Major Indoor Soccer League (1980-1981)
Tombstone
Born: August 27, 1980 – MISL expansion franchise1Milbert, Neil. “Horizon team has no outside soccer interest”. The Tribune (Chicago, IL). August 28, 1980
Folded: August 4, 1981
First Game: November 21, 1980 (L 8-7 vs. New York Arrows)
Last Game: March 23, 1980 (L 8-6 @ Wichita Wings)
MISL Championships: None
Arena
Rosemont Horizon (15,174)21980-81 Chicago Horizons Media Guide
Opened: 1980
Branding
Team Colors: Red, Gold & Orange31980-81 Chicago Horizons Media Guide
Ownership
Owners: Bob Schwermer & Ron Jaffe
Attendance
Compares average attendance for 20 Horizons dates at the Rosemont Horizon during the winter of 1980-81 against the MISL league average. Also compares against 9 indoor home dates at Chicago Stadium that winter for the rival Chicago Sting of the NASL.
Tap (mobile) or mouse over chart for figures. Tilting your mobile device may offer better viewing.
Source: Kenn.com Attendance Project
Trophy Case
MISL Goalkeeper of the Year
- 1980-81: Enzo DiPede
Our Favorite Stuff
Chicago Horizons
Logo T-Shirt
The short-lived Horizons indoor soccer team took their name from the suburban Rosemont Horizon arena. Both the club and the building opened for business in 1980. The soccer team would fold after just one one season, unable to compete with the more popular Chicago Sting at Chicago Stadium downtown.
This design is also available in women’s scoop neck and racerback tank styles and as a hooded sweatshirt from our partners at Old School Shirts!
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Background
All-but-forgotten indoor soccer club that played a single season in suburban Chicago during the winter of 1980-81. The Chicago Horizons were an expansion team in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) that season. In truly boring fashion, the team named itself after it’s home arena, the 16,000-seat Rosemont Horizon that opened six months before the Horizons’ debut in November 1980.
The Horizons had the misfortune to play in the shadow of the far more popular Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Sting, who began play in 1975, were nominally an outdoor soccer team. The Sting played a spring/summer schedule with matches that rotated between Comiskey Park, Soldier Field and Wrigley Field. But in the winter of 1980-81, just as the Horizons opened for business, the Sting began to play indoor soccer also at Chicago Stadium downtown.
Struggling in the ‘Burbs
The move effectively split the potential audience for the lower-budget Horizons. The Horizons also did themselves no favors with a very short ramp-up. The MISL granted the franchise on August 27, 1980, which left club officials with less than 90 days to organize and promote the team. The Horizons debuted on November 21, 1980 with a 8-7 overtime loss at home to the defending champion New York Arrows. The match drew an announced attendance of 6,238 fans, a figure that the Horizons would equal only once more in their history. During one gloomy stretch in December 1980, the Horizons put less than 2,000 people in the building for three straight home matches.
The team itself was mediocre, finishing third in their division with a 20-20 record. Paul Kitson led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 18 assists for 51 points. Gary Allison (25 appearances) and Enzo DiPede (16 appearances) split the goalkeeping duties.
The End
The Horizons played their final home match on March 12, 1981, a 4-3 first round playoff victory over the Wichita Wings before 4,313 fans. The Horizons lost the next two matches of the best-of-three series on the road in Wichita en route to a first round playoff exit. The club folded in August 1981.
Ex-Horizons owner Bob Schwermer was sentenced to prison on numerous fraud charges relating to his printing press business in 1986. Prosecutors asserted in their indictment that Schwermer diverted “substantial sums” of money from his debt-ridden printing press business to prop up the Horizons.
Chicago Horizons Shop
Fun While It Lasted COFFEE SHOP
Chicago Horizons Ceramic mug
Available now from our friends at Extra Time Vintage Soccer, this fully-insulated porcelain mug is ideal for your morning brew.
Ceramic | Capacity: 11 fl oz
Dishwasher safe
Lead and Cadmium free
Imported; processed and printed in the U.S.A.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Our Favorite Stuff
MISL Logo T-Shirt
This classic era Major Indoor Soccer League logo shirt is available from the guys at Cincinnati’s Old School Shirts in a variety of great styles:
Crewneck or hooded sweatshirts
Long-sleeve tee
3/4 sleeve raglan
Women’s scoop neck
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
In Memoriam
Horizons leading scorer Paul Kitson suffered a fatal brain aneurysm while conducting a soccer clinic on August 25, 2005. Kitson was 49. Baltimore Sun obituary.
Forward Gordon Fearnley passed away on June 25, 2015 at age 65. Fearnley’s wife, Alaina Fearnley, served as the Horizons Director of Public Relations.
Downloads
3-18-1981 Horizons @ Wichita Wings Game Notes
3-18-1981 Chicago Horizons at Wichita Wings Game Notes1980-81 Horizons Final Results & Attendance
1980-81 Chicago Horizons Season Ticket Brochure
Links
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