Chicago Fire breaks ground on $750 million stadium at The 78

The Chicago Fire broke ground Tuesday on a $750 million soccer stadium in the South Loop, which was also a first step toward developing the long-dormant parcel known as The 78.

The 22,000-seat stadium, bankrolled by the Fire’s billionaire owner, Joe Mansueto, is expected to be complete in time for the team’s 2028-29 season. The soccer stadium will be a huge boon for the team, which currently plays at Soldier Field but has had games pushed to the suburbs due to scheduling conflicts with the Chicago Bears and concerts.

“This is a culmination of some work that seeks to turn some of the most valuable and prominent pieces of fallow land in the city of Chicago into a world-class stadium and a vibrant surrounding community,” Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), whose ward includes the project, said.

The stadium will serve as an anchor for The 78, the 62-acre site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street that has eluded development for years. The land, owned by Related Midwest, is one of the largest undeveloped parcels left in the city.

The first phase of development at The 78 will include more than 1,400 feet of publicly-accessible riverfront space, a new water taxi stop, 1 1/2 miles of bike trails, Divvy bike stations, two temporary surface parking lots, public parking and 3 acres of sports fields, according to Related Midwest.

Once the 62-acre project is complete, it's estimated to generate $8 billion in economic impact. The development will also include homes, trails and a connection to Ping Tom Memorial Park.

“This not only will be a great place to come watch a soccer match or concert, it'll be a fantastic place to call home for thousands of Chicagoans,” Dave Baldwin, Chicago Fire’s president of business operations, said.

Mansueto had two options when selecting the team's permanent home: The 78 and the now-defunct Lincoln Yards megadevelopment. Lincoln Yards collapsed last year and a large portion of the North Side project was purchased by Chicago-based JDL Development, who received the City Council’s approval last month for a scaled-back vision for the site.

Mansueto said he “immediately fell in love” with The 78 and its picturesque views of Chicago. And a soccer stadium was already a permitted use at the site.

“I knew it was the right home for the Fire,” he said. “It's really perfect. I think the right model today to build a neighborhood is to have a stadium as an anchor. So we're very proud to be the anchor to The 78 site and really get this site going.”

The land, once owned by convicted political fixer Tony Rezko, had been considered for Amazon’s second world headquarters. It was also in the running to become United Airlines' new corporate headquarters, the new home for JPMorganChase and the spot for a casino. The University of Illinois in 2024 pulled out of plans to build its $300 million technology and research hub Discovery Partners Institute, instead picking the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and buying a building in the Loop.

Renderings, released in June, show a stadium that resembles a warehouse, invoking Chicago’s industrial manufacturing roots, with fans entering from Roosevelt Road.

The stadium and its surrounding districts are designed to be a year-round economic engine. Baldwin said events from rugby and lacrosse games to concerts and corporate events will be held at the stadium.

“We expect the Chicago Fire stadium to be an anchor on The 78 that will attract recreation, dining, cultural spaces and investments for our entire city,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

He also made a slight dig at the Chicago Bears, who have created a bidding war between Illinois and Indiana over which state can claim the NFL franchise.

“I will say that it is so good to make sure at least one of our football teams in Chicago is good,” Johnson said. “One more to go!”

The Fire stadium gained instant momentum and a speedy approval because Mansueto is footing the bill. The development has also received praise from South Loop residents, though some in Chinatown and other nearby neighborhoods have expressed concerns over the development pricing out long-time residents and small businesses.

As construction begins on the stadium, the future remains hazy for the White Sox, whose chairman, Jerry Reinsdorf, once eyed The 78 as a potential spot for a new stadium. The land’s development agreement doesn't allow for a second stadium, unless the developers come back to the Chicago Plan Commission and the community for consideration.