A roar of drums and chants echoed throughout Soldier Field with 62,358 spectators piled into the stadium during a recent weekend game, breaking an attendance record for the cities’ Major League Soccer team.

Supporters eagerly stoked the Chicago Fire on as they played a star-studded Inter Miami CF.

This increased turnout isn’t unique to Chicago. Major League Soccer (MLS) has generally seen an influx of spectators over the past couple of years with a record-breaking 10,900,804 attendees showing up in 2024.

“I’ve never seen so many people here before,” Elliott Flores, a fan in attendance, said. “I’ve been to Bears games and Fire too, and this was the most packed it’s been.”

With World Cup champion Lionel Messi playing the full 90 minutes — and the Fire managing to keep a clean sheet against their fourth placed opponents — fans got the iconic matchup they wanted at the April 13 game.

“The atmosphere was electric. … It was an incredible game to witness in person,” longtime Fire fan Zbigniew Mludzik said.

He admitted that while he was rooting for his Chicago team, his eyes couldn’t help but wander towards the Argentinian. “It’s hard not to be a little starstruck. He’s a legendary athlete. The best of the best.”

Messi did not make an appearance the last two times Miami came to the city, yet attendance figures still skyrocketed as the slightest possibility of him being present sent fans into a frenzy.

The Fire returned to Soldier Field in 2020 after calling SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview home for 14 years. The move aimed to make the team more visible, and that — coupled with increased attention from big-name players — seems to be working. 

Recent reports indicate that the Fire are looking to sign their own star with talks to acquire Kevin De Bruyne, Belgian player and current Manchester City midfielder in the works.

Dan Moriarty, the Fire’s chief marketing officer, said that in addition to bringing in well-known players, “the demographics of the city and of the soccer fandom” being “perfectly aligned” are a big reason why the team has gained momentum.

With these changes, it is clear the city is trying to make room for the sport in between an already vibrant and crowded athletic scene. This summer, Soldier Field is to host high-profile teams, including Manchester United and Everton, as part of the Premier League Summer Series.

Juan Mendez, senior instructor in DePaul’s School of Hospitality and Sports Business, feels that hosting these types of games can have a lot of benefits for the city, including revenue generation and job creation.

“Any time we can have something that draws in individuals into our economic engine, that’s really important for us,” Mendez said, referring to downtown Chicago.

This notion sparked controversy recently, as former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel opted to remove the city from contention of being a venue for the 2026 World Cup. The competition is set to take place in various cities around the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Daniel Azzaro, a faculty member in sports communication at DePaul, thinks the former mayor should have put up the money to support the tournament.

“With Chicago’s Polish and Mexican immigrants, you’ve got ground zero for American soccer at Soldier Field,” Azzaro said.

While having these massive events, clubs and names is vital, Moriarty said “blending stars from overseas with homegrown players” is still a focus for MLS teams, especially for a passionate sports town like Chicago. 

Moriarty said that Joe Mansueto, the Chicago Fire’s owner, “wants the Fire to always have a strong homegrown core.”

Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady is evidence of this. Born in suburban Naperville, Illinois, Brady played a key role in the Fire’s draw against Miami and made three crucial saves.

“He’s an outstanding goalie, and he keeps getting better. He makes the saves we need him to make,” Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter said during the postmatch press conference.

The way the seasons are shaping up — and with Messi mania in full force — it is likely that the still emerging MLS will continue to grow both in national and international standing.

Moriarty sees it as a collective effort between the Fire and other clubs.

“It’s the responsibility of all 30 MLS teams to make sure that they’re doing right by their local markets, fans and communities to find ways to get soccer to be in the conversation as one of the biggest sports in the U.S.,” Moriarty said.

Speaking to what the team can do to grow its fanbase, Berhalter added, “We just need to win more.” 

“If we create a culture of winning, Chicago will get behind the team.”

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