Initial details have been revealed for the new home of Chicago Fire FC within The 78. Located on the northern half of the site, the stadium will create a permanent home for the team, which relocated to Soldier Field from Bridgeview in recent years. Efforts for the mixed-use development are being led by the team’s owner, Joe Mansueto, and Related Midwest.
Rendering of Sox stadium in The 78 via Related Midwest
The 78 has frequently made headlines in recent years since its approval. From losing out on DPI in favor of the new Quantum Park to being pitched as the potential future home of the White Sox, the megadevelopment has struggled to gain traction. Currently, the massive former rail yard is serving as a temporary sports park, dubbed Bridge Sports.
View of new Endeavor Health Performance Center via Chicago Fire FC
Similarly, Chicago Fire FC has been seeking a permanent home since departing SeatGeek Stadium for Soldier Field in 2020. Although the team plays twice as many home games as the Bears, it has neither scheduling priority nor meaningful revenue opportunities at the current venue. Thus, after opening a major new training center, the team is preparing to relocate.
APPROXIMATE layout of stadium and plaza via Google Maps
Set to rise on 10 acres of land west of the new Wells Street connector, the 22,000-seat stadium will be situated roughly between West 13th and 14th Streets. Designed by Gensler, the facility will anchor a new sports district. The structure will draw inspiration from the surrounding area, featuring large square arches, extensive glass façades, and a massive overhanging roof.
Rendering of new Etihad stadium in New York
The team is following the lead of other MLS franchises nationwide that are building new stadiums, particularly as the World Cup is set to return to the U.S. next year for the first time since 1994. The stadium will offer a variety of seating options to ensure broad accessibility. It will also host additional sporting events, concerts, community gatherings, and private functions.
Rendering of new stadium in Milwaukee
The surrounding area will feature a large public plaza open to the river, surrounded by various structures housing restaurants, retail spaces, and areas for temporary events and pop-ups. Additionally, Related plans to include residential buildings in the first phase of development. Altogether, the project is expected to have five cranes operating during this initial phase.
Rendering of new Chicago Fire FC stadium by Gensler
While the plans are still being finalized, the stadium is estimated to cost approximately $650 million. This will be fully privately funded by Joe Mansueto of Morningstar, joining the likes of The 1901 Project and demonstrating that major facilities can be built without government subsidies or taxpayer dollars. A website for the project is available here.
The project still requires city approval but aims to break ground by the end of the year, with the team expected to move in for the 2028 season, when their Soldier Field lease ends. It is worth noting that both Related and the White Sox have expressed they are still in talks for a new baseball stadium.
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I think this seems like a good outcome. And I’m glad it’s being self funded. Of the sports stadium sagas, I get the need for a new Sox Park the least. There’s lots of room for development at 35th and it’s in a decently accessible location.
Love that this is happening. Bring the White Sox stadium too! This area needs the excitement and development, Im a little tired of staring at the empty plot of land.
Go to a typical Fire game at Soldier Field. My guess…. youll see quite a lot of cars. Thus, MOST of attendance arrives by car.
1. wheres the planned parking?
2. Why, if attendance avg now about 22K, build only a stadium to hold 22K?
3. I think a plan is to “ensure Park District makes attracive offers to stay in Solder Field… JUST MY GUESS.
Soldier field is far friendly and easier to get to by car than train, hence why so many cars. You are kidding yourself if you believe people will have any issue getting to this stadium when you have multiple train lines that drop you right there.
Bit of a dud in my opinion. Has an appearance that it will look dated relatively quickly.
Agree
I appreciate that this proposal can serve as an urban catalyst for the 78’s development. That being said, its appearance already looks dated. Why isn’t this an iconic, contemporary structure? The architecture is lazy, and looks like the McDonald’s HQ flattened and with a stadium bowl inserted.
There is no context here, so why make it look like another Fulton Market brick/steel/glass facade. There are many examples of urban soccer stadiums, modern in character and woven into the cityscape.
While it is being privately funded, it’s still going to cost millions of dollars of public subsidy to get the right infrastructure for the site in place. There are some articles elsewhere discussing this. I’m very glad though that the main cost of the stadium is privately funded especially since it’d be unconscionable to give any public funding when the CTA/Pace/Metra can’t get priority from state and city lawmakers.
Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.
A free handout, terrible. Infrastructure that the state/city has been negligent on for almost a century, it’s reasonable they take the proper steps to ensure this neighborhood is well suited for the potential thousands of new residences that can occupy the multiple acres.
This land is basically untouched. It used to have no fire jurisdiction and being front and center in what’s basically the heart of the Midwest, the 78 is warranted some investment. Just no gift to a billionaire failed franchise that can’t take no for an answer. (Bears)
Gratitudes to Joe Mansueto for making a huge investment here. Perfect project for this location….do you have any spare coins to help with a new CTA station? Can’t wait for opening day! 🔥⚽️
I appreciate the enthusiasm and I would love a new CTA station, but something tells me it would come with the later 78 development when that rolls around
AND (Sox)
The thing is, in this case, there was already an agreement for public funding for new infrastructure. I don’t think this will require any additional funding beyond what was already discussed.
There is already a massive TIF in place for infrastructure and a planned red line stop.
