The Daily Dig
Chicago Fire FC has broken ground on a $750 million privately funded soccer stadium in Chicago's South Loop. The project sits along the Chicago River inside The 78 mixed-use development and is targeted to open before the 2028 MLS season. It will be the first major professional stadium built in Chicago in over thirty years.
Gensler designed the open-air facility, which seats more than 22,000 and includes a natural grass field, 360-degree sightlines, a dedicated supporters' section, and premium hospitality space.
Related Midwest is master developer of The 78, with Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group, and All Construction Group delivering the build as a three-firm partnership. Beyond match days, the venue is programmed for concerts, international competitions, community events, and large-scale activations year-round.
Project Snapshot:
Owner: Chicago Fire FC (Joe Mansueto)
Master Developer: Related Midwest (The 78)
Construction Partners: Pepper Construction; GMA Construction Group; All Construction Group
Design Team: Gensler
Sector: Sports / Stadium
Project Value: $750 million (privately funded)
Location: South Loop, Chicago, Illinois (Chicago River at The 78)
Scope: Open-air soccer stadium, 22,000+ seats, natural grass field
Timeline / Status: Construction underway; targeted opening before the 2028 MLS season
TheJobWalk Thoughts
This stadium is part of a larger capital push by Joe Mansueto, who has committed more than $1 billion to Chicago Fire FC since taking full ownership in 2019. That includes the $100 million Endeavor Health Performance Center and the 9,000 square foot Dear Chicago Experience Center at the Wrigley Building.
For contractors and suppliers, stadium work at this scale stacks up quickly across structural, seating, broadcast, MEP, hospitality, and public realm scopes. The surrounding site work tied to The 78's riverfront district is worth tracking separately, as those packages can be substantial on their own.
On sports projects like this, procurement for specialty systems- turf, precast, and major MEP, tends to close earlier than most expect. If you're targeting work here, the time to get in front of Pepper, GMA, and All Construction is now.
