JUST IN: According to Tuesday announcement, Chicago Fire FC will build a new “soccer-specific” stadium in the South Loop at the site known as The 78. The $650 million stadium will be personally financed by Chicago FC owner and Chicago native Joe Mansueto, the announcement said, and not require taxpayer funding.

A new “world-class stadium” is coming to Chicago—but it’s not being built by the White Sox or the Bears.

On Tuesday, Chicago Fire FC announced plans for a new soccer-specific stadium in the city’s South Loop, at a site known as The 78. The $650 million project will be privately funded by team owner and Chicago native Joe Mansueto, with no taxpayer dollars involved.

The stadium will serve as the centerpiece of a 62-acre development by Related Midwest, intended to transform the area along Roosevelt Road and the Chicago River into a new “78th neighborhood,” according to the announcement.

In an open letter titled “Dear Chicago,” Mansueto described the project as more than just a venue for games. “It’s a place where fans of all ages and backgrounds can come together to celebrate soccer, right in the heart of the city,” he wrote. “This is an investment in Chicago—not just on match days, but every day—as a committed community partner.”

Designed as an open-air stadium, it will seat 22,000 fans and is expected to break ground in late 2025 or early 2026, opening in time for the 2028 MLS season.

The Fire previously played at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview until 2019, then returned to Soldier Field in 2020—where they had played during their early years before moving between venues.

This announcement follows earlier reports that the Chicago White Sox were also eyeing The 78 for a potential new stadium after their lease at Guaranteed Rate Field expires in 2029. Meanwhile, the Bears have renewed focus on relocating to Arlington Heights, after buying the now-closed Arlington Park in 2023. However, tax disputes have delayed that project, leading the team to reaffirm plans for a suburban stadium.