Naperville symbolically surrendered its mantle as a professional sports town Sunday as a line of Chicago Fire fans and friends took turns dribbling a soccer ball eastward along Chicago Avenue and out of town.
As the 40-mile relay moved slowly on sidewalks toward Chicago and the Fire’s home in revamped Soldier Field, where the team will close its home schedule Friday and Oct. 18, the end of Naperville’s run as its host left sentiments ranging from wistful to satisfied.
“We’re going to miss them terribly,” Mayor George Pradel said.
“They’ve been good neighbors. We’ve enjoyed working with them and watching them win,” said North Central College President Harold Wilde, who held a 7 a.m. relay kickoff a few hundred feet from Cardinal Stadium on the college campus, where the Fire played.
“It wasn’t always easy, and it was a challenge for us,” Wilde said. “We’re not in the business of professional soccer; we’re in the business of education. The Fire is a very classy organization. They kept their word. They did everything they said they were going to do.”
On Saturday night, 11,874 people attended the Fire’s 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy, the defending Major League Soccer champs. They were the last of more than 350,000 soccer fans to pass through Cardinal Stadium gates to watch games since March 2002.
The fans often saw winners. The Fire went 13-6-8 over two MLS seasons in their home away from home, including an 8-1-4 record this season.
Cardinal Stadium, which accommodates up to 15,000 fans, was among the smallest stadiums in MLS, allowing ideal viewing conditions.
“It was a real homey, neighborhood-type atmosphere and catered to families,” said stadium volunteer Jen Wegner, 24. “It gave younger kids a close look how it is to be a professional soccer player.”
In late 2001 the Soldier Field reconstruction project forced the Fire to scramble for a temporary home. They found one in January 2002 but were left with just three months to sell tickets, expand Cardinal Stadium capacity and consider myriad other issues such as concessions, security and traffic.
“It’s been an interesting dynamic,” said Donald Ortale, the team’s community relations director and head of its charitable foundation. “When we first came up here, [few] wanted us, and those who did weren’t sure. What was so rewarding is that we were able to sit, listen, discuss, develop, partner and become involved to the point where people don’t want us to leave.”
The Fire could be back in the suburbs within three years.
The team this week could reveal a finalist for a 20,000-seat soccer-only venue to open by 2007. Chicago, Bridgeview, Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates are among the contenders.
Citing potential costs, Naperville declined to make a bid.
