The Chicago Fire has broken ground for their $750 million soccer stadium in the South Loop, set to transform the city's competitive sports landscape. The stadium, which will be privately funded, will be located in The 78, a mixed-used megadevelopment that has been struggling for years. The 22,000-seat open-air soccer facility, the most expensive in the MLS, is set to open by the 2028 season. The red brick stadium will feature a natural grass pitch, 50 luxury suites, intimate seating and a canopied roof. The groundbreaking was marked by hundreds of business leaders, politicos, team officials, players and fans. Mayor Brandon Johnson called it a “transformational day” for Chicago.