The MLS season is officially back and a lot of changes have been made to squads for the upcoming campaign. The Chicago Fire are certainly not left out of this bunch. A lot of notable names have left the team, much to the sadness of diehard Fire fans like myself. We bid adieu to Brian McBride, CJ Brown, Freddie Ljungberg, Wilman Conde Jr., and John Thorrington, all pretty significant contributers last campaign. However, some notable names have arrived at Toyota Park, including Uruguayan strike-force Gaston Puerari and Diego Chaves that should be potential game changers for the squad. At any rate, the squad will be looking pretty slick on the Toyota Park grounds with their brand new 2011 Chicago Fire Home Jersey.
One notable and immediately noticeable change concerning the new home kit is the lack of a sponsorship. Best Buy decided (as it struggles financially with Amazon beginning to take away ground from the company) to pull their shirt sponsorship from the club. Honestly, who needs them? Certainly not Logan Pause and the boys. Let’s start with how the jersey looks without the Best Buy lettering; in short, terrific and classy. The jersey is red all over, akin to their classic colors since the club’s inception in 1997. A stylistic white panel-like pattern lies flush on the chest, with bolded “FIRE” lettering taking up the majority of the white strip. The lettering is highly stylized and blends the perfect amount of modern preferences and classic good looks. The Chicago Fire crest lies above the white panel on one side of the jersey and may look a little high up on the jersey for some tastes. I’m a fan of the unique placement. An Adidas logo lies on the other side of the chest, so you know you’re getting quality, just like the rest of the league’s awesome MLS jerseys. An MLS logo is stitched into the right arm of the jersey, so you can show your friends you’ve got official swag from an up-and-coming league. Finally, the shirt is nicely rounded out with three white lines on each shoulder and at the end of the arms, a signature Adidas design decision.
The shirt is also incredibly comfortable and versatile. I’ll wear this Chicago Fire jersey to class, on the pitch, in a training session, or just plain lounging around. It’s appropriate for almost any occasion. Adidas has outfitted the kit with patented ClimaCool technology. What’s this mean for you? Reduced heat, a lightweight material, reduced moisture accumulation, and just plain awesome comfort. The jersey is highly durable, never showing any wear or tear in the testing I put this bad boy through. The synthetic ClimaCool material is a great choice by Adidas and you get all the benefit of wearing gear similar to the pros on the pitch.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my new Chicago Fire Jersey. It’s a classic design that benefits from a lack of sponsorship. The kit is extremely comfortable and durable, too, so you know this will last you all season long as you cheer on the boys.
