MLS life in the 'burbs

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By Will Kuhns, Soccer America

The Chicago Fire's players and hard-core fans have had to make big adjustments since the MLS club was forced to move to suburban Naperville. Playing conditions are harsh in what the Fire players call "The Sandbox." Chicago's urban fans have had to tone down their act to accommodate local sensibilities.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- As the yellow school bus starts to move, the first order of business for the 30-some 20-somethings on board is to salute their driver, Leo.

"LEEE-o, LEEE-o, LE-o, LE-o, LE-o, Le-O-O, Le-O-O, LE-o, LE-o, LE-o!"

Stunningly clever lyrics set to the tune of the Chicago Fire's fan anthem (the lone discernible lyric of which is "Fire") elicit a smirk and a wave from Leo, who is used to this. Every Fire home game, he transports a load of the team's most fervent supporters from Ginger's Ale House on the north side of Chicago to the suburban community of Naperville, the Fire's temporary home. Today's foe: D.C. United.

Mixing different fan groups in the snug confines of Cardinal Stadium at North Central College is one of the Fire's challenges this season. Playing here has several advantages, among them luring a new fan base, earning more ancillary revenues and savoring an intimate atmosphere. The lone clear disadvantage, the playing surface itself, might outweigh the benefits, except for the fact that the Fire was nearly homeless this season.

For the Fire's two supporters' clubs, the Barn Burners and the Ultras, this 70-minute bus ride is one replacement for the traditional tailgating while Soldier Field, the Fire's original stadium located downtown, is rebuilt from the ground up. Tailgating is not permitted in Naperville.

Undoubtedly, many on the bus remember bouncing on the green seats and singing songs during elementary school. But now they are at a different stage of life, and there are no teachers, no chaperones. A large tub filled with cans of bargain beers occupies one seat at the middle of the bus. The beers are free -- or rather a consolation prize for the round-trip fare of $8 a person. A cab from downtown to Naperville would cost well over $40, and it wouldn't be nearly as social.

Conversations buzz for the next 60 minutes -- nobody at this age sings songs for the sake of singing. They want an audience. When the bus pulls off Route 290 and into the quiet, upscale neighborhoods, they get one.

As the bus passes the sign reading "Welcome to Naperville," a swiftly rising crescendo "OH!" is followed immediately by, "You suck, Naperville!"

Looking around, Naperville quite obviously does not suck. It is a beautiful town with well-landscaped parks and walkways flanking the DuPage River. But married couples with houses, two-car garages and 2.3 kids are not cool by any definition that these city-dwelling singles can muster. And "no tailgating allowed" is definitely not cool. Hence the jibing chants continue, interspersed with various team-oriented songs.

One song, "PA-stels, PA-stels," comments on the locals' attire while another targets their choice of transportation, "You're going home in a Chevy Astro van!"

Laughter follows each; the antagonism is tongue-in-cheek. Part of it comes from reports that city residents raised concerns about the team playing in their quiet, historic district.

"Naperville is a ritzy, conservative suburb," says Monte Householter, 30. "They were all worried that we'd be rioting and overturning cars after games. They were paranoid at the beginning, but we're not violent like that."

Violent, no. Obnoxious, perhaps.

"Please don't shoot me," is the chant which greets a police officer directing traffic. Upon arrival, Leo gets more gratitude -- "We love you Leee-o, oh yes we do ... "

'WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP.' The Fire is here largely by default. The team rather would have a soccer-specific stadium of its own. For eight months prior to getting official notice from the Chicago Park District that Soldier Field would be unavailable in 2002, Fire management and its investor-operator, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), pursued a site adjacent to Arlington Heights racetrack for such a facility. Negotiations fell through last August.

"The deal-breaker on the modular stadium in the parking lot at Arlington Park was the length of the agreement," Chicago general manager Peter Wilt says. "We needed 10 years guaranteed in order to justify the investment of a new structure. Due to market factors, Arlington Heights was not willing to go beyond five years guaranteed. They were willing to have an option for another five years."

AEG refused those terms. Shortly thereafter came the official termination of the Soldier Field lease, along with a pledge to help the Fire move to Comiskey Park. The team focused its efforts there, preferring to remain in the city, but also began talking to North Central College as backup. The Chicago White Sox, who run Comiskey, vetoed the Fire's bid Dec. 13, leaving Wilt and company less than four months to find a location. The legwork in Naperville paid off, as everything became rushed. In late January, the Fire agreed to terms with the college. In early February, the move was unanimously approved by the Naperville City Council.

"It's been a wonderful partnership, says Mary-Claire Uselding, who handles public relations for the college. "The people at the Fire have been as good as their word. They've done an excellent job addressing residents' concerns about parking and traffic. They put in an orderly plan for moving the fans in and out of this historic district."

The agreement at Naperville is technically set at one year, but there is the expectation that the team will stay through next season unless the college, the city or the team decides otherwise.

A lease with the new Soldier Field is set to begin in the 2004 MLS season, so it seems unlikely that the team would go through the logistical hassle of switching locations again for just one season.

