New Chicago Fire Stadium Will Leave Only Six MLS Clubs as Secondary Tenants

Chicago Fire made headlines Tuesday with the announcement of a $650 million, privately financed stadium to be built downtown in “The 78” district, marking a new chapter for the club. As Forbes reports, the 22,000-seat venue is expected to open in 2028, finally giving the Fire a permanent home after years of instability.

The move will end the team’s secondary tenancy at Soldier Field, home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, and address past missteps such as the ill-fated relocation to suburban SeatGeek Stadium. Once completed, the Fire will join the growing majority of MLS teams playing in soccer-specific stadiums.

Only six clubs will remain as secondary tenants: New England Revolution, Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United, Charlotte FC, and San Diego FC.

Each case is nuanced. New England and Vancouver have discussed future stadiums, but progress has stalled. Atlanta and Charlotte, both owned by NFL team owners, enjoy financial efficiency in their shared venues. Seattle’s Sounders continue exploring options in Renton, while San Diego FC shares Snapdragon Stadium with San Diego State University, despite the venue being built with MLS in mind.

As the league continues to evolve, clubs are increasingly prioritizing control over matchday experience, revenue, and identity — and building stadiums of their own is a key part of that vision.