Notes on Tuesday: The same old song again

FIRE NOTES:  If the Fire are going to win games this season, they need to avoid the kind of goals that they allowed on Saturday at Columbus. Both Sergio Oregel Jr. and Phillip Zinckernagel had poor moments in their debut starts for the Fire that–along with Carlos Teran’s own goal–more than offset the brilliant play of Brian Gutierrez and Jonathan Bamba. Granted, they weren’t the only team contributing to the ex-Twitter handle When Playing It Out of the Back Goes Wrong. However, the need to get rid of those first-match jitters this coming Saturday at home against DC United.

FUN STATS:  San Diego FC became the seventh first-year MLS side to win their opening match and the first to do so against the defending champions. The others were Chicago Fire (1998), Houston Dynamo (2006), Seattle Sounders (2009), Vancouver Whitecaps (2011), LAFC (2018), St. Louis City SC (2023). Yes, the Dynamo were technically a relocation of the original San Jose Earthquakes, but the latter was allowed to keep their records for their return in 2008.

RIBBON CUTTING:  The Fire will formally open the new Endeavor Health Performance Center on Sunday, March 3rd. The facility at 1532 W. 14th Street has been in use since preseason, but Sunday will mark the official ribbon cutting. Fire owner Joe Mansueto, President of Business Operations Dave Baldwin, Endeavor Health Orthopedic & Spine Institute (EHOSI) and Chicago Fire FC Chief Medical Officer and Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jason Koh, and Chicago 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin.