Section 8 Chicago
Encyclopedia
| Section 8 Chicago | |
| Club | Chicago Fire |
| Established | 1999 (section) 2003 (association) |
| Chairman | Thomas Dunmore (WB05) |
| Website | section8chicago.com |
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".
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
Toyota Park (Bridgeview)
Toyota Park is a soccer-specific stadium located at 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, Illinois. It is the home stadium of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, members of Major League Soccer . Toyota Park was developed at a cost of around $100 million. The facility opened June 11, 2006...
, "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 on 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 WiltPeter Wilt
Peter Wilt , is a soccer executive who was the first President and General Manager of the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, led an effort to bring an expansion MLS franchise to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and maintains strong connection to the sport of soccer in the Midwest, Chicago in particular...
) 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
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
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
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
forced the Fire to temporarily relocate to the suburb of Naperville
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, 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
Tifo
Tifo, originally the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a sport team, is mostly used as a name for any spectacular choreography displayed by supporters on the terraces of an arena or stadium in connection with a sport event, mostly a football match....
)) 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
Toyota Park (Bridgeview)
Toyota Park is a soccer-specific stadium located at 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, Illinois. It is the home stadium of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, members of Major League Soccer . Toyota Park was developed at a cost of around $100 million. The facility opened June 11, 2006...
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 a engraved brick testimonial at the stadium's entrance commemorating former president Peter Wilt
Peter Wilt
Peter Wilt , is a soccer executive who was the first President and General Manager of the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, led an effort to bring an expansion MLS franchise to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and maintains strong connection to the sport of soccer in the Midwest, Chicago in particular...
'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 will encompass four sections (116, 117, 118, and 119) beginning in 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.List of Recipients
| Year | Player | Charity | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | CJ Brown | America Scores Chicago | $2,500 |
| 2010 | CJ Brown | Chicago Fire Foundation | $2,000 |
| 2011 | Dominic Oduro Dominic Oduro Dominic Oduro is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College:Oduro started his playing career in Ghana, playing for both Prempeh College and the University of Ghana before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004... |
Nothing But Nets Nothing But Nets Nothing But Nets is a charitable organization, supported by the United Nations Foundation, which aims to prevent African children from dying of malaria by purchasing, distributing and teaching the proper use of mosquito bed nets.-Background:... |
$1,000 |
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 FieldSoldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
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
Tailgate party
In the United States, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and...
as the standard prematch activity for Fire fans.
Fire Ultras 98
The most notorious of supporters’ groups, Fire Ultras 98 is a group of PolishPoles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
fans, both recent immigrants and transplanted natives, dedicated to supporting the Chicago Fire Soccer Club in the traditional “ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
” style common in their home country and across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
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
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
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 ultrasUltras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
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
Tifo
Tifo, originally the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a sport team, is mostly used as a name for any spectacular choreography displayed by supporters on the terraces of an arena or stadium in connection with a sport event, mostly a football match....
, to Fire fan culture. After several years of informal organization, the group began an annual dues-paying membership structure in 2007.
Other Groups
- Arsonists were established in 1998, sitting in Section 16 near the center line of old Soldier FieldSoldier FieldSoldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. - Mike Ditka Street Crew became a Fire fan group in 2002, claiming a punk/skin/mod influence not unlike the fans of St. Pauli in Germany.
- Whiskey Brothers Aught Five became a group in 2005, originally a younger group primarily based around drinking culture.
- Sector Latino are a barraBarra BravaBarra brava is a name for organized supporter groups of football teams in Latin America. This style of supporting is very similar to European ultras. It includes standing throughout the match, singing and other enthusiastic behavior. Some barras bravas have developed reputations for hooliganism...
style group of Latin American fans, who have now established an independent area across the stadium from "Section 8". - Acme Irregulars are a group of Central Illinois Transplants, who are now affiliated with Ultras Red-Side.
- Husaria became a group in 2008, and are composed of both original members of Fire Ultras 98, and younger Polish Fire supporters.
2011 ISA Board of Directors
(position, name, group affiliation)- Chairman: Thomas Dunmore (Whiskey Brothers Aught Five)
- Vice-Chairman: Joel Piktel (The Werewolf Casuals)
- Dir., Communications: Dan Martin (Independent)
- Dir., Finances: Mario Ortega (The Last Ward)
- Dir., Operations: Michael Giacometti (Independent)
- Dir., Events: Josue Gomez (Ultras Red-Side)
- Dir., Merchandise: Peter "Chow" Bychowski (Husaria)
Previous Chairmen
- Benjamin Burton (Independent) (2007–2009)
- Marcin Tłustochowicz (Fire Ultras 98) (2005–2006)
2011 Section 8 Chicago Affiliate Supporters Groups
(in order of founding date; approx. size listed)- Barn Burners 1871 (1997; 300+)
- Fire Ultras 98 (1998; 20+)
- Arsonists (1998; 10+)
- Mike Ditka Street Crew (2001; 20+)
- Whiskey Brothers Aught Five (2003; 15+)
- Ultras Red-Side (2005; 40+)
- Sector Latino (2005; 50+)
- Vivamos en Chica (2006; 13)
- Partisans (2006; ?)
- Blitzer Mob (2006; ?)
- Brew City Firm Milwaukee (2006; 20+)
- East Bank Firm Southern Illinois (2006; 5+)
- Ohio Fire Fans Central Ohio (2006; 5+)
- Acme Irregulars (2007; 5+)
- The Last Ward (2007; 20+)
- Fire Necks (2007; 10+)
- Red Scare (2007; 15+)
- The Shandy Sisters (2007; ?)
- The Western Front (2007; ?)
- South Side Scoundrels (2007, 15+)
- Husaria (2008, 20+)
- Fire for Effect (2008; 25+)
- Far West Front (2009; 20+)
- The Machine (2011; 12)
NB: The majority of "Section 8" fans are independent and unaffiliated with a supporter group.
Related Websites
- Section 8 Chicago Independent Supporters' Association Web Site
- Barn Burners 1871 Supporters' Group website
- Fire Ultras 98 Supporters' Group website
- Ultras Red-Side Supporters' Group website
- Blitzer Mob Supporters' Group website
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pV8sHFQb4I YouTube video of Section 8 photos
- http://section8chicago.com/news/press_detail.asp?prID=87 2006 Chicago Tribune article on Section 8
- http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/125862