Major League Soccer has grown tremendously over the past decade, with many new franchises joining the league. Two franchises are Chicago Fire and Inter Miami CF, which have arrived at different stages of MLS’ development and now compete annually in the Eastern Conference. Let’s analyze these two franchises and compare them across various parameters to understand their journey so far in MLS.
History and Foundation
Chicago Fire was one of the ten founding clubs of MLS back in 1996, making it one of the longest-tenured franchises in the league. They played their first season in 1998 at Soldier Field. Over the years, Chicago Fire established themselves as a prominent club, winning the 1998 and 2000 MLS Cups and the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They played their home games at Toyota Park from 2006 onwards. chicago vs inter miami
Inter Miami CF, on the other hand, is a much newer franchise, having joined MLS only in 2020. David Beckham, who has extensive football experience in Europe, founded Inter Miami CF in 2018. Their goal was to bring an MLS franchise to South Florida, fulfilling Beckham’s desire to own a club in MLS as part of his contract when he played for LA Galaxy many years ago. Inter Miami began playing in 2020 at the new Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, becoming the first MLS expansion team in the 2020s.
Ownership and Financial Resources
Chicago Fire is owned by Joe Mansueto, an American businessman and founder of Morningstar Inc. Mansueto purchased Chicago Fire in 2020 and invested heavily in upgrading the franchise’s infrastructure and academy setup. However, the team’s revenues remain modest compared to bigger MLS clubs.
Inter Miami has a deep-pocketed ownership group led by David Beckham themselves. Other investors include Jorge, Jose Mas, and former English football star Phil Neville. This wealthy ownership provides Inter Miami with ample financial resources to spend aggressively in the transfer market and player salaries. Their budget easily dwarfs that of the Chicago Fire currently.
On-field Performance
Despite being an early MLS franchise, Chicago Fire has not enjoyed consistent success on the field over the past decade. They last won a trophy in 2006 and have missed the MLS Cup playoffs in 9 out of the last 12 seasons. Some bright sparks have come from young talents like C.J. Sapong and Djordje Mihailovic, who are developing through their academy.
In their inaugural 2020 season, Inter Miami finished 10th place in the Eastern Conference table with a 7-13-3 record. They reached the playoffs but lost in the first round. Signings like Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain showed the club’s ambition. Under new manager Phil Neville, Inter Miami hopes to progress significantly in 2022 and battle for top spots. Their expansive budget allows them scope to improve the roster quality quickly.
Fan Support and Identity
Chicago Fire has a dedicated long-term fanbase, with an average home attendance of around 12,000 in recent campaigns. However, their support pales compared to big NFL and MLB clubs in Chicago. The club also changed their traditional colors and crest before the 2020 season in a controversial rebranding exercise.
Being a new franchise, Inter Miami is still building a loyal support base in South Florida. Their average home attendance was 14,000 in the inaugural season played during the pandemic. With star power and financial backing, Inter Miami hopes to keep engaging new fans and strengthen local identification with the club in the coming years. Their pink and baby blue colors have become recognizable quickly.
Stadium and Training Facilities
Toyota Park, Chicago Fire’s home since 2006, is a no-frills facility with few significant renovations. They also have sub-standard training grounds compared to other MLS clubs.
Inter Miami plays at the new 18,000-seater Inter Miami CF Stadium, exclusively built for the club. They also have top-class training facilities near the stadium to aid player development. These infrastructure investments show Inter Miami’s long-term plans to rival MLS’ most prominent clubs.
Future Prospects
While Chicago Fire has a long history, their recent on-field and off-field struggles mean they have worked to regain lost relevance. The new ownership provides hope they can stabilize and compete again for titles.
Given deep pockets, star power, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Inter Miami is well-placed for success in the coming years. As they strengthen the team and the fan base grows, a trophy challenge should materialize soon. Inter Miami undoubtedly has brighter long-term prospects than the Chicago Fire in MLS.
In closing, while Chicago Fire laid the foundation as an early MLS franchise, Inter Miami’s wealthy backing and new infrastructure endow the Miami club with advantages moving forward. However, both clubs have potential and ambitions, with Chicago hoping to bounce back as Inter Miami aims to establish themselves among the MLS elite quickly. Their rivalry will be one to watch evolve in the Eastern Conference over the next decade.
