New MLS stadiums: Future sites and rumors

The Chicago Fire currently play at Soldier Field, having moved back there in 2020 after leaving the venerable NFL stadium in 2005 for SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview, Ill.

However, in 2022 Fire president Ishwara Glassman Chrein told a town hall event for fans that building a soccer-specific stadium within the Chicago city limits is very much on the table.

“We want to be the Chicago Fire. We want to be close to you, our fans,” said Glassman Chrein in quotes published by the Chicago Sun-Times. Hopefully we’ll be able to share more on that in the coming months, but we’re still looking at those options.

Glassman Chrein pointed out that the difficulties of scheduling at Soldier Field — the stadium is home to the Chicago Bears of the NFL as well as a busy concert venue — mean the club will have to play at SeatGeek Stadium multiple times every season. Additionally, the 61,500-seat capacity is artificially capped at 24,955 for MLS matches, leaving a cavernous feel that echoes the feel around the league in the 1990s and early 2000s.

No firm plans have been made pubic yet, though, meaning a future stadium for the Fire should still be seen as hypothetical. That said, with the Bears also discussing the idea of moving to a new home — Soldier Field is the NFL’s smallest stadium, as well as its oldest — the Fire have some external pressure to push further down the path.