A different sports experience: Chicago Fire soccer games

The Chicago Bears football team and the Chicago Fire Soccer club call Soldier Field home. Both host games and bring fans to this beautiful historic landmark on the lakefront.

But that might be where the comparison ends. Two different experiences, two different environments.

Many are familiar with the Bears game experience, but soccer? Our very own Chicago Fire? Maybe not so much.

I recently attended a few of the Fire games, and besides absolutely loving the game on the field, I noticed some interesting differences in the overall fan experience.

First, and clearly foremost, is soccer fans' unique and almost you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it loyalty and fanaticism. It is hard to explain in words, but the intensity and passion of these soccer fans and their allegiance to their team may go to yet another level from our other Chicago sports teams.

Witness the fans in Soldier Field's famous "Section 8" in the south end zone area. This rowdy gang of loyalists stands the entire game, enthusiastically waving on fans to cheer, dressing up in colorful uniforms, beating on drums, and waving flags to fire up their fellow Fire team rooters.

This unbridled passion and excitement travels throughout the stadium.

Another difference, which adds to the community feeling that Fire fans have, is the closeness or proximity to the field for the fans watching. They only open up the two bottom levels, no upper deck, so it becomes a more intense and personal experience than some of the larger and more spacious stadium experiences.

Additionally, it's fun to observe. Fans proudly wear all versions of Chicago Fire wear (think hats, shirts, scarves, flags) and are all decked out in various shades of red and white, many with their favorite players' names posted on the backs of their jerseys or t-shirts.

Speaking of fans, the diversity of culture, color, and nationalities—not to mention ages— stands out for sure. Futbol' of course, being so popular worldwide, it naturally brings fans from so many different backgrounds to the games. It's much different from many of our most popular Chicago sporting events (think Cubs, Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears).

Do you want a more practical and direct difference between a Fire game and some of our other local professional teams? Ticket prices! While a typical Bears, Blackhawk, or Bulls game can cost well into the hundreds— for the Fire? Tickets are as little as $20 and $35 —for good seats no less— thus, bringing the family to the game does not crunch the entire home budget for a couple of months.

Want one more BIG difference in the fan viewing experience for Chicago Fire games? That would be... No TV time-outs! No stoppage of actions for commercial breaks! Constant and continuous activity for 45 minutes straight! It is so wonderfully refreshing after the near enjoyment-debilitating commercial time-outs one experiences at a basketball or football game.

Combine all of the above with some tremendous pre-game festivities, excellent music, quality food offerings, free giveaways, and the always popular "Sparky" mascot, and you have the makings of a great sports outing.

Put another way? If you get folks to come to their first Chicago Fire soccer game, there is a more than solid chance they will enjoy it so much they will be sure to return!

There are still a few home games left this season and, hopefully, the playoffs.

Scheduling and ticket information is available on their award-winning website: chicagofirefc.com