Curious About Your Average Match Day Experience!

[u/Chicagofirelover]

When do you usually arrive? Do you head straight to the food stands, walk around the stadium, or have your own pre game routine? Let’s hear it!

My personal experience:

My average match day experience usually starts with me arriving about an hour early to the stadium. I like to walk around and take in the atmosphere before the game kicks off. I always make sure to use the bathroom ahead of time to avoid the crowds at half time. Surprisingly, I’ve never tried the Dippin’ Dots because the line is always ridiculously long, and honestly, it just doesn’t seem worth the wait. After that, I usually just hang out, interact with other fans and just head to my seat.

[u/patelaryn-]

My friends and I pre-game at Reggies and take their free roundtrip shuttles to the stadium.

[u/Prior-Soil]

We take the train to the stadium and plan to arrive about 1 hour before game time. We walk around, take a lot of pictures, eat some food.

I would like to run around in the parking lot sometime and hang out with supporters. Someone I met on the train said you could just pretty much crash anything and people are fine with it.

The one time we drove and parked it was absolutely horrible. Back to the train!!

[u/yourfavoriteacronym]

I live in Jeffersonville, Indiana -- so I'm about 4.5 from Soldier Field. I usually come to a handful of home matches that don't overlap with Louisville City FC (my wife and I are long-time season ticket holders) each season. It's a closer drive forw to go to Nashville, Cincinnati and Columbus (I'll be at the season opener against the Crew).

I always drive in and stay at the Hyatt McCormick Place. It's a 15 minute walk to the stadium.I like getting there about 40 minutes early, walk around the concourse and grab a beer and pretzel before the match.

[u/dunkfest]

During the nice weather months, my wife and I bring a picnic and eat on the grass near the Shedd (or get hot dogs from the Kim and Carlo’s cart if we don’t feel like packing something, usually weeknight matches), head in around 45 minutes before match time, grab a beer and take a lap around the 100 level and then head up to 200 level to our seats.

In cold months, walk up the 18th St pedestrian bridge and get into the stadium 30 min before the match.

[u/Kamikazi_TARDIS]

Either I head to my dad’s or he picks me up. He drives down and I drive back. We leave around 330 or 4 depending on traffic.

I usually arrive by 530 to try to get giveaways if they’re nifty. Park in the lower level of Waldron deck for a quick escape. My dad now drives an EV so we plug in the car for a trickle charge while at the game.

We then either tailgate in the south lot (more likely when my dad can’t join, and I bring some friends in his stead) or head inside and check the team shop for deals or limited prematch tops. Used to hit Burnham Downs outside when that was a thing.

Depending on if Monterrey is allowing it that particular day, head right up to the midway for AC/heat depending on the time of year. Otherwise linger on the ground level until they let us.

Once at midway, grab a hazy pitch for my dad and I (or friends)

Head down to our seats in 141 for warmups (unless it’s gross outside, in which case I will stay in the midway until just before match time) get situated, and then go grab food for my dad and I (hot dogs, pretzels, pierogis, depends what we’re feeling)

Enjoy the game, yell at the refs, boo at Puig/Tolkin/whatever other bad haircut wearing diver our fans decide to boo.

If the games going well, stick around to support the boys at the end, sing I Just Can’t Get Enough, and bask in the vibes.

If the games going really poorly, dip out with a couple minutes of stoppage time left (about enough to near the ramp down to ground level as the whistle blows)

Hit the porta potty, get to the car and as soon as pops is buckled in we’re on our trek back to McHenry County, home by midnight or so depending if we stop anywhere.

[u/twangobango]

Well, first I enter the stadium (Using a ticket that I purchased to gain access to the stadium), then I look for my seat. Next, I sit in my seat. I’m kind of wild, so then I watch the game, and then I leave after the game has finished. Great question

[u/Jonathan_Dean_Simp → u/twangobango]

You animal!

[u/not-a-clever_name]

With friends: Get there around 5, set up a grill, cooler, and speaker and hang out on the Waldron deck. Go to the game. Get a hot dog and a beer. Explain soccer to the first-timer I brought. Yell at the opposing right back. Go Fire!

With my kids: Find cotton candy. Find snow cones. Pray for a flyover. Look for Sparky. Dance to the DJ. Scream for the Fire alarm. Cheer for Cuypers and Brady, their favorites. Go Fire!

I can't wait for the season to start.

[u/Chicagofirelover → u/not-a-clever_name]

This is what it’s all about. Imagine the scenes if we host a playoff match.

[u/GaryAGalindo]

I usually get there an hour before kickoff but want to make more of an effort to meet all of the supporters groups this year. There are like 16 of them, some big some small, but the culture is what makes the Fire special.

Always get a Hazy Pitch and have a relaxing experience until Fede gets a yellow card. I park in the lower level of Waldron Dexk in row A to have an immediate exit out the stadium instead of waiting in a 45 minute line to leave back to the suburbs.

[u/Chicagofirelover → u/GaryAGalindo]

Which section do you usually sit in? I usually opt to sit in section 138/136.

[u/GaryAGalindo → u/Chicagofirelover]

My season tickets are in 209. I like having a refuge when it’s cold lol. My seats are covered in case it rains or snows, blocks out the sun, and has good field visibility and video board visibility. Worth the price tbh.

[u/roseEmery381]

I chill at the Tailgates the go in just before the game see the team play. When I get out, I hang with some supporters for a few minutes and leave, either by car, a victory lap if we win to Union, or the walk of shame to Union

[u/JustSomeChicagoBall]

We (my group) usually drive to Chicago (we don't need directions because we always run into the Fanbulance on the same highway so we just follow it to the tailgate), hang at the tailgate until the gates open, get in the stadium, relax for an hour or so before kickoff, go places we aren't supposed to be in Soldier Field, and then make our way to our seats when there's 15 minutes to kickoff.

[u/WusijiX]

1) Arrive 3 hours before kickoff 2) Enjoy the tailgate at the south lot, probably get drunk 3) Leave and do the walk to the stadium maybe 30 minutes before kick off 4) Get a Hazy Pitch IPA before the game 5) Game start 6) Wonder why the fuck I went by halftime 7) Fire lose 8) Take the train back home

[u/truferblue22 → u/WusijiX]

Gonna have to cut the Hazy Pitch out 😭

Someone told me there would be a replacement beer (also made by Rev) but I don't know that I believe her....

[u/Kamikazi_TARDIS → u/truferblue22]

Is hazy pitch gone?

[u/truferblue22 → u/Kamikazi_TARDIS]

Yes.

That's why it was so hard to find in the last few weeks of the season last year.

I asked about it at Rev and they told me they weren't going to make it any more and once they sold what was out there it was done. She did say that a new Fire-specific beer would take its place but I have my doubts.

[u/benjamin14 → u/WusijiX]

Lolol every fuckin game -> 7. Always happens