Written by: Jacquizz

Photos by: Tomperto

If you asked 100 Chicagoans who the Chicago Fire are, I’d wager that only 30 would know who they are. Within that 30, only 10 probably actually follow them. This is very unfortunate because, I went to Sunday’s fixture at Toyota Park when the Fire played Sporting Kansas City and I have to say that Fire games are one of the most underrated experiences in the city of Chicago.

Why did I go? I bought them for Tomperto’s birthday and I thought it’d be a fun experience. Sit here son and let me tell you my story. The story of a mystical land called Toyota Park.

Prologue

A week before the game, I bought tickets for a jawdroppingly cheap amount. We were basically on the field behind the goal for the same price as seats in the clouds at Wrigley. Also because I know that Toyota Park isn’t exactly the closest thing to the city, I also got bus passes from the Chicago Fire “Pub to Pitch” program. What this basically is the Chicago Fire sends a bus to a few pubs that picks up people and drives them to the game. This eliminates the voyage that most people complain so much about, allows you to meet some cool fans and you also can pick which pub you want to get on a bus for.

Act I: Onward to Toyota

The game started at 2pm, which was the same time the Blackhawks game started a, which hurt my soul but I figured I’d be OK. The bus at the Globe left the latest at 11:30, so we mosed on over on the Brown Line, which of course wasn’t working (as most Chicagoans should know). After a good 4 days, we finally got to The Globe. After a few, and I swear a few, drinks, the bus arrived.

The buses are awesome. Even though this was my first and only time on the bus, it was surprisingly calm for a bus that allows you to drink on it. There weren’t any frat bros talking about how the Fire were going to score 500 goals and it wasn’t overly loud, in fact, the bus ride didn’t even seem that long with how friendly everyone was. A journey that would normally be similar to Sam and Frodo trekking to Mount Doom turned into the eagle ride they got back to the Shire after.

Act II: My Toyota Park

The bus arrived, parked a good 3 miles away from the park and informed us that they would leave 20 minutes after the game. The dude in charge gave us his cell phone number in case we got lost or something, which was pretty risky but still really nice to have in case anything went down. There were a ton of people, particularly from the supporters groups, tailgating outside and meeting with fans coming in. I would have loved to talk with Section 8 group, but I had a sixth sense that something would be tough. Thank the lord Andre Schürrle that I did.

Holy hell, our seats were hard to find. We had to walk around the entire park to get to our gate (Gate A), but that wasn’t too bad. Finding our seats was a riddle, even for a few of the people who worked there. I might have been a problem with me or something, but the South end isn’t exactly accessible by stairs. After walking up and down many sections, including the visitor’s corner, we finally found out there was a creepy looking elevator we had to take down to a creepy looking tunnel that led to our section. The journey was long and arduous, but it was so worth it. Once I finally sat down, I noticed that there really is not a bad seat in the place. It might have to be that the stadium is so small, but I was actually on the field. I got to smell the sweat of players warming up in front of me, I even winked at one of them who probably wondered what the hell was wrong with me.

Seating Map for Chicago Fire games! I was in section 135

What also awaited us at our seats was a gold ticket, which I used as a yellow card a few times. If you get these tickets at your seat, you can redeem it for a free soda or popcorn and a free opportunity to wait in a line for 30 minutes. Seriously, I know there’s not much you can do about hordes of American’s craving their sugary sustenance, but poor old me had to miss 10 minutes of crucial action because I had to wait for a Kansas City woman to buy basically everything on the menu for what I would hope was her entire family on both her mom and dad’s sides.

In terms of the game I totally understand that there might not have been as many people as there could have been because of the Blackhawks game on at the same time, which Fire management probably all let their heads fall on to their desk when NBC announced that. The Sporting Kansas City team and fans also made things much more fun because the fans were incredibly loud and the team is coming off of winning the MLS Cup. I can’t say if it’d be as fun as much as if it was a game between Chivas USA and the Fire, but there’s just something about being AT a soccer game. It’s so much more different than watching it on TV. Stoppage time feels 300% longer, it’s awesome almost getting hit by shots and It’s easy to get super emotional about things that happen, especially evident for me having not had an allegiance to any team. I seriously did not care about either team, but having went to the game I now feel the weird love towards the Fire; I really can’t explain how it happened but you just feed off of energy.

“But Jake, the MLS is like watching AYSO”, you might say.

Until the moment that you somehow can watch a Liverpool vs Everton game in Chicago in person, which will be never, you might as well go to a MLS game. Sure it’s not like watching Ronaldo, but who cares. Everyone is Ronaldo compared to you, so stop being an old money oil baron being particular about his caviar and just go see a game.

Act III: The Most Boring Act III of All Time

I can’t even remember leaving the stadium, that’s how easy it was to get out of it. I would still be in the concourse at Wrigley trying to get out. Everything flowed out very well. Sure it was hard to get out of the parking lot, but it’s hard to get out of every parking lot in America.

We rode back, went home and got Taco Bell.

See, I told you Act III was boring. So here’s a game score to help you be less upset.

Epilogue

I waited a day to write this because, being a White Sox fan, I knew what was coming next. I don’t mind it, but I have been feeling mighty popular with the calls and emails I’ve been getting. It’s great to see they care though, they somehow knew it was my first game which confused me and made me think of the movie “Eagle Eye” (which was based in Chicago which is even creepier).

I already plan on going to another game, and you probably should too because it has been the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. I’m not guaranteeing you will have fun, but I can say that it’s all in your attitude as well. If you go thinking that you are going to get Real Madrid vs Barcelona bicycle kicks, rambonas, goals from 60 yards out, super show that you for some reason expect all soccer to be, you will of course be disappointed. If you go as someone who is going to see a good game and have some fun with your friends and people you don’t know, just like you would for a baseball game, then you’ll probably have just as much fun as I did.

Buy Tickets at their official site: http://www.chicago-fire.com/tickets

Players Mentioned In This Article (Click on names for more info!):

Andre Schürrle- Chelsea FC (EPL)

Chicago Fire Roster (MLS)

Sporting Kansas City Roster (MLS)