Which came first: Chicago Fire the show or Chicago Fire the soccer team?

We here at One Chicago Center are all about the One Chicago franchise which is comprised of three hit series: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago PD. From the beginning, we haven’t been able to get enough of the series which center around the brave first responders of the Chicago area.

At the heart of the franchise is the series which started it all: Chicago Fire. We never could have anticipated that the series about the men and women of Firehouse 51 would one day branch off into a franchise that would include three spinoffs and take over a night of primetime on NBC.

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Of course, here at One Chicago center, we can’t get enough of the One Chicago shows, but it doesn’t go unnoticed how often our conversations on social media blur into the world of sports thanks to one FC soccer team sharing its name with One Chicago’s OG series!

In addition to being a hit series, Chicago Fire is also the name of the City of Chicago’s FC soccer team which can sometimes create some confusion among fans when the two crossover in conversation and has led some to wonder if the show inspired the name of the team or if perhaps the soccer team happened to have already existed prior to the launch of the One Chicago franchise.

When did Chicago Fire start?

Chicago Fire first debuted on NBC on Oct. 10, 2012, as part of the 2012-13 fall TV season, meaning that 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the show’s launch on NBC. Chicago PD would begin the following season in January 2014, with Chicago Med premiering a year later in November 2015.

When was Chicago Fire FC founded?

Although fans of the One Chicago franchise might have only begun hearing about the FC soccer team, the Chicago Fire soccer team was established in 1997 with the team’s inaugural season coming in 1998. Interestingly, the announcement of the team’s establishment occurred on Oct. 8, 1997, which happened to be the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.

Which started first: Chicago Fire on NBC or Chicago Fire FC?

As the Major League Soccer team was established in 1997 and NBC’s Chicago Fire series did not begin until 2012, Chicago Fire FC was founded first. It’s unclear whether the team’s name had any inspiration from the name of NBC’s hit drama but we can confirm the team was founded before the show we all know and love.

One thing that is certain? We can’t wait to see the Firehouse 51 crew enjoy one of the team’s games on the show — after all, we’ve already seen the 51 fam enjoy rooting on Chicago’s other major sports teams including the Chicago Bears, so it can only be a matter of time.

For the latest season 11 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.