Design and Construction Report staff writer
Chicago Fire FC has released renderings for a new $650 million, privately financed stadium set to rise along the South Branch of the Chicago River as part of the city’s ambitious new neighbourhood development known as The 78.The 22,000-seat soccer-specific venue, expected to open in 2028, will serve as the centerpiece of the first phase of the 62-acre mixed-use site. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026.
The stadium is being entirely funded by Fire FC owner and chairman Joe Mansueto.
“I love this city and its architecture,” Mansueto said in a statement. “This stadium is adding to Chicago’s iconic skyline, so I want it to look timeless. It will look like it’s always belonged here, but with the modern innovations required for a world-class soccer club.”
The facility will feature riverfront views and open public plazas, along with 50 private suites and a 2,000-seat bleacher section designed specifically for the team’s most passionate supporters.
“We are creating a fortress for our team and a home for our fans,” said Dave Baldwin, the club’s president of business operations. “The open-air stadium with grass playing surface and intimate environment is intentional to give our team an edge and bring our supporters even closer to the team they love.”
The 78, a project by developer Related Midwest, is billed as Chicago’s “78th neighbourhood,” transforming a long-vacant tract of land into a major new district for housing, business, entertainment and transit.
The new stadium will bring the team back to the city’s core after years of playing at suburban and shared venues, and is expected to boost surrounding development and community engagement.
