My girlfriend and I recently discovered the awesomeness of Chicago Fire games. We went the past three weekends, so when on the fourth weekend we visited Toyota Park for a Machine game instead of the Fire, we were somewhat surprised. The stands were virtually empty. Pulling up to the parking lot, there was no pre-game/post-game excitement. There were only a few fans in the stand, and we had the luck to sit behind the fans that realized players could hear them, so they decided to yell at them the entire time rather than watch the game. I'm also of the opinion that the sport of lacrosse as some of the worst fans in sports. They're more concerned with wearing the right polo and popped collar than they are with the actually event themselves. I think they need to take off their polos (dudes) and pearl necklaces (chicks) and put on some fan gear and watch the game, but I digress.
The point is, for a sport that calls itself the fasting growing sport in the nation, I was taken aback. I rated the event 3 stars, because I still love the game of lacrosse and Toyota Park, but more needs to be done to get fans in the stands and into the game. They played the SAME SONG after every Machine goal. That got annoying really quick.
It seems lacrosse has a long way to go, but I still say everyone should make it out to a game, especially if they've never seen/played lacrosse. It's a great sport, with hard-hitting action, goals and grit. The players are obviously talented, and it is a sport that deserves to be on the same level as the MLB, NBA, and NFL. It seems at has to catch up to even the MLS first, though.