SECTION 8 CHICAGO :: Independent Supporters' Association for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club - To the Fire: It's Time to Make Good on Your Promises

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To the Fire: It's Time to Make Good on Your Promises

Written by Administrator

Monday, 17 November 2008

$25k: The Fire could spend at least that amount of money on employing cheerleaders at Toyota Park next season, or they could finally pay Section 8 Chicago the $25,000 they owe us and are refusing to make good on. The loss of that money this season seriously impacted all of our activities, but out of respect for the team, we decided not to go public with this until the season was over. As we enter the offseason, we still have no guarantee from the team that we will ever receive payment from them. We are now taking action and receiving legal advice to find out how we can get the money owed to us by the very team we are dedicated to supporting.

The bulk of the $25,000 owed to us by the club, about $15,000, comes from unpaid commissions on ticket sales in Section 118. This money was earned through Section 8 Chicago's efforts to promote the section to supporters in a deal with years of precedence, which was reinforced in a written document agreed upon by the Fire and Section 8 Chicago during the offseason.

The remainder of that $25,000 comes from the loss of Section 8's megabandera by the Fire at Toyota Park earlier this year, the $10,000 cost of which the club promised to reimburse. Section 8 leadership kept quiet about the loss for months after being privately told the Fire would provide funds for a new megabandera to be made. Yet this is a promise that has been broken by the club, even though the Fire continue to use the image of the megabandera -- paid for entirely by supporters -- on their website.

While replacing the megabandera is important, the missing money from the ticket commission left a gaping hole in Section 8 Chicago's budget, which meant we had to scramble for emergency scarf sales and preorders of new merchandise late in the season just to guarantee buses to away games.

It's due to extensive efforts to promote a vibrant supporters section and fuel ticket sales that Section 8 Chicago receives this commission. The agreement with the Fire stipulates that the Section receives 75 cents for every individual game ticket sold and $1.50 for every season ticket sold in Section 118 in bimonthly payments. The first payment for this season was due in June; months of protracted discussion later, and we're still waiting for the Fire to cut that first check or even confirm they actually ever will. As a non-profit organization with a tight budget, this money is not easy to replace.

The ticket commission deal began back in 2004, with an agreement that then Fire President Peter Wilt said was “a way to incentivize S8C to promote ticket sales in S8.” Wilt added that the Fire agreed to the commission to help ensure Section 8 Chicago thrived to support the team. “We also saw it as a way to help S8C become more sound financially, which would allow it to increase its support through improved game atmosphere and road trip support,” said Wilt.

Indeed, due to the agreement, Section 8 Chicago has worked tirelessly to promote sales with a particularly strong season ticket drive in the previous offseason encouraging supporters to buy to support both the Fire and Section 8 Chicago. Gail Ferraris, a long time season ticketholder, said, “I buy season tickets every year so that I can specifically support Section 8. If there were no Section 8, I would not buy season tickets.”

The deal continued under President John Guppy, and was reinforced in writing this offseason, confirming that the new club ownership under Andell Holdings also recognized the importance of the commission and agreed to continue it. The document states that “A ticket stipend of $1.50 per Season Ticket and $0.75 per non-Season Ticket will be donated back to Section 8 Chicago NFP for tickets sold in Section 118. Tickets sold in Section 117 will not be included in the 2008 ticket stipend program.”

Yet confusingly, the Fire are claiming that their refusal to pay the ticket commission this year is justified due to several benches having been broken in Section 117 – a separate issue, and relating to a section that was not even included in the ticket commission. And despite Section 8 leadership's urging, Section 117 has not had its benches reinforced like those in Section 118, which has not seen similar problems with broken benches.

Section 8 Chicago has made repeated and extensive efforts to work out a resolution with the Fire front office throughout the season about the ticket commission and bench issue. After months of frustration, Section 8 Chicago's board of directors' chairman Ben Burton recently personally contacted Fire owner Andrew Hauptman to address the issue. Hauptman delegated the issue to Fire President Dave Greeley, who told Burton on November 10th that the Fire could not currently resolve the situation.

Burton explained that the missing ticket commission payments have severely impacted the Section's ability to budget throughout this season, and directly impacted away travel to crucial recent games. “We weren't able to lock down buses ahead of time for the Conference Final, so we won't be able to take as many people as we could.”

Burton said that the Section already had to cancel one of the two planned buses to KC for the second road trip, which kept a large number of people from going to support to the team, because the Section's cash flow was severely restricted by the Fire's continual delay in resolving the ticket commission issue. In the long-term, Burton added, “The way this has impacted on the cash flow situation has and will increase the cost of everything the section does for supporters, and is even reducing the amount we will be able to give to charity this year."

$25k: Pocket change in the Chicago Fire's budget that they could spend on cheerleaders, or on fulfilling their obligation to Section 8 Chicago to allow us to do what we do best....support the Chicago Fire.

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23 Comments



El Guapo November 17, 2008	Well if anything the front office is consistent at screwing over their supporters. Congrats on slowly making the Fire become the crew.


peter wilt November 17, 2008	http://chicagoprowomenssoccer....along.html


Acme November 17, 2008	The Fire FO, a lesson in NOT how to get along with a supporters group. I just don't understand how getting in a pissing match with us helps them in ANY WAY.


