2000 :: Checkerboard flag
The checkerboard tifo is still in use today (as are a very few of those original two poles) and has traveled on the road to New York, C*lumbus, DC, and Los Angeles in its honorable history.
Additionally, those red/navy flags were the first large scale fan flags in the league, as BB1871 and FU98 were the first to negotiate their use in an MLS stadium – something that is automatic today.
(Note: photo is from 2005, with jersey flag.)
2003 :: Color bands
The exuberance at returning to the city and newly renovated Soldier Field came out in the success of this action in the match vs C*lumbus.
The use of colored plastic rolls to cover the two seating areas of Section 8 resulted in one of the most enduring images for the Fire as the club steamrolled C*lumbus 2-0. Framed photos of the choreo could be seen in the club offices for many years after.
2005 :: Skyline choreo
When the Fire played host to Italian club AC Milan, whose fans are among the best-known in the world for their advanced use of choreo, Chicago fans increased their best efforts to meet that high standard.
The result – an enormous painted Chicago skyline – backing stripes of green (for the lakefront parks) and blue (for Lake Michigan) is, to this day, a great example of what can be done when our supporter groups coordinate and cooperate for a common goal.
2005 :: Chicago Flag choreo
Although also done during the second half of the AC Milan match, a flag choreo was executed before the doubleheader with Real Madrid that same summer.
Alternating horizontal bands of white and light blue exploded from the seam in the middle of Section 8 as four red star bursts of streamers shot out from the center band.
2006 :: Megabandera/ Toyota Park Grand Opening choreo
The grand opening of the new stadium at 71/Harlem in 2006 gave a considerable lead time to plan the action for that first full-scale match there. A goal was set to achieve something never before attempted in this country, and in doing so set the bar for support in the new stadium at a high level right from the start. With the help of Fire fans in Poland, a roughly 80yd x 25yd banner was constructed, covering the entire Harlem End of the stadium with the words “CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB” and the club badge displayed across its breadth. As it was unfurled, red and white cards were raised by fans throughout the stadium not covered by the flag when the players stepped out of the tunnel for that first time while red streamers rained down from every section. Needless to say, we beat NY 2-0 that day and established the standard for what it means to play for Chicago in our new home.
2007 :: Home Opener choreo
While still visually strong, the stormy weather and traffic conspired to make the display less effective than originally envisioned.
Bands of color to each side of S8C were intended to frame a large red field with a white Fire “C” in the center, created by dozens of two-pole banners held by supporters in the section.
2009 :: Home Opener Choreo
Flags have long been a key part of Fire support, and for the home opener we purchased a couple of hundred Fire flags and attached them to four foot PVC poles for a simple pre-game display.
2009 :: New England Playoff Choreo
At short notice, two days labor was put into creating a massive red and white banner covering sections 116-119 made out of table rolls taped together to echo the Fire’s traditional home jersey design. The initial design included “FIRE” written across the white stripe, but the timing issue leaves this for realization in a future project.
2009 :: Playoff Eastern Conference Championship choreo
For the Eastern Conference Final, this display involved the creation of an enormous overhead banner covering four sections.
Making up the Chicago flag and constructed of dozens of table rolls painstakingly taped together. 1,000 streamers and 40 lbs of confetti were also released simultaneously from the terrace.
2010 :: Home Opener Tifo
Two reusable banners covering the entirety of 117/118 were produced for the home opener, featuring the Harold Washington quote:
“Business as usual will not be accepted by the people of Chicago”
2010 :: Umbrella Display, vs. LA Galaxy, 9/4/2010
Following a tifo design contest, a stadium-wide display featuring raised umbrellas in Section 101 (Sector Latino), the Skyway, the Harlem End, and around the club seats.
Special permission was granted by stadium authorities for the use of the umbrellas – the first time they have been included in an MLS tifo display.
2010 :: Old School Display, vs. Seattle Sounders, 9/25/2010
For a game against Xbox-sponsored rave green Seattle Sounders, Section 8 Chicago created an animated tifo display featuring characters from the Mario Nintendo game.
2012 :: Reignite the Fire, vs. Philadelphia Union, 3/24/2012
For the 2012 home opener, Fire fans made extensive use of space provided by new partners Chitown Futbol to create a 40-foot diameter cf97 laurel logo, which was paired with large banners and red & white squares that urged a return to success after two seasons of unfulfilled dreams.
“For two years our flames have smoldered.
Tonight we reignite the Fire.”
2012 :: Megabandera 2.0, vs. New York, 6/17/2012
The unfurling of the second Megabandera occurred six years after the first against the same opponent – NY Red Bulls.
With all of the talk and hype around the league of New York as a premier destination for the big stars, the second coming of the Megabandera proved Chicago is the destination for fans with big plans.
2013 :: Rise, vs. New England, 3/9/2013
Coming off a 2012 season with the best home record in Toyota Park history and one of the best regular season records in club history, this tifo was displayed in anticipation of the thrilling new season to come.
Like the phoenix rising with the sun, the Fire were expected to rise to the top of the league. This is the largest hand made tifo to date as Fire fans spent a large number of dollars and hours on this magnificent work to represent the belief that all Fire fans hold together: Chicago will RISE above them all.
