NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Soccer Club, City of Chicago and Chicago Park District Announce the Team's Return to Soldier Field

October 8, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, Ill. - Today, on the 148th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District announced that the soccer team will return to the heart of the city and play its home games at Soldier Field, beginning in 2020. SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. has been home to the Fire since 2006, and the team will continue to utilize the stadium as a training facility and headquarters for Chicago Fire Youth development programs.

A press conference at Soldier Field this morning featured Chicago Fire Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto, City of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Michael Kelly.

"Our Club needs to be located centrally where all of Chicago can enjoy it," said Mansueto. "Soldier Field is the perfect location. In my view, part of being a world-class city today is having a professional soccer team located downtown. You see what's happening in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Their Major League Soccer teams are bringing their cities together and have become an important part of the cultural fabric of the city. We will make that happen for Chicago too."

"Chicago is the greatest sports town in the world, and I am thrilled to welcome the Chicago Fire back home to Solider Field, giving families in every one of our neighborhoods a chance to cheer for their team in the heart of our beautiful downtown," said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "From arts, culture, business, sports, and entertainment, Chicago is second to none in creating a dynamic destination for residents and visitors alike, and I look forward to many years of exciting Chicago Fire soccer to come."

The Chicago Fire was founded in 1997 and began playing in Major League Soccer in 1998. The Fire have won six major domestic championship titles, including the 1998 MLS Cup, the 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups, as well as the 2003 Supporters' Shield. As an early MLS expansion team, Chicago played at Soldier Field from 1998 until 2001 and then from 2003 to 2005 before moving to Bridgeview in 2006.

"The Chicago Fire rounds out an incredible legacy of sports teams that call the city home," said Superintendent Kelly. "Being able to bring the Chicago Fire back to where it got started, to the 61,000 seat Soldier Field that will bring so many to Chicago is a win-win for everyone."

2020 Home Opener

The Chicago Fire will open its 2020 season on Saturday, March 21 in a nationally televised game against the reigning MLS Cup champions and current Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions, Atlanta United FC. Major League Soccer has 34 regular season games - 17 away and 17 home games played between February and October. All regular season Fire home games will be played at Soldier Field. Any regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs games will be scheduled to not interfere with Chicago Bears home games. The new agreement is for an initial term of three years.

"As Daniel Burnham said, 'Make no little plans,'" said Mansueto. "We dream big. We want to invite the whole City of Chicago to attend a game next year. We hope that every seat in Soldier Field will be filled on March 21, 2020."

Ticket Information - $20 for '20

Fans can place a refundable $20 deposit today to secure a spot in line to select seats at Soldier Field. For more information on Chicago Fire tickets at Soldier Field visit www.Chicago-Fire.com.

The refundable deposit can be applied to any 2020 ticket - season tickets, multi-game plans or single games.

Seat selection priority will be given to, in order: renewing season ticket holders; renewing partial season ticket holders; new fans who have made a $20 deposit, based on the date and time of purchase.

On November, 1, 2019, ticket package offerings will be announced and seat location selection will begin.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from October 8, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central