With shovels in hand and cameras rolling, Mayor Brandon Johnson joined Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto and team leaders Tuesday to officially kick off construction of the club’s long-planned, privately financed stadium at The 78. The open-air, soccer-specific venue is slated to seat about 22,000 fans and serve as the anchor for the 62-acre South Loop redevelopment. Organizers say the project is on track to open for the 2028 MLS season, making it the first major new pro sports stadium built in Chicago in more than 30 years.
WATCH LIVE: Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the groundbreaking for the new Chicago Fire Stadium. https://x.com/i/status/2028925180651643061
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@chicagosmayor) March 3, 2026
Plans and price tag
The club says the new stadium will seat roughly 22,000 fans and is targeting an opening in time for the 2028 MLS season, according to Chicago Fire FC. The stadium is set to anchor The 78, a 62-acre riverfront site between Roosevelt Road and Clark Street, as described on the project’s website. Media reports put the cost of the project somewhere between about $650 million and $750 million, according to NBC Chicago.
Community concerns and demands
Not everyone showed up to celebrate. Community groups gathered near the site before the ceremony and called for a binding community benefits agreement that would guarantee affordable housing, local hiring commitments, and transit investments tied to the project, as reported by CBS Chicago. Organizers warned that, without firm protections written into the project agreements, the development could speed up displacement in nearby neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Bronzeville, and Pilsen.
Construction team and timeline
The Fire have tapped a joint venture of Chicago-based firms Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group, and ALL Construction Group to lead the build. Early phases of work are expected to focus on site grading, extending utilities, and removing unused rail infrastructure, according to Chicago Construction News. The City Council approved zoning for the stadium last year, and club officials say the venue will be financed privately by Mansueto.
What to watch next
All eyes now shift to the fine print. Key questions include whether the developers or the club will agree to a community benefits agreement and whether the city or the CTA will commit to additional transit service to handle game-day crowds. The Fire have already opened their "Dear Chicago Experience Center" to showcase and sell premium suites and partnership opportunities, as detailed by SportsBusiness Journal. Mayor Johnson streamed the groundbreaking live on X.
