Chicago Fire unveil plan for new $650m stadium

The Chicago Fire unveiled plans to physique a privately funded, soccer-specific stadium on the Chicago River connected Tuesday.

The 22,000-seat facility, located conscionable southbound of Roosevelt Road, has a projected outgo of $650 cardinal and is expected to unfastened successful the outpouring of 2028.

Club president and proprietor Joe Mansueto said the task includes an amusement territory with restaurants, retail and bureau abstraction and residential buildings, on with greenish abstraction and an hold of the Chicago Riverwalk.

"A world-class metropolis deserves a world-class shot nine -- with a world-class location to match," Mansueto said of the 62-acre task located successful the city's aboriginal 78th neighborhood.

"Our privately funded stadium is purpose-built for shot to springiness our players an borderline and our fans an unthinkable matchday experience. This improvement volition beryllium transformative for some the Chicago Fire FC and the metropolis of Chicago. Our caller stadium volition beryllium the anchor of this caller vicinity which volition physique community, make thousands of jobs, and person a important affirmative economical impact."

The stadium volition diagnostic a earthy writer playing aboveground and volition beryllium easy accessible by nationalist transportation.

"Joe Mansueto isn't conscionable gathering a shot stadium -- he's reshaping the aboriginal of shot successful Chicago," MLS commissioner Don Garber said.

"This is 1 of the astir ambitious stadium projects successful Major League Soccer history, and a almighty reflection of Joe's bonzer committedness to the Fire, the fans, and the city. I toured the tract recently, and there's nary uncertainty that this volition beryllium a transformative infinitesimal for the nine and a landmark for Chicago sports."

The Fire presently play their location matches astatine Soldier Field, location of the NFL's Chicago Bears, aft relocating from SeatGeek Stadium successful adjacent Bridgeview, Ill., successful 2020.