Gregg Berhalter and Frank Klopas were seen cheering on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center
Berhalter and Klopas spotted at the United CenterKlopas managed Fire before Berhalter took overThe Fire take on Columbus Crew in their MLS openerGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowImagnWHAT HAPPENED
New Chicago Fire manager Gregg Berhalter showed his support for the local sports scene, sitting courtside to cheer on the Chicago Bulls as they faced the visiting Denver Nuggets—a nod to Berhalter and the Fire's commitment to engaging with the city's teams.
With preseason in full swing, the Fire—like every other MLS club—have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season, which kicks off with an away match against Columbus Crew on Feb. 23. However, with a break before their next preseason game against LAFC on Feb. 6, Berhalter took advantage of some downtime to enjoy a night of basketball at the United Center.
The former USMNT boss was spotted courtside alongside former interim Fire manager Frank Klopas. The two were photographed in conversation, smiling as the Bulls secured a 129-121 victory over the Nuggets.
AdvertisementWHAT THE CAMERA SPOTTEDGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Gregg Berhalter was appointed in October 2024 as the new head coach and director of football for the Chicago Fire and replaced the man next to him in the photo, Frank Klopas. The USMNT star, Klopas, took over as interim head coach for the club after they parted ways with former boss Ezra Hendrickson in May 2023.
However, Klopas’ time as interim head coach didn’t quite go according to plan as The Fire finished last in the Eastern Conference. But that hasn’t deterred Berhalter as he has big plans for the club and is relishing the challenge that lies ahead for him.
"This is a great opportunity. I said it when I got the job: Obviously, Chicago is a sleeping giant, the third biggest market in America, an owner that’s really investing in the team to be successful. [He's] investing in the facilities, whether that’s the training ground or potential stadium, investing in the roster,” Berhalter said.
During MLS's Media Day earlier in the month, Berhalter highlighted the city of Chicago as a selling point to potential transfer additions.
"We have a recruitment deck that we're building, I'm showing the lake and the turquoise color of the lake in the summer and the Ferris Wheel of Navy Pier and the restaurants and the sports teams and the training ground being right in the city," he said. "And I think it's, you know, there are a lot of positives to show sell Chicago. So it's a great city. I've lived there for the last six years, and we love it…So, you know, that's a great selling point."
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE?
Despite significant spending in recent years, the Fire have struggled to make a lasting impact, failing to consistently reach the playoffs since 2012. Big-money moves for players like Xherdan Shaqiri and Hugo Cuypers didn’t pan out, with Shaqiri unceremoniously leaving the club last season.
However, under Berhalter, the club has already begun reshaping its roster, bringing in former LOSC Lille star Jonathan Bamba, winger Philip Zinckernagel, and defender Jack Elliott, among others. Whether these moves will be enough to propel Chicago back into the postseason remains to be seen.