Bronfmans the front-runner to buy the Chicago Fire

The race to buy the Chicago Fire may not be a long one. Sources with knowledge of the deal have confirmed that the ownership group led by the Bronfman family is the clear front-runner to secure the purchase of the Chicago MLS franchise and the completion of the sale could be completed by the All-Star Game on July 19th.

The Bronfman group, which is led by an unidentified member of the Bronfman family (which made its fortune via the Seagram's company), was the first serious bidder for the Fire and has received the seal approval from league officials and AEG, current owners of the Fire. One source confirmed that members of the Bronfman group met with MLS commissioner Don Garber two weeks ago in Chicago.

A second Chicago-based group that had been organizing to bid on the Fire appears to have been beaten to the punch. The second group had yet to make a formal bid for the Fire as of Friday and it may already be too late. The identity of the financial backers of the Chicago-based group has yet to be identified, though former Chicago Fire player Frank Klopas and former Real Salt Lake general manager Steve Pastorino had been linked to the group by reports out of Chicago.

There has been no word yet on the actual sale price for the Fire but the figure is expected to fall between $30 and $40 million.

When the sale of the Fire does go through it will mark the third MLS franchise that AEG has successfully sold in the past two years, joining DC United and the Red Bulls. Selling the Fire would leave AEG with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo.

What remains unclear is what will happen to current Chicago Fire president John Guppy as well as newly-hired head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who is set to be introduced as the team's head coach on Monday.

What do you think of this latest development? Fire fans and MLS fans in general, share your thoughts below:

Comments

[Tony M]

I have no opinion on the Brofman family, but more owners is a good thing. The league has a strong foundation now - something which must surprise a lot of naysayers.

[Matt]

A greater diversity in ownership groups is always a good thing. So if the AEG still own the stadium, how does that affect the finances and profit of the ownership group?

[Ives]

Guys, Bridgeview owns Toyota Park but AEG has the operating rights to it. That is something that won't change when AEG sells the Fire.

[MikeR]

Matt, my understanding is that AEG does not own Toyota Park, the Town of Bridgeview does. AEG does hold rights to run certain events at the stadium. Not sure if that will include Fire games, but I have read that it includes concerts, etc. I think part of AEG's plan all along was to gain rights to use various MLS stadiums as that's their core business anyway (I think).

[Hudson Valley]

A rich new MLS owner is a great news for the league, the Fire and soccer in the USA.

The family has big buck$ -- the Sr's net worth is $2.2 billion

[Ben]

And as soon as Wolff's new Earthquakes start next year, there will be even more diversity of ownership in the league.

[Matt]

Ives, do you see that Jay-Jay Okocha is supposedly going to RSL?

[Uncle Dave]

I was gonna say the same thing about Jay Jay

[Braden]

I wonder how the Bronfmans will vote when it comes to things like the Designated Player rule or the make-up of the league's conferences. The good thing about AEG is that at least they knew a little bit about soccer and probably wouldn't vote for absurd rule changes or attempt to antagonize the players' union. New owners are always a bit of a wildcard...

[h4]

Jay Jay and Adu and Williams on the same team - they still don't have a plan for that team, do they?

[Jeff]

Now that Ives in second place for fantasy and 34 over allmaybe he can spend some of the money he will be winning to buy the Fire himself

[Jim G]

h4 you realize that you are taking about RSL? You know the "plan" is to attract the three Nigerians living in Utah to the games! Think of all the money RSL is going to make. Jay is RSL's Becks.

Really, RSL's plan is to have future plans that require more plans to fix how screwed up things are but screwing up things more... crap RSL are the Knicks!

[kpugs]

Jim G obviously knows nothing about the sport if he thinks Okocha wouldn't attract fans. Nice analysis but anyone who knows even the tiniest bit about international football knows who he is.

However, didn't RSL trade their DP slot for Adu? Without a DP slot there is no way in a million years for them to sign Okocha.

[Steve]

I agree Kpugs, but sadly I agree with Jim as well. Okocha would attract us to any MLS game, hell he's on FIFA Street, but people that don't know a damned thing about soccer will go once anyhow to see Beckham, just to see what the hype is about. My non soccer friends ask to the point of annoyance what I think of Beckham coming because it is all they can have a conversation about soccer related, if I told them Jay Jay Okocha might come I'd probably get blank states. Soccer in America... guess we just have to keep converting those who have not found the way to the gates one fan at a time! On a side note, anyone that reads this blog going to the US under 20 Wednesday night? Driving to Toronto with a friend, going to hit bars before and after sporting the Red, White and Blue. Hopefully no seagull crap on my colors after the game...

[Nick]

A new owner with deep pockets sounds perfect for Chicago and the league. AEG seems to have gotten stale in Chicago and Houston, so its time to get both of these teams new owners.

[JJJ3]

Freddy is not a DP for RSL. They still have that slot open.

[BoB]

As a Fire fan I think the overwhelming majority of us want Guppy and AEG out. I'm pretty happy with the new head coach signing and the fact we got Blanco but it really has felt like Chicago is the least favorite child.

Hopefully the new owners will embrace Section 8 and help boost attendance somehow. No matter what more owners are a good thing for the team and I can't wait to see what kind of changes come about from this.

[Anthony]

you are the least favorite child since AEG sold NY. We held that distinction for quite some time.

[Fenris]

I just hope that any new owners of the Fire aren't going to try "rebranding" the team. At this pt. the only team name that I'm fine with changing is RSL's (even if it was just to another eurowannabee nomiker.)

[stephen healy]

Please keep the name and the new couch. Use some of the cash to keep our young talent (Mapp, Rolfe, Barrett, Soumare) and others and get a second DP. One thing that is sure about chicago is if a team wins it will be supported. With proper marketing even a loser will be (CUBS, Bears in the old days...)