It’s the best of times for the Red Stars and the worst of times for the Fire.
A TALE OF TWO RED TEAMS: Sunday was a red letter day for the Red Stars. They got the big crowd they were hoping for and got the result that gets them well within the playoff race. The USA winning the Women’s World Cup in 2019 has become a bigger deal than when they won it in 2015.
The stars were aligned for the Red Stars on Sunday with the defending champions in the first home game back for its US National Teamers a chance for others to shine like Vanessa DiBernardo who has been with the Red Stars since 2014. It gave the Chicagoland area a chance to learn who Sam Kerr is all about as she heads towards another Golden Boot in the NWSL. It gave a chance for fans to see Alyssa Naeher make saves up close.
It’s also a tribute to owner Arnim Whistler who has owned the team from the very beginning back in the WPS days and through the WPSL era of the club and to today. It’s a tribute to Rory Dames has been with the Red Stars since 2011 and is the only coach in the NWSL still with his original team.
If there was a team that deserves to have a bigger following than it has, it’s the Red Stars. You wish they could get 17,000 per game, but the hope is many of them will come for more starting with the August 3rd match against Utah. It should at least prove that you can have a winner in Bridgeview and the fans will come. Sunday was their day and hopefully there will be more like those to come.
In contrast, the perception is that the while the Red Stars are making the effort to get fans to their games, the Fire’s management are driving more fans away and have been through their actions. While they seek to be in the city limits in their quest to be relevant where they may be third priority at the ground they seek, the Red Stars still call Bridgeview their home and may be looking at more Saturday night games in 2020.
While one goes online only with ESPN+ and not much of a local presence, the Red Stars decided to put their games on NBC Sports Chicago. Sure, it’s a simulcast of the stream you see off Yahoo! Sports, but the point is that you’re on a local platform. While no one is confusing the Red Stars name with a TV show, you only need to look at the flag of the City of Chicago to find its inspiration.
Meanwhile, the club president and general manager’s miseducation about the name and the actions by both him and the majority owner have led the Fire to be less relevant than perhaps the Dick Wolf show of the same name. Fans fear the rebrand will resemble something unoriginal or generic.
Whereas the Fire are seeing difficulty in Bridgeview and trying to find an identity, the Red Stars are seeing opportunity with both Bridgeview and their identity.
FIRE CLAIM BORNSTEIN OFF WAIVERS: The Chicago Fire claimed defender Jonathan Bornstein off waivers. We say off waivers as the Fire sent $50,000 in targeted allocation money to Columbus in 2020 to jump the line for the MLS Waiver Order since Bornstein is a former Chivas USA player.
Bornstein, 34, played last season with Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Netanya where he made 36 appearances and played 3,163 minutes across all competitions. Prior to that, and after his time with Chivas USA which ended after the 2009 season, he played in Liga MX for eight seasons with Tigres de la UANL (2010-14), Atlante (2013-14) and Querétaro (2014-18).
Pending his ITC, he will be eligible to play for the Fire possible as early as Tuesday’s Leagues Cup match with Cruz Azul.
Chicago Fire
Chicago Red Stars