Does anyone know how much a covered/domed stadium would cost? I’m guessing the cost/benefit for a domed stadium at this site didn’t make sense.
Unlike (gridiron) football, domes are frowned upon in soccer (alongside artificial surfaces). The only domes in Europe are retractable and the exclusive domain of the most profitable entities. Plus, MLS plays mostly in summer when weather conditions are more favorable.
Is there any chance that Red Line Station next to Cotton Tail park is still a possibility?
I was quite excited to hear some expansion in network options for the area and a new station would do wonders for game day navigation.
Also a green line at 16th maybe
Like this idea better than the Sox solution. Stadium rendering gives me the impression that it looks to blend into the area versus being a standout structure, seems like it maybe able to host storefronts for area commercial development (whenever that comes back). Not a bad start and being a privately funded investment make me even more optimistic for the 78.
Biilionaires build better. Glad this is happening the way it is happening. Wrigley Field is a good example of how nice things can turn out when privately funded. It made the whole area around it nicer. I mean after all of these proposals, so glad this is finally happening. Will be a great addition to Chicago. Hope it gets built out well and gets a water taxi and train station, too.
“Billinioares build better…” when they fund it themselves. But even then, don’t give them that much credit. They’ll start letting it go to their heads and produce the most audacious of stuff. Bezos’s balls, for example. I think they’re cool, but not everything integrates well.
My least favourite of the bunch and thoroughly despise, Walmart. Most soul sucking estalsbimsnts and contribute nothing to society. Both visually and in basically all other ways. Costco comes second on that list. And we’ll lump sum all fast-food joints for third.
establishments* Grammarly changed that one… Smh
Ian, thanks for the red box on google maps to see where it is going. Too bad they did not produce an image that shows ONLY what they are building and not all the future looking add-ons that will probably never get built. Odd how Gensler does not own a color printer so we can actually see what this is going to look like.
“the facility will anchor a new sports district”
What is the definition of “anchor”? The Fire play 17 home games. How many other events will this host? Will the Chicago Stars play there, or will they demand their own stadium? Based on size, this will be competing with United Center, Wrigley Field, and Seat Geek Stadium for concerts.
It would be nice if the housing and retail get built, but Mansueto could instead surround it with parking lots, causing this area to look like the United Center.
Not to mention the new Northwestern Stadium is similar size and plans to compete for some concerts. All in all love this though.
Soldier field is far friendly and easier to get to by car than train, hence why so many cars. You are kidding yourself if you believe people will have any issue getting to this stadium when you have multiple train lines that drop you right there.
I think Mansueto has delusions of Fireville (like Wrigleyville) dancing in his head.
Only 17 games, oof, I thought they had more. Yes, the Bears, Fire and Stars should get together and build on Stadium.
Nashville White Sox coming soon because of this
When this news broke I wondered how long it would take for people to find something pessimistic to say despite it being a fully privately funded development that will bring visitors and tax revenue to the city. Didn’t need to look far!
This is not going to bring visitors to the city. Most people who attend Fire games already live in the city. If they don’t spend their money at the soccer game, they will spend it elsewhere. This is called displacement. Even if the Fire chose to leave the area altogether, some people from the suburbs who attend games may still come into Chicago to do some activity.
The devil will be in the details. If a lot of housing and retail is added, and all of the property and sales taxes go into the county/city coffers, yes, that would be good. But if a TIF zone is created, and all property and sales tax revenue gets paid back to the Fire, there is a negative return to taxpayers because money that was spent outside the TIF will now be spent inside the TIF and not available for other uses (schools, parks, transit).
My family said they would travel on the Rock Island to get to games instead of driving. Being so close to Chinatown or West Loop, certainly lots of opportunities for an after-game splurge.
On Mother’s Day weekend, we went to Bar Mar after a home game win. It was a great evening. I just wish the highway wasn’t involved between destinations.
I drive and spend money in the city for fire games you literally do not know what you are talking about.
The fact you already go to Fire games and spend your money is reason enough for taxpayers to not fund this development. There is nothing to gain from construction of a stadium that will be used 17-25 times a year.
Spending money at the Fire game does not repay the city for infrastructure costs. It goes into the pocket of Mansueto and the Fire. If you spend money outside the stadium, and tax revenue gets paid back to Mansueto and the Fire via a TIF, and does not enter the city’s general fund, the city is not repaid for infrastructure costs.
Again, it all depends on what agreement the city makes.
You’re very opinionated, which is good. But don’t confuse your opinions as being factual. Mansueto is a smart man, this will be a win for him and Chicago. 🔥⚽️
Very nice!
Self financed sports facility is indeed good news. Still would need to learn more about Housing Concepts. Community 78 planning remains important to Greater Englewood via CREATE Program. Railroad Operational shifts should incorporate public engagement beyond the Near South community to of course, communities south of 47th Street and the railroad operational shifts underway across Greater Englewood.
As former mayor of Chicago and current resident of this beautiful city i know I speak for many……who watches soccer cause I know I dont its a horrible sport please don’t built here on 78 you too white Soxs yous can’t even sell out seats in Guaranteed rate field and yous wanna build another stadium Jerry reinsdorf is going senile