Joe Mansueto loves soccer. It wasn’t a passion that arrived early in life but came from seeing his kids play the game. He’s coached youth soccer and thinks it’s an exciting sport that fits snugly into your day.
But those aren’t the only reasons Mansueto bought into the Fire in 2018, and then officially bought out Andrew Hauptman last Friday.
“And I think it will be a good investment, to be candid, over time,” Mansueto told the Sun-Times. “I think MLS has a great future. It’s growing (every) year. I just think when you see the product, a lot more people should know about it. I just think that growth can continue for a long time. And then in Chicago in particular, I think it’s an incredible opportunity.”
If Mansueto succeeds, the Chicago market will be more than just an opportunity.
Under Hauptman, the Fire and the Chicago market underachieved. The club has endured well-documented failings that many blamed on Hauptman. Fans were alienated, the gameday experience suffered, and success slipped away from the Fire.
Mansueto said he will invest in the Fire and his vision involves three distinct goals: he wants to win trophies, build a “world-class” organization around the team, and develop more community engagement while attracting fans to Soldier Field.
“I think one of the great things about sports is how it brings people together,” Mansueto said. “You look at what happens in the World Cup. The world comes together in a way politicians can’t seem to achieve. I think the Fire have that opportunity in Chicago to bring the city together.”
Mansueto’s words will further energize a Fire fan base that’s been searching for reasons to get excited. He saw how his purchase was greeted by fans and appreciates the support. He’s not promising a specific number of championships or attendance numbers, but that he and the Fire will work hard at “improving every aspect of the organization.”
“I’m confident if we do that, it’s going to lead to good results,” Mansueto said. “That’s all I can do - is push as hard as I can. I think if we do that, good things are going to happen. I can’t promise any result. I don’t think anybody can. If they said that, they’re not telling the truth.”
That doesn’t mean Mansueto doesn’t have hopes for what the franchise will have achieved in five years. He’s looking for the MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, the US Open Cup, and not just because of lucky breaks.
“It’s not just a one-off event, but multiple, and that we’ve created this world-class organization that’s going to produce more of those things,” Mansueto said. “It’s not just, you have a star or something and something happens (where) it’s a fluke. But there is an organization, and it’s like the Bulls’ run or something, where you’ve got a group of people who can carry that through for multiple years. And then we’re bringing up young, exciting players, both from our academy and finding others around the world.”
