Women's professional soccer has ended in Chicago.
The Chicago Red Stars announced in December that the team suspended operations due to lack of necessary capital.
"This has been a very difficult and complex decision," Red Stars part-owner and governor Arnim Whisler said in a statement. "We love this team, our players, staff and fans. Everything was trending well for our breakthrough 2011 season, but the abrupt loss of the Bay Area team scared away some of our planned investors, and we simply could not recover in time."
Still, the team intends to pursue other soccer-related activities in 2011, and perhaps return to the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league in 2012.
"We are building a special environment in Chicago for women's soccer, and we hope our fans will stick with us during this transition year," Whisler said. "Chicago believes in WPS and will continue to help the league to build its brand of top-flight women's soccer."
Omid Namazi was named the Red Stars' coach last June, replacing Emma Hayes. The team featured several popular players, including Cristiane, Ella Masar and Megan Rapinoe.
The 2010 season ran from April to September, and the team ended the season with back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia Independence and Washington Freedom.
"It's a shame that in the great city of Chicago we can't support and maintain women's sports teams," said Chicagoan Jessica Andrasko. "We support all types of men's teams no matter how successful or not. We should be able to support women's teams. However, I do think that it is also very important where the venues are located. The next women's team no matter what sport needs to think carefully about location."
The Red Stars were very inclusive in their marketing to all Chicagoans, including the LGBT community through Windy City Media Group, and the team held benefits for the Lesbian Community Care Project in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Red Stars fans who purchased 2011 season and flex tickets will be fully reimbursed. For more information about the Chicago Red Stars, contact the Red Stars office at 708-496-9500.