A new stadium will take the Fire to the next level in MLS

Development is scheduled to commence at the end of 2025, with a target opening in spring 2028.  It will be located along the Chicago River, just south of Roosevelt Road, serving as a focal point for the city’s new 78^th neighborhood.

It will be so much more than a soccer stadium, however. The project will include an entertainment district, with the mixed-use development eventually including restaurants, retail, office space and residential buildings, along with green space and an extension of the Chicago Riverwalk.

Soccer is about community; it’s why clubs such as LAFC and Seattle Sounders FC have been so successful in recent years. Having a specialist space to build that, while also having other amenities, will help the Fire do exactly that and reach beyond their already established fan base.

Not only could it attract new fans, but almost as importantly, it could be a major driving force to bring new players to the club. They’ve missed out on Kevin de Bruyne, who will join Serie A champions Napoli, according to several reports back in Europe. 

So what? There are plenty of fish in the sea.

The Fire’s current Belgian superstar, Hugo Cuypers, has already confirmed that the club’s vision, including a new stadium, was a driving force behind his move to the club, and he’s unlikely to be the last.

“It’s a confirmation of everything that’s been said to me when I signed over a year ago,” stated Cuypers. “And it shows ambition. I think that resonates with me and is part of the reason why I chose Chicago Fire. The facility is a good example, and the stadium is another great example of the ambition the Club has, and hopefully, it helps us perform.”

Being a soccer player is a short career. The money is nice, but more than anything, they want to feel supported at a club that shows genuine ambition and takes good care of them, the same stuff we all want from our employers.

Thanks to Mansueto, this could be a genuinely transformative moment for the Fire. As MLS grows both domestically and abroad, in the coming years, Chicago may soon be the top destination in the league.