Warm welcome home
Soccer fans happy to see Fire return to Soldier Field
Across the seats of the 400 level of Soldier Field was a message from the Chicago Fire to their fans who came out Saturday night for the team’s Major League Soccer season opener against the New England Revolution: “WELCOME
HOME.”
That message means even more than last season, when the Fire’s return to the stadium was spoiled by COVID-19, first postponing a near-sellout before playing a season with empty stands.
So the return of fans — 8,102 of them — Saturday night had something of a special feel despite the 2-2 draw.
“Last year was not what I expected, so this is awesome,” said Steve Siros, who attended the match with his son, Teagan. “This is awesome. And for this to be the first with fans in the stadium here at Soldier Field is pretty cool.”
Season ticket holders for a few seasons, the Siroses were decked in Fire gear — the “Fire Crown” crest on their face masks and Teagan in a Przemysław Frankowski jersey.
They were treated to a frantic first half.
The Fire (0-0-1, 1 point) got off to a dream start, taking a two-goal lead within 11 minutes.
Robert Berić picked up where he left off after last season’s 12-goal effort, turning in a low cross from Boris Sekulić in the fifth minute.
Luka Stojanović, who played only 60 minutes last season because of a knee injury, doubled the lead in the 11th minute for his first Fire goal, assisted by Berić and Frankowski.
“I was so happy to see people in the stadium,” said Stojanović, who was fired up by the crowd after scoring. “I know it was not full, but I cannot imagine when it is full how I’m going to react after a goal.”
But that dream started faded to the reality of last season, when the Fire often started matches well but fell apart, and by halftime saw their 2-0 lead erased. Adam Buksa scored in the 14th minute and Gustavo Bou equalized 13 minutes later for the Revs (0-01, 1 point).
Both teams had chances late: Berić fired wide in the 85th
minute, while Revolution forward Edward Kizza rocked the bar moments later.
The vibe was not dissimilar to prepandemic Fire games, even with reduced attendance. The “Ring of Fire,” the team’s equivalent of a Hall of Fame, was displayed above the entrances at the north and south ends of the stadium. Pyrotechnics shot from stars akin to the Chicago flag went off during the national anthem.
And the vocals and drums from supporters’ association Section 8 Chicago could be heard even with social distancing.
Other COVID-19 reminders were around too: Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, presented the match ball, and a moment of silence was observed for victims who died from the virus.
But for fans with the hope for the return of a sense of normalcy, the game was more than a year in the making.
“I’m just missing the Fire, I miss soccer,” said Zach Heil, who attended with his wife, Carissa. “She’s heard me talk about it the
entire quarantine. I had opening-day tickets last year but obviously they canceled, so I was like, ‘We’re going to be here.’ “
“That’s all he talked about,” Carissa Heil said with a laugh.
The Heils, who have been to several matches over the years but only at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, carried a two-sided sign with them into the stadium. On one side read, “I waited 1 year to be here!” while the other was written in Dutch asking Fire defender and Amsterdam native Johan Kappelhof, who started the match, for his jersey.
But not everyone at the game was a longtime fan. Ronald Hernandez is from Oklahoma, visiting Chicago for the weekend with his mother after being fully vaccinated.
Hernandez didn’t expect to attend a match. He happened to be on the Museum Campus and decided to check out the noise coming from Soldier Field, walking up and grabbing two tickets.
“I’ve loved soccer since I was little, I just never got a chance to go to an MLS game,” he said before the game.