The South Loop’s long‑stalled 62‑acre tract known as The 78 finally has a headliner: a privately financed soccer stadium that backers say will reshape the riverfront and reset the neighborhood’s economic game plan. And down on Michigan Avenue, community groups and small businesses are already gearing up to catch the wave — see Overflow Coffee, tucked inside the historic Vee‑Jay Records building with an enterprise coworking hub upstairs. Big‑ticket development is meeting grassroots hustle, and the collision is getting louder as plans firm up and outreach ramps up.
What Related and the Fire are promising
Developers Related Midwest and Chicago Fire officials have outlined a roughly $650 million, 22,000‑seat, soccer‑specific stadium that would anchor The 78 and activate a half‑mile stretch of riverfront. As detailed by Related Midwest and Chicago Fire FC, the venue would be paired with restaurants, storefronts, and hospitality spaces, with construction targeted to begin in early 2026 and matches slated for 2028. Backers say the privately financed project would support thousands of construction and permanent jobs while building out a year‑round entertainment district.
Local entrepreneurs are already positioning
Tanja Babich’s Coffee Chat dropped by Overflow at 14th and Michigan to show how a neighborhood coffee shop plus a coworking space can try to ride the upswing. ABC7 Chicago reported that founder Brian Jenkins opened Overflow in the former Vee‑Jay Records building and paired it with Mox.E coworking upstairs to support Black, Brown, and women entrepreneurs. Overflow’s site lists the address as 1449 S. Michigan Ave. and describes a craft coffee shop that doubles as a community space for events and training.
Infrastructure questions remain
Even as the Fire and the developer tout private financing for the stadium itself, there’s still a tab to prep the site — think railroad moves, seawall repairs, and utility upgrades. As noted in reporting on public costs on the table, those pieces are part of ongoing city conversations, and NBC Chicago notes aldermanic approvals tied the project to broader infrastructure work. How those bills get covered will shape the pace — and who benefits — as the buildout advances.
Timeline and what to watch next
Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest, told ABC7 Chicago the team has held "dozens, if not 100 meetings with almost every single group," adding, "we always thought of 'The 78' as a neighborhood ... we're going to build 'The 78th.'" Per Related’s release, the goal is to break ground in the first quarter of 2026 and host soccer in 2028; renderings also tout river activation that could bring spectators to events by boat. Next up: final city approvals, procurement commitments, and the timeline for critical site utilities.
What it means for neighborhood businesses
For small businesses, the question is whether the promises translate into contracts and jobs for residents and entrepreneurs. Entrenuity positions Mox.E and Overflow Coffee as part of that pipeline — offering coaching, space, and capital connections for Black and Brown founders — and has begun programming to prepare neighborhood vendors for larger riverfront events. Keep an eye on community meetings and City Hall votes this winter for a read on whether the stadium’s boost spreads broadly or lands elsewhere.
