Chicago Fire FC Give Fans Look At Future $750M Downtown Stadium Project

CHICAGO — While the future stadium plans for the city's American football team remains somewhat of a mystery, another Chicago football (soccer) club that also currently competes at Soldier Field is set to break ground on its future pitch (field). Chicago Fire FC has released a new rendering of its $750 million privately-funded stadium project, which will be located in the South Loop along the South Branch of the Chicago River.

The 22,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium breaks ground next month. Team officials tell Patch the team's new home will be open in time for the 2028 Major League Soccer season.

In September 2025, the Chicago City Council officially approved the "transformative" project, which Chicago Fire FC aims to anchor the city's newest neighborhood, "The 78," and "redefine the future of sports and entertainment in the city.

"Soccer is the world's game and a world-class city like ours deserves a world-class Club — with a world-class home to match," said Joe Mansueto, Chicago Fire FC owner and chairman, in a letter to fans.

Mansueto, 69, a Chicago-based billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Morningstar, Inc., bought the team in 2018.

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The Fire, who played at Soldier Field during the team's inaugural season in 1998 through 2005, returned to the Near South Side and home of the Chicago Bears in 2020. The new stadium will mark the city's first such sports project in over 30 years.

"This is more than just a stadium – it's a catalyst for the growth of both our Club and Chicago," said Dave Baldwin, president of business operations. "We look forward to taking the next steps in this exciting journey and continuing to invest in the future of our great city. We’re just getting started."

According to the team, the new stadium's open-air bowl is designed to prioritize the match viewing experience with seating positions that are dramatically lower and closer to the action. In addition, the stadium will feature a variety of best-in-class hospitality spaces, amenities, and premium seating options across multiple tiers with 50 suites, more than 500 Loge seats, and 3,500 Club seats, including some with access to exclusive clubs-within-clubs.

An exposed steel canopy over the seating bowl will "help enhance the intimacy of Fire matches by directing light and crowd noise back to the pitch, creating an environment that will enhance the Fire's home-field advantage."

Meanwhile, the Fire are set to kick off the 2026 MLS campaign next Saturday, Feb. 21, with a home contest versus the Houston Dynamo at Soldier Field. Start time for the game is 7:30 p.m. with tickets still available.

Fans looking to secure a spot at the new stadium can place a refundable stadium deposit atc the Chicago Fire FC website here.