The Deep Dish: Will the (Red) Stars Align?

PREFACE:  This week’s Deep Dish is mostly going to be devoted to the Red Stars and what they need to do to get to the next level (i.e. to the NWSL Championship). But first, we need to report something regarding the Fire’s desire to play at Soldier Field next season.

FIRE:  The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting on Monday that the Fire and the Chicago Park District are close to finalizing an agreement for the club to play its home games at Soldier Field starting in 2020. 

Park District President Avis LaVelle announced that news on Monday, but also said that she is unaware of the terms at this point. Another source at the Park District told the Sun-Times that the agreement would cover 10 years and financial terms are still under discussion, but could include annual rent of $500,000 to $1 million, depending on whether attendance benchmarks are reached.

The source said the district and the team would divide parking and concession revenue based on certain income thresholds.

The item is currently on the agenda for Wednesday’s Park District Board Meeting, but could be pulled if a deal is not finalized by Wednesday according to LaVelle.

The Fire amended their lease with Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium to allow the team to play home games inside Chicago city limits. 

Under the amended lease, the Fire will pay $60.5 million to the village over the next 17 years, including $10 million upfront. They’ll also contribute $5 million toward the renovation and expansion of soccer facilities surrounding SeatGeek Stadium.

Snagging the Fire for Soldier Field was a goal of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who ran out of time to achieve it. His administration pushed Soldier Field as a temporary solution and wanted to see a permanent soccer stadium built on the former site of Michael Reese Hospital at the lakefront north of 31st Street. The Reese site has since been offered as a potential site for Amazon headquarters and a casino site by current Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The site was also going to be a centerpiece for the city’s failed 2016 Olympic bid. 

RED STARS:  Sunday’s match was a shot in the arm for the Red Stars as they dominated the Houston Dash, 3-0, in Bridgeview. Sunday’s match is the first of another three matches in a week as they travel to Orlando on Wednesday night (6pm CT, ESPNEWS) and then to Sky Blue FC the following Sunday (4pm CT, NBC Sports Chicago Plus).

These next two games are games that the Red Stars will need to win with Utah and Reign FC hot on their tails for a playoff spot. It’s also an opportunity to get some revenge on Orlando and Sky Blue as they both got wins in Bridgeview earlier this season. Sky Blue also won back on August 14th at Yurcack Field. 

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Red Stars marked with hot streaks and a pair of three-match losing streaks. They are 5-4-1 at home as well as on the road. Much of the talk this season has been about getting to that next level. In this case, the next level is the NWSL Championship game in Cary on October 27th. The Red Stars have lost at semifinal stage each of the last four seasons. 

It really has not come together enough this year for the Red Stars despite the talent on the pitch. Part of the reason has been health and stamina as it appeared the Red Stars were getting tired after the last three-match skid.

The team also needs a true second attacking option in case Sam Kerr gets shut down by the opposing defense. Otherwise, it is the Chicago Bears without a consistent quarterback and receiving options during the time Walter Payton was on the team. Shut down Payton, shut down the Bears back then. 

The feeling about the Red Stars is that the pieces are there to make a challenge at the title. It’s just a matter of the stars (no pun intended) aligning for them.

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