Chicago Fire Notebook: Endeavor Health Performance Center, Chris Brady, Hugo Cuypers & More

The Chicago Fire held the ribbon cutting for their new training facility, the Endeavor Health Performance Center, showcasing the new building to media and partners only a few weeks after the club fully moved into the new space.

The event, which included remarks from Fire owner Joe Mansueto, Fire president Dave Baldwin, head coach and director of football Gregg Berhalter, president of the ABLA Homes Local Advisory Council Mary Baggett, 28th ward Alderman Jason Ervin and Fire SVP of Community Programs, Engagement & Facilities Paul Cadwell from inside the training dome at the new facility.

Some of the more newsworthy moments from the event:

-The Fire players in attendance included Kellyn Acosta, Hugo Cuypers, Brian Gutiérrez, Justin Reynolds, and Omar González.

-The facility has separate spaces for the first-team, second-team, and Academy players, but the actual soccer facilities are all shared by the entire organization.

-There is space to eventually expand the facility, which the club expects to do at some point down the line.

-The club is tracking all player data when they are at the facility. Each exercise room or pitch is fitted with gear to track the health data for the staff to go through each day.

-There is natural light in most, if not all, of the rooms in the building.

-It is so much nicer than SeatGeek Stadium.

From the rest of my notebook:

Chris Brady

The Fire’s goalkeeper got a nice present from the league on his 21st birthday as he was named the starting goalkeeper on MLS’s Team of the Matchday for Matchday 2 after making five saves vs DC United.

Hugo Cuypers

Cuypers was on the Team of the Matchday bench after scoring twice for the Fire against DC United on similar backpost runs off corner kicks from Philip Zinckernagel. Cuypers, who didn’t feature for the Fire in the preseason, gave an update post-match on his fitness heading into their contest against FC Dallas.

“With another good week of training, I should be 100 percent,” the Fire’s club-record signing said from the Fire’s locker late on Saturday evening.

Chicago Fire II

The Fire’s MLS Next Pro side added two Homegrown talents to their ranks in recent months, as reported by Alex Calabrese of Men In Red 97.

Vitaliy Hlyut signed a two-year deal with the option for two additional years after spending the preseason training with the first-team. Hlyut, 16, is a top talent in the attack and could be an option for the Fire in the US Open Cup.

It was also reported by Alex Calabrese that Fire II signed Darris Hyte, 16, to a professional contract. Hyte was named MVP when the Fire’s side won the U-15 MLS Next Cup last year. Unlike Hlyut, Hyte is someone who will need more time in the youth levels and with Fire II before getting a first team opportunity.

Fire II’s first match of the season is scheduled to be played on March 9 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire will be in Frisco, Texas on March 8 to take on FC Dallas. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.