Dive Brief:
- The Windy City’s Major League Soccer franchise is getting a new home field. Chicago Fire FC kicked off construction on its forthcoming $750 million stadium on March 3.
- Chicago area-based contractors Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group and All Construction Group will build the venue, according to a groundbreaking announcement from the Fire.
- Billionaire Joe Mansueto, founder of investment research firm Morningstar and owner of the team, will privately fund the 22,000-seat stadium, designed as the centerpiece of Phase 1 of The 78, Related Midwest’s mixed-use development and neighborhood along the Chicago River that will act as the city’s 78th neighborhood.
Dive Insight:
Rob Martinelli, senior vice president at Pepper Construction, told Construction Dive via email the firm is working with its trade partners, unions and industry associations to staff the job.
“Having built in the city for nearly a century, we have earned a reputation as a great contractor to work with, and we look forward to partnering with a robust, inclusive workforce to build the stadium,” Martinelli said.
The team originally unveiled plans for the arena last year, listing the construction cost at $650 million. That figure was an early estimate which has been amended as plans progressed, a Chicago Fire FC spokesperson told Construction Dive.
The franchise’s stadium, designed by architecture firm Gensler, will feature 360-degree viewing and an all-grass playing field, according to the soccer club. The riverfront venue will also integrate activated outdoor spaces, public plazas and both retail and residential developments within The 78. When not hosting soccer games, the stadium will host concerts and other large-scale events.
The design is also inspired by Chicago’s “brick-and-steel industrial heritage,” according to Gensler. It will contain an exposed steel canopy and a purpose-built supporter section, alongside a new water taxi stop along the river for both game days and the workday.
Chicago Fire FC’s new home is an integral part of The 78, which will connect to several of Chicago’s neighborhoods in the area, including South Loop, Chinatown, Bronzeville, Bridgeport, UIC/Little Italy and Pilsen, according to the development’s webpage. It will be accessible by multiple modes of transit, including the river, road, rail and trail systems.
The facility builds on previous investments in the city by the soccer club. The Fire opened the Endeavor Health Performance Center, a $100 million, state-of-the-art training facility in 2025, per the announcement. The team also relocated its business operations to the Wrigley Building downtown, about two miles from the South Loop neighborhood.
The club expects the stadium to open in time for the 2028 season.
