The Chicago Fire’s $650 million new stadium will seat about 22,000 fans, including a supporter section for 2,000

The Chicago Fire FC soccer team has unveiled the design for its $650 million new stadium. Financed entirely by the club’s owner and chair, Joe Mansueto, the stadium will seat about 22,000 fans.

The design by Gensler, nodding to the Chicago School style of architecture, draws inspiration from the city’s historic warehouses for the façade of brick, steel, and glass. Located on the Chicago River near downtown, the project will provide public plazas as well as views of the water and city skyline.

“This stadium … will look like it’s always belonged here, but with the modern innovations required for a world-class soccer club,” Mansueto said in a statement.

To prioritize views, seats will be placed lower and closer to the field. An exposed steel canopy over the seating bowl will direct light and crowd noise back to the pitch, enhancing both the intimacy of Fire matches and the home-field advantage. A dedicated supporter section, purpose-built to be loud, will fit about 2,000 fans on safe-standing bleachers.

“We design every space with an eye toward elevating the match day experience,” Kirk Funkhouser, Principal-in-Charge, Gensler, said in the statement.

The stadium also will offer 50 suites, over 500 Loge seats, and 3,500 Club seats, including some with access to “exclusive clubs-within-clubs,” according to the statement.

In addition to Fire matches, the stadium will have the flexibility to host other sports and entertainment events, such as international soccer matches, concerts, and festivals.

The Chicago Fire stadium will anchor The 78, Related Midwest’s 62-acre riverfront development, also designed by Gensler. Along with residential and commercial buildings, The 78 will feature a half-mile riverwalk, more than six acres of public open space, and various community spaces for year-round programming.

Construction at The 78 is anticipated to begin by the start of 2026. The new stadium is expected to open in 2028.