"We plan on putting season tickets on sale Aug. 24 with the intention of staying at North Central College," Wilt says. "We do have a contingency if any of the three parties decides not to go forward one more year ... but at this time our preference is to stay in Naperville. There is another site that has never been revealed publicly -- nor do I care to reveal -- that we could potentially play at."

'UNFORGIVING.' If the Fire were to change its mind and pick up shop again, it would probably be because of the artificial playing surface in Naperville.

SafePlay, one of several companies developing new turf technology to better imitate natural grass, installed its product at North Central College last year for about $650,000. Polypropylene fibers cover layers of clay, stone and sand to allow for natural drainage, and finely ground rubber is spread on top to add softness and mimic the feel of dirt.

"This is a massive improvement on the carpet AstroTurf I played on in my NASL days," says D.C. United coach Ray Hudson, whose team escapes with a scoreless draw.

Still, opposing players bemoan it after each Fire home game. In addition to glaring football lines, players often stumble or trip over the ball, which tends to grab on the surface, they say.

"It is unforgiving on the joints," says United defender Ryan Nelsen. "It feels soft when you first step out there, but it's a false softness. It doesn't give when you land on it. My knee is killing me after playing on it."

"It's not even that flat," says Richie Williams. "It's weird. It's kind of wavy. That's the first time I've seen an artificial surface that wasn't flat."

Colorado's players blasted the surface for being too hot after a July afternoon contest. Wilt says a laser thermometer that day registered the temperature of the surface at 157 degrees and the air above it at 106.

"It was like walking on hot coals," Rapids defender Robin Fraser told The Denver Post.

Fire players are more reserved in their criticisms, knowing that no alternative exists right now, but Wilt admits that the size of the field (68 yards wide) is a concern.

"Most of the fields we play on are regulation size," Ante Razov told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We excel on those types of fields. Ours is a little sandbox. This one is so small, it's not realistic for soccer. But what can you do?"

IDEAL FOR SOME. No large parking areas exist next to the structure, so free shuttles bring people from remote lots. By the time the Barn Burners and Ultras get to Cardinal Stadium, about 20 minutes before kickoff, about 600 members of the youth soccer crowd are licking their fingers after a pregame meal offered by the Fire.

For $80-$120, each family of four gets four tickets and access to an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring Italian beef, chicken and hot dogs. Tonight that party has sold out, and now it's ending. Parents are herding kids of all ages from the interactive game area to their reserved spots on aluminum bleachers.

A 1996 flood forced North Central College to renovate its multisport athletic field, and in the process a permanent 5,000-seat grandstand was built, complete with press box, concession stands and a few classrooms. The Fire added temporary seating on the other three sides, taking capacity up to about 15,000.

All four sides are mostly full when the Fire and United take the field to a polite standing ovation. The noisiest fans have taken their place behind one goal, where their territory is marked by a disclaimer:

"Sections 8 and 9 are designated supporters sections," read several signs. "Fans are expected to stand, cheer, wear red and support the Fire throughout the game. If you would like to be relocated, please see an usher."

The signs prove accurate. In front of the standing corps, "Coz" pilots the drum set while "Miric" and "Marcin" take turns wildly initiating the organized cheers from a wooden platform.

"People make fun of us because we've got three cheers: 'Fire,' 'Chicago' and 'Chicago Fire,' but we're louder than anybody else in MLS," says Coz, whose full name is Chris Costello.

A couple other chants that carried over from Soldier Field, however, are unacceptable to this audience in this cozy environment. The one that caused a stink begins with a crescendo "OH!" as the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick. The ball takes flight and "You suck, a******" follows.

Responding to numerous phone calls, e-mails and letters objecting to the language, Fire management passed out flyers before the July 7 game against Colorado, prohibiting profanity, then enforced the regulation by placing extra security in Sections 8 and 9.

Costello tries to help matters by starting the beat of a popular Fire song before those behind him realize the ball has gone out for a goal kick.

"We're fighting Pavlov with Pavlov," he says.

Greg Hill, 45, took his family to some Fire games when the team was at Soldier Field, but now that it has moved so close to their house, he has been able to attend almost every home game.

"It's ideal, as far as I'm concerned," Hill says. "We can leave home 30 minutes before kickoff, all the fans are close to the action, and there's such a strong youth soccer community out here. We always see people we know. The players have been really accessible for autographs, too."

Hill lets his 9-year-old son, Evan, and Evan's friend roam the grandstand during the second half. He did not like certain language used by the Barn Burners and Ultras, but he's all for their enthusiasm.

"I wish the whole stadium was like that," Hill says, watching them sway in unison. "They should have roving Barn Burners who get the whole stadium riled up."

While Hill raves about the atmosphere, United's Nick Rimando hits a goal kick, accompanied by the infamous cheer. A girl in the row behind Hill pipes up.

"Daddy, did they just say what I thought they said?"

Will Kuhns is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.

 

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