Chicago Fire FC has selected three Chicago-based contractors — Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group, and All Construction Group — to lead construction of its new $650 million stadium in downtown Chicago, the club announced on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Team owner and chairman Joe Mansueto said the decision followed a lengthy search that included national firms with extensive stadium experience. “We ran a really exhaustive process,” Mansueto said. “But in the end, it felt right to go with a team of local builders.”
GMA Construction Group president and CEO Cornelius Griggs called the partnership a reflection of the city’s character. “This project is more than just a stadium,” Griggs said. “It’s a place for people from all walks of life to come together — and we wanted the diversity of the joint venture to mirror that.”
Luis Puig, president of All Construction Group, emphasized the broader impact beyond sports. “This is about more than building a venue,” Puig said. “It’s about neighborhoods, communities, and workforce development.”
The privately financed 22,000-seat venue will anchor The 78, a 62-acre development site along the Chicago River just south of Roosevelt Road. Groundbreaking is slated for early 2026, with opening targeted for 2028.
In June 16, 2025, the Chicago Fire unveiled new renderings for their proposed $650 million riverfront stadium at The 78 development along the Chicago River. Designed by global architecture firm Gensler, the venue takes cues from the “Chicago School” style, featuring brick, steel, and glass elements meant to reflect the city’s industrial heritage and resilient spirit.
Chicago FC will be one amonsgt a long list of major stadiums currently under development in the USA.
Intended to open a new chapter for the club and its supporters, the stadium form reconciles the ambition for the finest of modern comforts with the ambition for the finest sense of place. It will feature panoramic views across the river and public squares open to all, serving as both a powerful architectural icon and a civic gathering space.
Bordering Related Midwest’s 62-acre mixed-use development just south of Roosevelt Road, the stadium itself will offer fans a first-rate experience. Inside, the seating bowl is designed to seat fans much closer to the field, enhancing sightlines and elevating matchday energy. An open steel canopy will bounce back light and sound onto the pitch, boosting crowd energy and maximizing the team’s home-field advantage.
Upscale seating and hospitality options
The venue will have a variety of upscale seating and hospitality options on various levels: 50 suites, more than 500 Loge seats, and 3,500 Club seats—some with access to private, club-within-a-club areas.
At the center of the stadium will be a unique supporter section, seating around 2,000 fans on safe-standing bleachers. Dedicated to providing a high-decibel and charged environment, the section will be one of the most energetic supporter sections in Major League Soccer.
Although the Fire won’t occupy the adjacent riverfront boardwalk that the renderings portray, the club will have access to surrounding plaza space for pre- and post-game events. Operating temporarily from Soldier Field, the club last month announced plans to build the new stadium on Related Midwest-owned property.
The Chicago Fire FC is poised to revolutionize the city’s sports landscape with a brand-new, soccer-specific stadium in the South Loop. This strategic location has the potential to catalyze the area’s revitalization, bringing new life to a long-undeveloped site.
A World-Class Venue
The team owner Joe Mansueto, founder of Morningstar Financial Services, providing private funding. However, the developer may seek tax increment financing (TIF) to support infrastructure development, which could involve taxpayer dollars. Undoubtedly, the new stadium for Chicago Fire FC will be a world-class venue.
Infrastructure Upgrades
To prepare the site for development, significant infrastructure improvements are necessary. These include relocating railroad tracks, rebuilding the seawall, and installing new water, sewer, and power lines. While Mansueto will cover significant construction costs, the city will likely fund critical infrastructure upgrades. The infrastructure undertaking is crucial for the Chicago Fire’s new stadium project.
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A Bright Future
With construction slated to begin this fall or early next year, the stadium is expected to open ahead of the 2028 Major League Soccer season. This ambitious project promises to bring new energy to the area, providing a world-class venue for Chicago Fire FC fans and contributing to the city’s vibrant sports scene. As the project moves forward, it’s clear that this development will be a game-changer for Chicago. The future of the Chicago Fire new stadium looks incredibly promising.
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Chicago Fire’s Proposed new Stadium: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Location: “The 78,” South Loop, Chicago
Project Type: Soccer-specific stadium
Key Features
Seating Capacity: 22,000 fans
Stadium Design: Open-air with natural grass field
Architectural Firm: Gensler
Construction Team:
Pepper Construction
All Construction Group
Chicago Fire FC New Stadium: Project Details
Estimated Cost: $650 million
Funding Source: Privately funded by Joe Mansueto, with potential tax increment financing (TIF) for infrastructure development
Infrastructure Upgrades: Relocation of railroad tracks, rebuilt seawall, new water, sewer, and power lines
Project Timeline
Construction Start: Fall or early next year
Rendering unveiling: June 16, 2025
Expected Opening: Ahead of the 2028 Major League Soccer season. Look forward to the Chicago Fire FC new stadium’s opening and its impact on soccer.
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