Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto has unveiled plans for a privately financed, $650 million soccer stadium at The 78, a long-vacant 62-acre site along the Chicago River in the South Loop. The 22,000-seat open-air venue is expected to break ground as early as fall 2025 and open in time for the 2028 Major League Soccer season.
This project marks a major shift for Chicago sports, as Mansueto—founder of Morningstar and Fire owner since 2019—will fund the stadium himself, avoiding the public financing controversies that have dogged other local teams. The stadium will anchor a larger mixed-use development, including restaurants, retail, offices, residential buildings, and green space, transforming The 78 into a new sports and entertainment district.
The Fire, who have played at Soldier Field since 2020, will remain there until the new stadium is complete. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has called the plan “one of the most ambitious” in league history, and city leaders say the stadium will create thousands of jobs and generate significant economic impact.
While the stadium itself is privately funded, developer Related Midwest may seek public funds for infrastructure improvements at the site. The Fire’s move is expected to reshape Chicago’s sports landscape—and finally give the city’s soccer fans a permanent, purpose-built home.
