Chicago Fire, but I agree it's problematic as a name. But this is excellent news.
But Auzzy's right – they're going to have to do something with that turf, either go hybrid or artificial.
If they change Chicago's team name it will at the very least put an end to the unimaginative headlines "put out the Fire" and "get burned by the Fire."
They could always go with Inter Sporting Chicago City United SC
I've been to TFC v Chicago games, and although it is a pain that the stadium is so far from downtown (which is where I always stay as there is virtually nothing out by the stadium), I do need to compliment them on the Pub to Pitch bus service they offer. It essentially picks you up from a number of downtown pubs, takes you to the game on a very nice coach-style bus, and then drives you right back downtown all for like $10. It's been super convenient and has been a cool way to meet Chicago fans (who have always been nothing but friendly and accepting of me and my group as visiting TFC fans). All that said, moving back 'downtown' to soldier field would be more convenient. Until then, I would definitely recommend the Pub to Pitch service to anyone planning on going down to Chicago view a match.
Being to Chicago and their home pitch in Bridgeport twice, a part of me will miss going out there. It was a bit of a pain getting to the stadium, taking the Orange line to the Midway terminal then taking a crowded bus all the way there. But the stadium was quite nice and had some good features to it. Better than BMO Field, IMHO. Too bad it was way out in the middle of nowhere, but I'll always have nice memories of the place, especially the match in August 2017 where we turned the away section into the south end of BMO Field.
As for the name change, not a fan of it. We already have enough static boring names in MLS, like City or United. Chicago Fire does have a nice ring to it, plus it gives a node to its city's past. A bad one for sure, but still.
TORONTO FC, 2017 MLS CHAMPIONS!!! (Still the greatest in league history!)
Just use the NWSL name. Red Stars.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I would avoid the word Inter right now.
MLS being sued by Inter Milan
https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/exp...nter-miami-fc/
I suspect MLS wins this one given there are other Inter teams around the world.
Last edited by ensco; 04-04-2019 at 08:57 AM.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
Miami Nice FC, just don't pronounce it with a french accent and they are good to go, no legal issues.
From what I know of intellectual property law, Inter has an argument. "United" is a common word in the English language, as is "real" in Spanish. "Inter" is a very unique term on the other hand. It is very established in the soccer world. If Miami wanted to call themselves "International Miami", it would be different, but they don't. I think you can argue that a reasonable person could mistake Inter Miami as being associated with the Milan club.
The issue here is all about global marketing, IMHO. If Miami made it clear they would just be pushing their brand in Southern Florida, then I don't think Inter would care too much. I also don't think it would be very hard for Inter Milan to persuade the judge their marketing arm reaches all over the world.
Enter Miami FC or In Tear Miami FC.
Miami's name is Club Futbol Internacional Miami. Inter of Milan is Internazionale. If its all about the short form version it could easily be settled. But Miami will not lose calling itself Internacional. Theoretically, Miami could officially have to use InternacionalMiami instead of InterMiami but that doesnt stop the city, fan, journalists etc from calling the team Inter. And down the road no one will even know the difference anymore. Waste of a lawsuit.
The Chicago news is surprising mainly in that they found someone other than Hauptmann to pay for the escape plan. In typical Chicago FO manner though, they found the worst alternatives and also decided to fix something that isn't really broken. If this actually happens, they will exchange one set of transportation hassles (hard to get to stadium with limited mass transit) for a new set of transportation hassles (anyone that isn't in Chicago already will have to go all the way downtown).
I think you are confusing a couple of issues. Whether or not the word is common is irrelevant - what matters is whether or not the term is descriptive. Many trademarks (especially in the USA) will be common English words. The real question in this case is confusion - i.e. would a soccer fan think Inter Miami is related to Inter Milan or would s/he think Inter Miami is just another Inter team. I stand on Inter Miami's side on this one - it's not like they are trying to use Inter on its own.