CHICAGO — The Chicago Fire FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, has unveiled plans for a new, privately funded soccer stadium in downtown Chicago. The Wall Street Journal reports the project would cost roughly $650 million to execute. The club and its owner and chairman, Joe Mansueto, plan to debut the new stadium in spring 2028, along with a surrounding entertainment district.
“Soccer is the world’s game, and a world-class city like ours deserves a world-class club — with a world-class home to match,” says Mansueto, who purchased the club in 2018. “This new home will serve as a catalyst for job creation, economic development and vibrant community life.”
The Chicago Fire did not release financial terms of the development, but Mansueto says that no public funds will be used in the development of the venue, which is designed to seat approximately 22,000 fans for matches. The stadium’s seating capacity can also be expanded for concerts or other community events, according to the project’s website, DearChicago.com.
The venue will be situated along the Chicago River just south of Roosevelt Road. The stadium will serve as an anchor of The 78 as it is anticipated to be Chicago’s 78th neighborhood. The 78 will eventually include shops, restaurants, offices, residences, green space and an extension of the Chicago Riverwalk. The stadium will be accessible by water taxi as well as several public transit options, including CTA Red, Orange and Green L train lines and a couple Metra stops.
The Chicago Fire was created in 1997, one year after the MLS was established. The club currently plays its games at Soldier Field, a stadium along Lake Michigan where the NFL’s Chicago Bears also play.
The Chicago Tribune recently reported that the Bears’ plans to build a stadium in Arlington Heights have hit a snag after the Illinois General Assembly did not pass legislation for funds for the new stadium. The Bears are also considering a site south of Soldier Field in the downtown area for a new publicly owned, $3.2 billion multipurpose stadium.
The Fire and Bears are not the only Chicago professional sports franchises that are looking for an upgrade over their current home venue. Last year, owners of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks released plans for The 1901 Project, a $7 billion initiative to revitalize The United Center and its surrounding site. The United Center sits a few miles northwest of the site for the Chicago Fire’s new stadium.
Construction on the new Chicago Fire stadium is set to begin by the end of the year. The club plans to begin selling season tickets in the coming years, with priority given to current Chicago Fire season ticket holders.
— John Nelson