Club Chicago Fire Website s8c.org | Chairman Dan Martin (WB05) | |
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Established 1999 (section)
2003 (association) | ||
Section 8 Chicago is the independent supporters' association for the Chicago Fire. The organization encompasses a number of affiliated supporters groups, as well as independent fans. The vision of the ISA is "to unite all Chicago Fire fans, to create a dominant in-stadium force unseen in American sports, and to establish home-field advantage whenever the Fire play".
Contents
- The History of Section 8
- Supporters Player of the Year
- Main Supporter Groups
- Barn Burners 1871
- Fire Ultras 98
- Ultras Red Side
- Other Groups
- 2015 ISA Board of Directors
- Previous Chairmen
- 2011 Section 8 Chicago Affiliate Supporters Groups
- Related Websites
- References
Most groups associated with Section 8 Chicago occupy an area in the stadium known as "Section 8" – named after its original location at Soldier Field. With the Fire now playing at Toyota Park, "Section 8" consists of sections 116 to 119 in the Harlem End of the stadium.
Fire fans are well known for their non-stop chanting, colorful displays, and passionate support of the club, demonstrating a spirit akin to that shown in countries with a more established soccer tradition.
As an independent association for supporters, Section 8 Chicago exists to coordinate fan initiatives, assist supporters groups, donate to local charities, and act as the fanbase's primary liaison to the Chicago Fire organization. The ISA board of directors is elected annually in the first week in February at a meeting open to all Fire fans.
The History of "Section 8"
Fire supporter culture began in 1997 with the establishment of Barn Burners 1871 and the selection of the seating area in the Fire's stadium beginning the following year. As much for the symbolism of the name as the location on the corner of the field, Section 8 was chosen as the fans' home sector and established a designated standing area there ( with then-GM Peter Wilt) to encourage the style of fandom seen both in other countries' soccer traditions or in American college athletics. From the 1999 season, the Fire Ultras 98 moved to Section 8 from their location on the opposite side of the stadium. The primarily American/English influence of the Barn Burners became fused with the European ultras style of the Polish group. The resultant cocktail was a success, and both groups agreed to permanent cohabitation in the section. This set the precedent for cooperative organization among Fire fans still held today.
Growth continued despite an adversarial relationship with stadium security personnel. During the following period of the Fire's greatest playing success in 2000 and 2001, the uniquely chaotic style attracted more independents with the supporters' end swelling past 1000 persons at important matches.
In 2002, renovations of Soldier Field forced the Fire to temporarily relocate to the suburb of Naperville, playing at Cardinal Stadium. It location on a small college campus, some newly restrictive policies on fans, and poor performance by the club all stifled growth for a period. However, the move introduced behind-the-goal seating to Section 8, with the entire north stand of the small facility designated as a supporters' area. The close proximity of the supporters' area to the rest of the crowd fostered a heightened interaction and participation stadium-wide compared to previous years at Soldier Field, where fans were more dispersed.
The club returned to the renovated Soldier Field in 2003, and the stands behind the south goal housed Section 8. The team's improved performance and an increase in fan numbers helped lead to a new movement of creating large banners along the walls surrounding the field, marking territory throughout the stadium. Choreographed pre-match visual displays (tifo)) using a variety of materials became de rigueur for important matches in the manner of large European soccer clubs. In 2005, after Fire ownership's unexpected and sudden dismissal of popular club president Peter Wilt, fans coordinated a large protest at that season's home opener; entering en masse and dressed in black eight minutes after kickoff, in a show of solidarity with the ex-president.
In 2006, the construction of Toyota Park gave the club a permanent home. The move to the corner of 71st Street and Harlem Avenue saw Section 8 take residence in sections 117 and 118 on the stadium's north side, also known as the "Harlem End" . The combined resources of fan groups and the Section 8 Chicago organization made several large fan-led projects possible in the stadium's inaugural year. Amongst them were the commissioning of a handmade wooden sign for the player tunnel leading to the field, and funding an engraved brick testimonial at the stadium's entrance commemorating former president Peter Wilt's role in making the facility happen. Most spectacularly, fans combined to create one of the largest fan-produced flags in professional sports - the 80 yard by 25 yard Megabandera. The flag covered the entire "Harlem End" of the stadium, and was displayed just prior to kickoff at the Fire's most important home games.
Due to continued growth and an improved season ticket base, Section 8 has expanded to encompass four sections (116, 117, 118, and 119) since the 2011 season.
Supporters' Player of the Year
ISA started the Supporters' Player of the Year award in 2009. At the end of the season supporters vote via the ISA's website for their player of the year. There is no criteria for which the player is judged on. The player is given a plaque and has their name engraved on a plaque that is displayed publicly. Section 8 Chicago makes a donation to a charity of the player's choice.
Main Supporter Groups
Information and background of the main affiliated supporter groups:
Barn Burners 1871
Established in spring 1997 by Don Crafts, before the founding of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. This group was the first to organize, and were the original occupants of Section 8 at Soldier Field in the first season. Once numbering in the hundreds, for a time BB1871 were the dominant fan group in coordinating supporter activities, and are supported by yearly dues-paying members. They remain known for establishing the tailgate parties as the standard prematch activity for Fire fans.
Fire Ultras 98
The most notorious of supporters’ groups, Fire Ultras 98 is a group of Polish fans, both recent immigrants and transplanted natives, dedicated to supporting the Chicago Fire Soccer Club in the traditional “ultras” style common in their home country and across Europe.
Established in 1998, FU98 members known for their harder edge in support of the Fire at home and away; identifiable by their orange jackets, scarfs and fervent vocal and visual support. Originally residing in Section 9 at Soldier Field in 1998, they merged into Section 8 for the 1999 season. This group is responsible for the original visual style of Fire fans: wearing of scarves, displaying large banners, and waving flags.
Ultras Red-Side
Inspired by the Fire Ultras 98, Ultras Red-Side was established in 2003 to encourage more fans to support in an ultras manner. Whereas FU98 were led by central European methods, URS are heavily influenced by those in Spain, France, Italy, and Scandinavia. This group formally introduced the concept of organised visual displays, or tifo, to Fire fan culture. After several years of informal organization, the group began an annual dues-paying membership structure in 2007.
Other Groups
2015 ISA Board of Directors
(position, name, group affiliation)
Previous Chairmen
2011 Section 8 Chicago Affiliate Supporters Groups
(in order of founding date; approx. size listed)
NB: The majority of "Section 8" fans are independent and unaffiliated with a supporter group.