Fired up

When Chicago Fire Football Club beat Inter Miami in 2023, Nick Olindo, ’15, joined in the energy of a sold-out crowd. For fans, it was an exciting win over international star Lionel Messi’s team. For Olindo, it was the payoff of months of planning and dedication — and brought him right back to his time on the sidelines at UR.

As director of strategy and special projects for Chicago Fire FC, Olindo describes himself as a “Swiss Army knife.” He works closely with several departments, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, and matchday operations, to bring various high-priority projects to fruition. For example, he has created ROI models for a new stadium, negotiated partnerships with local Chicago institutions, grown merchandise sales, and facilitated the transition to a new stadium concessionaire.

Olindo is no stranger to ensuring the best gameday experience. Not only was he manager of the men’s basketball team as a student, but he was also president of the Richmond Rowdies, a group of students who led chants and fired up fans at games. During his junior year, he produced “We Are One Richmond,” a video to inspire school spirit before the basketball season began.

“We sold out the student section within 24 hours after the video came out, and it made me proud to be part of this university and community. I got to see what that can mean, so I wanted to bring that back [in my career],” Olindo said.

He cherishes the opportunity to make the stadium a place for memorable experiences. The win against Inter Miami was significant for record revenue, but Olindo also walked away with a reminder of how hard work and passionate fans can make a moment.

“Business is important, but we’re also trying to create memories for families and kids and soccer diehards,” he said. “When you walk around on game day, you see the sparkle in kids’ eyes. I remember that kind of experience. I never forget it.”