There’s an idea among many Chicago Fire fans that the unpopular “Fire Crown” crest, which is going away later this year, was thrust upon owner Joe Mansueto by the club’s previous majority owner, Andrew Hauptman, on his way out the door.
It’s easy to see why. Since Mansueto assumed full control of the club from Hauptman in 2019, the Fire have hit a number of home runs. The marketing and media content has been exceptionally good. The club went from being off local TV entirely, to having a deal with WGN to air matches. Although the team only won five games in 2020, the club’s sporting department, led by Georg Heitz, has a clear direction and a stated goal of bringing in and developing young players from all over the world.