Chicago Fire Announce Soccer-Specific Stadium Plans at The 78
The Chicago Fire will finally be getting a stadium they can call their own.
After five years playing at Soldier Field, they're set to move to The 78 development in the South Loop, and the club announced plans for the move early this morning. The 22,000-capacity, $650 million stadium will be entirely privately funded by owner Joe Mansueto, who has owned the team since 2019.
“A world-class city deserves a world-class football club, with a world-class home to match,” Mansueto said. “We're building one at The 78. Our privately funded stadium is purpose-built for soccer to give our players an edge and our fans an incredible matchday experience. This development will be transformative for both the Chicago Fire FC and the city of Chicago.”
“Our new stadium will be the anchor of this new neighborhood, which will build community, create thousands of jobs, and have a significant positive economic impact.”
The site is just 2 miles – or a 10-minute drive – from the brand-new Endeavor Health Performance Center. Located at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and the river, it will also be easily accessible to transit. An additional parking garage near the 9-acre site is also planned.
“This is a monumental day not just for The 78 but for all of Chicago,” said Curt Bailey, the President of Related Midwest who are developing the 78. “The Fire’s decision to bring the city’s first soccer-specific stadium to our site will give rise to an entirely new sports and entertainment district that activates more than a half-mile of downtown riverfront. Few institutions have the ability to create the sweeping economic benefits this stadium will generate — and soon.”
Progress on the new stadium is expected to advance in record time. Development could start as early as later this year or early next year, with the goal of completion by the start of the 2028 MLS season.
As if the opening of the aforementioned training center wasn't enough of a game-changer for the Fire organization, the new stadium could help propel the club among MLS' elite. Its lack of a comfy home stadium, and the sight of 40,000+ empty seats held the club back, as even solid crowds at Soldier Field still seemed small. Now, they'll have complete control over their own building and could foster an environment that will lead to more success on the field.
“Joe Mansueto isn’t just building a soccer stadium – he’s reshaping the future of soccer in Chicago,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “This is one of the most ambitious stadium projects in Major League Soccer history, and a powerful reflection of Joe’s extraordinary commitment to the Fire, the fans, and the city. I toured the site recently, and there’s no doubt that this will be a transformative moment for the club and a landmark for Chicago sports.”
Read more:
https://meninred97.com/chicago-fire-inaugurate-new-endeavor-health-performance-center-this-is-a-civic-project/
https://meninred97.com/we-are-active-in-looking-for-a-stadium-mansuetos-fire-mull-move-from-soldier-field/
