[38] On January 5, 2016, technical director Brian Bliss also departed the Fire to join Sporting Kansas City as Director of Player Personnel, completing the total overhaul of the technical staff. For the first time in the club's history Fire finished the season with zero road wins (0–12–5). [12] On October 31, 2012, in their first playoff appearance since 2009, the Fire lost their first-round MLS Cup playoff match-up at home against the Houston Dynamo, 2–1. The team returned to Chicago and the renovated Soldier Field midway through the 2003 season. Do they want to support the Fire? The Fire and Revolution are MLS' most frequent playoff matchup, meeting in the MLS Cup Playoffs 8 different times in 10 seasons from 2000 to 2009, splitting those encounters 4–4, with the Fire winning in 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2009. In its first season, it played host to an unspectacular league campaign; but victory in the 2006 U.S. Open Cup marked a continuation of the club's successes and promise for the future. Things are changing, big time, for the Chicago Fire. [79][80] For its first years in the league the Fire played at Soldier Field, the 61,500-capacity home of the Chicago Bears of the NFL and one of the main venues of the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The franchise is named after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and was founded as the Chicago Fire Soccer Club on October 8, 1997, the event's 126th anniversary. Pace operates the #387 SeatGeek Stadium Express nonstop from the Midway Orange Line Station for Chicago Fire matches and special events. Originally named Toyota Park when it opened on June 11, 2006, the facility has a capacity of 20,000 and was developed at a cost of around $100 million. This show was plagued by many technical issues before the power finally went out after Fins. This page was last edited on 17 September 2020, at 05:37. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The club also signed products Michael Stephens and Eric Gehrig as well as Trinindad & Tobago international Joevin Jones. After a 12–6–6 finish to the season, the Fire narrowly missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four years—losing out to the Montreal Impact on goal difference. In June 2008 the stadium hosted three matches of the Churchill Cup, including United States VS Canada, England Saxons VS Scotland A, and Ireland Wolfhounds VS Argentina Jaguares. Leading up to 2010, Chicago hired Carlos de los Cobos as head coach, previously manager of El Salvador. Unfortunately, April was the last time the club would be anywhere near equal on wins and losses, but the side did still advance to another Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal. He was named manager of the New York Red Bulls eight days later. After a perfect three matches to open the year, they won only one of their next eight, and Sarachan was dismissed. Filling that void was a handful of youth prospects including Harrison Shipp (homegrown player), Benji Joya (via MLS "weighted lottery"), and Grant Ward on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. [82], There is a noteworthy fan culture for the Fire, existing from the date the club was founded, and building on an enthusiasm throughout Chicago sports.