Andrew Hauptman has been investor-operator of the Chicago Fire for 13 months, and a lot has happened in that time.
The Fire have a new coach, a new president, a new jersey sponsor, a new star player in Brian McBride and the renewed vigor that comes from fresh leadership.
With one game remaining in his first complete regular season as an MLS insider, Hauptman reflected this week on what he has seen and what he hopes to see in both the Fire and the league.
Hauptman lives in southern California but has seen most of the Fire's home games in person. He manages to walk the concourse of Toyota Park in relative anonymity, although he wants Fire fans to know he is in attendance.
"I'm not keeping track of the numbers, but I have been to most of them," Hauptman said. "I try my best to be there; that's certainly my intention."
Hauptman said he is aware of the concern fans might have about absentee ownership.
"I think it is a fair concern," Hauptman said. "But we wouldn't have gotten involved and bought the team if we didn't feel we were able to be present."
Hauptman, in fact, enjoys attending Fire games. He has soccer in his background, and attends the games as both a businessman, a soccer fan and a father of two elementary school-age children who sometimes accompany him to the games.
"It's the experience; there is nothing better than being there," Hauptman said. "It's seeing how our team is doing on the field and what our performance is like in terms of the organization off the field. I get to pass judgment first-hand."
Off the field, the team is doing swimmingly, according to Hauptman. The team has already surpassed its attendance mark of 2007, and participation is full in the community relations activities before the game and at halftime.
On the field, the Fire have one game remaining and area trying to secure second place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-field advantage in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
While Hauptman expressed satisfaction with coach Denis Hamlett and technical director Frank Klopas, he admits the team's performances have been inconsistent.
"Our inconsistency I have been concerned about, like every Fire fan is," Hauptman said. "I think we are all focused on being a championship franchise. We have the talent and experience to win. We have given our technical staff and players all the support to be successful. We are happy to make the playoffs. We have an experienced team in terms of making a run for it. We expect our coaches to put our players into position to win."
Hauptman is among the many new investors in Major League Soccer, which is expanding again next season and working to build to an 18-team league in a relatively short period of time. He approves of the league's approach to expansion.
"I'm pleased with the direction it is going," Hauptman said. "The league has been patient and the patience is one of the things that has paid off. They have let attendance grow steadily, hired high quality players and coaches, signed with high quality branding partners, and they have worked steadily in regard to new soccer-specific stadiums like the one that just opened in Salt Lake.
"The interest in terms of new investors and potential new owners is a great sign of the growth of the league," he said. "It has been methodical."
The 14-team league, which is going to bring Seattle into MLS next season and Philadelphia in 2010, announced last week there are seven cities vying for the final two clubs. They are Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis and Portland in the United States and Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver in Canada.
"We have more demand than supply, and I give the league a lot of credit in terms of managing the process in a disciplined way," Hauptman said. "I think we have to be really careful, given the history that everyone knows from the NASL days. Let's be careful and conservative."
Hauptman admitted with a laugh that he has enjoyed his involvement in MLS more than he thought he would.
"I enjoy rooting for the team with my kids; those moments are really special," Hauptman said. "I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out how to think about the club over the longer term. I try to think about what our shortcomings and needs are. I enjoy a lot of the people who work for the team, and I enjoy the people we have brought in.
"I have made it clear that I want us to be the best in the league, across every area," Hauptman said. "That is our goal. I enjoy that challenge, trying to figure out how to get there and working with the people around the table."
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
