The Chicago Fire have a new television broadcasting home.
ESPN+ has signed on to be the exclusive broadcaster of the Fire’s 27 non-national games after signing a three-year contract, leaving NBC Sports Chicago (formerly CSN Chicago) and cable television entirely, the club announced Friday.
Sam Stejskal of MLSSoccer.com reported Friday the deal represents a “seven-figure” annual revenue for the club.
“The partnership between ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, and our storied club is a powerful combination,” said Fire president and general manager Nelson Rodríguez in a statement released by the club.
“Our fans will receive top-quality streaming and production, available anytime, anywhere and across any devices.”
Games will only be available -in English and Spanish- through ESPN’s new streaming service. All Fire games will be available for free until the new service launches sometime this spring.
ESPN+ will require a $4.99 monthly subscription after its launch, which is not included in cable or satellite TV packages.
The Fire starts their 2018 MLS campaign Saturday against Sporting Kansas City at Toyota Park.