El Tiger November 17, 2008	The FO again is showing itself to be less than forward thinkers in how they choose to act towards section 8. All I can say to the leadership of section 8 is to keep doing what you are doing and there will be resolution...


d.p.m. November 17, 2008	This is amazing and I am kind of speechless. The whole deal makes a mockery of the "HONOR" portion of the Fire creed.


fire fan in ohio November 17, 2008	no no no we don't need them! Columbus does but we don't!


brianhorne8 November 17, 2008	"The agreement with the Fire stipulates that the Section receives 75 cents for every individual game ticket sold and $1.50 for every season ticket sold in Section 118 in bimonthly payments. The first payment for this season was due in June; months of protracted discussion later, and we're still waiting for the Fire to cut that first check or even confirm they actually ever will. As a non-profit organization with a tight budget, this money is not easy to replace." Was this a legal contract? If so, then the section has every right to pursue compensation by the Fire. Not that it should come to that...but you've got to do what you've got to do.


cikinit November 17, 2008	It's clear to me the Fire simply don't want to part with the money they owe us. The new ownership has proven over the course of this season it does not care about the fans of this team. It would not surprise me one bit if they were simply annoyed that there is an agreement in place requiring them to pay money in order to help the fans support the team. They would rather keep the money to use on something they can control such as the rumored cheerleaders or perhaps something else. In case the Fire haven't noticed their most ardent supporters have followed them from Soldier Field, out to the suburbs in Naperville, and now down to the out of the way dumptown that is Bridgeview. These fans did this not only because of love for the Fire but because they were treated properly and with respect. When the Fire Organization starts putting themselves and the dollar above the Fans they would be foolish to think the fans will continue what up to this point has been unending support for the team.


David Berger November 18, 2008	I hope you guys get what you were promised. I am sick of MLS franchises treating their best supporters like crap.


bickle November 18, 2008	Are you going directly to local media with this story? This is more than just a 'management doesn't appreciated us' issue. This borders on breach of contract. Be proactive, deliberate and loud and you will make them wish they had never taken you lightly. Todos Somos Section 8! Timber Bickle


WolfmanHasNards! November 18, 2008	Andell Holdings does not care about Section 8 or the army of people within that come out to each game and pony up lots of cash to travel to see the team. Personally, I've made it out to as far West as Dallas and as East as Jersey to watch this club...all at my own expense. Fuck Andell Holdings. The new owners is a fraud. I shall no renew my season tickets but I doubt the team cares.


Dunl November 18, 2008	Are there any other organizations the Fire FO is also supposed to be paying commissions? Is the Fire FO also holding out on them? Just curious...


rad November 19, 2008	Dunl, I'm not sure...is there any other part of the stadium that sold over 300 season tickets least year and sells various other numbers of tickets? As well as volunteer every week before and after the game? Oh right...usually they have employees to do all that. Employees that make hopefully more than 15k a year. But then who knows with MLS, when the dev players make less than someone working at McDonald's. M'irite?


J Dunlevy November 19, 2008	rad: as unique and big as Section 8 is, I could certainly see them being the only group owed commissions, but I was wondering about groups like e.g. Windy City Wanderers, which sells tickets to stand with Section 8 or sit elsewhere in the stadium -- and AYSO groups (though I imagine the incentive for AYSO groups to get people to games is discounts, not commissions)


HardHatMike November 19, 2008	Sorry that it came to this with you guys and the Fire FO. But yall gotta do what you gotta do. And this seems to be one major f-ckup from the Fire FO. Good luck to you and hopefully you get what you're owed. HHM Nordecke Columbus


Jesse November 20, 2008	This is really fucked up and makes me hesitant to give my money to this piece of crap "company" that is the Chicago Fire. The team I love, the company I hate.


mo November 21, 2008	I think the Chicago Fire should realize that they don't need to spend 25k on cheerleaders. They already have them and are gaining profit off of tix sales from them- S8C, though some of us certainly should never wear skimpy clothes to the games to be further labeled as a "cheerleader."


El Tiger November 21, 2008	They aren't talking about actual cheerleaders are they?


Metro_fan November 22, 2008	I do not really like the chicago fire as you could imagine, me being a red ulls fan and all. But you guys are a great supporters group and deserve better. Sue their asses shut. That way they lose money and their only pleasure.


Kizzu November 23, 2008	soccer-football-futball DOES NOT need cheerleaders. It is for the fans in the stands to get up and make some noise. Chicago Fire, if you get cheerleaders, you've gone too far, you've disrespected the true fans.


Cashcleaner November 23, 2008	You guys need to make as much noise as possible about this. Go to the media if you think you have to, as well. A club that doesn't respect it's fans enough to pay back money owed or live up to an agreement must be brought to task for it. Hope you guys can work this out - especially the megabandera.


Jay November 24, 2008	Since the FIRST day the new owner took control of the club, I DIDN'T feel good about him. And this stuff proved to me I was right. I'm so serious, I didn't feel good about this scum bag (the owner) since day ONE, not day two or three or four. Let's go to the media and embarrass this scum bag.


Chris November 26, 2008	This is really BS. This team needs to do everything they can to make people want to come to games, and yet it seems at every turn they are doing all they can to piss me off to make me not want to come back.