Lee Stern announces on Halloween, 1974, the purchase of an NASL franchise. ”We`re not in this to make a fast buck and realize it may take three years to break even,” says Stern, who names legendary English player Bill Foulkes coach and former Bear Mike Pyle as GM.
— The Sting loses its first home game in 1975 to Denver 2-0 in front of 4,536 in Soldier Field.
— On June 23, 1976, an estimated 28,000 in Soldier Field watch the Sting win 4-1 against New York with Pele making his first Chicago appearance.
— Midway during the 1977 season, Foulkes is fired. Willy Roy is named interim coach but the club fails to make the playoffs.
— Malcom Musgrove is appointed head coach for 1978 and the club announces it will split home games between Soldier Field and Wrigley Field.
— In March, 1978, the Sting plays the Cuban nationals in Havana to become the first U.S. team to compete in Cuba since Fidel Castro`s takeover.
— Musgrove is fired following a 0-10 start in `78. Roy is named interim coach, Arno Steffenhagen and Karl-Heinz Granitza arrive, and the Sting makes the playoffs.
— Roy is appointed head coach for `79.
— The Sting advances to the second round of the `79 playoffs, where it loses to San Diego in front of 15,000 fans, the largest home crowd in five years for a game in which Pele didn`t play.
— Stern announces `80 games will be split between Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park.
— During a brilliant 21-8 start in `80, the Sting twice scores seven goals and attracts 26,000 fans to one home match. The Sting falters in the stretch when playmaker Jorgen Kristensen is sold after a dispute with Roy. The Sting backs into the conference championship but loses to San Diego in a first-round marathon playoff game.
— June 28, 1981: The Sting rallies in front of 30,501 fans at Wrigley to beat New York 6-5. Warner Communications makes a mini-documentary of it titled, ”The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
— The Sting finishes `81 in a tie for the NASL`s best record (23-9) and tops the Cosmos 1-0 in the Soccer Bowl behind goalkeeper Dieter Ferner`s heroics.
— In 1982, the Sting slides dismally into last place and crowds begin dipping.
— The Sting announces all 1983 home games will be in Soldier Field.
— The Sting announces 1984 home games will be split between Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park.
— With the 9-team NASL struggling to survive, the Sting catches fire in the playoffs to defeat Vancouver and Toronto for a second league championship.
