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15h ago

Chicago Fire Break Ground on 22,000-Seat, Privately Funded Stadium at The 78

Community groups push for a binding benefits agreement with calls for transit upgrades.

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Fireworks and flames go off as Chicago officials and Chicago Fire representatives hold groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the site of what will be the team's new home, a 22,000-seat, open-air soccer stadium at the north end of the area called "The 78" near Roosevelt Road in Chicago's South Loop. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • Team officials, Mayor Brandon Johnson and MLS leaders marked the March 3 ceremony at the South Loop riverfront site.
  • Owner Joe Mansueto is financing the project, with reported costs between $650 million and $750 million, and an opening targeted for 2028.
  • The venue will anchor The 78, a 62-acre redevelopment billed as phase one of an $8 billion mixed-use district with new riverfront public space and year-round events.
  • Coalitions from nearby neighborhoods seek a Community Benefits Agreement addressing affordable housing, local hiring and protections for Chinatown, Bronzeville and Pilsen.
  • Advocates cite no added CTA service in current plans and call for a new South Loop/Chinatown station, while elected officials press for transparency on $700 million in TIF funds tied to the site.