Nearly two years ago, the Chicago Fire and Quaker challenged supporters to call on their creative instincts, civic pride and their love for the club, to design the 2014 Chicago Fire third kit.
The ensuing outpouring of fan submissions -- and ultimately, the winning kit -- represented yet another affirmation that all three of the aforementioned qualities run in deep supply within the Fire supporter base.
Not surprisingly, the fan-sourced shirts were in high demand following their retail release last fall, but currently remain in limited quantities at the Fire Fan Shop. On Thursday, the club announced that a special edition run of long-sleeved 2014 third kits have been added to the Fire Fan Shop inventory and are available now for purchase.
• Fire Online Store | Official Fire Fan Shop
With both the long-sleeved and the remaining short-sleeved versions of the shirt existing in short supply, fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure their unique slice of Chicago Fire history before supplies are exhausted.
After the initial call for submissions, entrants to the 2013 design contest responded with the distinct passion and a flair for the artistic that have characterized Fire supporters throughout the club’s history. By September, the club had narrowed the submissions to five finalists and, a month later, unveiled the design that had bested all challengers in an online fan vote.
The ultimate winner proved to be the brainchild of local architect Freddy Christiano, who watched on Oct. 5, 2014, as the Fire took the pitch on Fan Appreciation Day and in their 17th Anniversary Game sporting his Chicago-inspired “Heart On Your Sleeve” design. The light blue accents throughout the shirt and the red stars on the sleeve are all nods to the ubiquitous Chicago municipal flag, while the black color base is drawn from the iconic black steel of the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center.
To purchase the short or long-sleeved version of the 2014 Chicago Fire third kit, visit the Official Fire Fan Shop at Toyota Park.
