Related Midwest’s The 78 Contends for Chicago Fire Stadium

Related Midwest’s Near South Side megadevelopment is emerging as the top contender for the Chicago Fire Football Club’s new 25,000-seat soccer stadium.

Negotiations between Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto and Related Midwest’s Curt Bailey regarding a soccer-specific stadium at The 78 are gaining traction because the development site’s favorable zoning could move construction along the fastest, Crain’s reported.

The Chicago Fire FC plays at Soldier Field under a lease that expires at the end of next year. To avoid the constraints posed by sharing a venue with the Chicago Bears, Mansueto has been “actively pursuing” a dedicated stadium at one of two sites: The 78, a 62-acre megadevelopment by Related Midwest, and Lincoln Yards, a 53-acre mixed-use development by Andy Gloor’s Sterling Bay.

Mansueto aims to establish a permanent home for the Fire, free from the constraints imposed by other tenants.

The team would likely acquire 7 to 10 acres at The 78.

The Lincoln Yards site would require rezoning, a potentially contentious process given the turnover in council members since the project’s initial approval in 2019.

Sterling Bay is also navigating financial difficulties, with major investors like J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Lone Star Funds seeking to offload their stakes in the project at substantial discounts.

The choice between The 78 and Lincoln Yards will have broader implications for Chicago’s development landscape. Both projects promised transformative change but have delivered little in the past five years beyond initial infrastructure improvements. However, the addition of a stadium could accelerate these megadevelopments.

Mansueto’s commitment to financing the stadium privately sets him apart from other Chicago sports team owners, who have sought taxpayer support for their venues. While the Chicago Bears and White Sox lobby for public funding, Mansueto’s approach has drawn attention for its independence.

— Andrew Terrell