Culture is often an elusive word. It’s a term used to describe something remote, existing above everyday lives and concerns. In sport it’s just as often invoked in criticism as in celebration, as commentators describe an intangible problem.
But culture is simply the means by which we express what we share — and in doing so, show that we recognize and value it. In Chicago it can be found anywhere from the anecdotes of long-time staffers, to the dress code expectations for Chicago Fire traveling players, to the words of “Stand and Deliver”, to Ben Step, hunched over his computer, investigating the musical tastes of Chicago players to meld with those of the city at large in his game day playlists…
Ben, aka DJ Step, is Chicago Fire’s musical director — a role he has occupied since a video mix he made, celebrating his first Fire season tickets in 2015, caught the attention of Fire staff and ultimately team chairman and majority owner Andrew Hauptman.