MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire to Call Bridgeview Home

Published on January 25, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (Sunday, January 25, 2004) - After months of reviewing stadium proposals from more than 20 Chicagoland communities, AEG President and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke and Chicago Fire General Manager Peter Wilt today announced that they have signed an agreement with the Village of Bridgeview to build a $70 million, 20,000 to 25,000-seat, world-class soccer stadium in Chicago's Southland region that will house the Major League Soccer team permanently with a targeted move-in date of Spring 2006.

With last summer's completion of The Home Depot Center, home to MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy and all U.S. National Soccer Teams, the Columbus Crew Stadium (inaugurated in 1999), and a new stadium currently undergoing construction for the Dallas Burn in Frisco, Texas, the Chicago Fire site will become the fourth soccer-specific stadium in MLS's ten-team stable.

"I am proud to announce today that AEG will develop a world-class venue in Bridgeview that will be more than just a home of the Chicago Fire and other soccer matches, featuring the U.S. National Team and match-ups of the best collegiate and international teams. This state-of-the-art stadium will also be a showplace for concerts and other sporting competitions," said Leiweke. "We thank Mayor Landek for his tremendous support and commitment which has created a true partnership for AEG and the Village of Bridgeview. This development will serve as a resource for the community providing programming, facilities and assistance for organizations who share our vision of supporting the communities where we live and work."

The new stadium will be located at 79th and Harlem on approximately 60 acres. The Fire will operate as the stadium's primary tenant, and the site will house the team's offices and official team training center with an additional training field to be built adjacent to the stadium. The stadium is expected to create more than 700 construction jobs, and nearly 350 new jobs -- 100 of them full time -- will be required for the operation of the facility once it opens. In addition, the activity brought by the stadium is expected to help inject more than 200 jobs in the local economy.

Similar to AEG's Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the stadium will be a multi-purpose facility that can be used by the fast-growing youth soccer communities in the Southland region for camps, clinics and games. Additional planned uses are for NCAA and international soccer matches, high school football and concerts. Since its inauguration last June, The Home Depot Center has drawn more than 750,000 people to the 27,000-seat venue.

The new site will also be the center point of a re-development that is expected to include restaurants, theaters and other commercial establishments. A new 110-room AmeriSuites Hotel is planned adjacent to the proposed site to supplement the existing 7,000 hotel rooms in the area.

"This is a tremendous day for soccer in Chicagoland," said Wilt. "Bridgeview and AEG stepped up and invested in the future of this community and the future of soccer. This stadium will allow Chicago area soccer fans to watch the beautiful game in an appropriately sized stadium. It will allow the team to standardize its schedule on weekends. It will also allow us to host major MLS events such as the All-Star Game and MLS Cup as well as World Cup Qualifiers and other major international games."

Village of Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek applauded the Fire's decision.

"We are absolutely thrilled that the Chicago Fire has selected Bridgeview as its new home and the soccer capital of the Midwest," said Landek. "This decision is a testament to the appeal of the Village of Bridgeview and the entire Southland as a great place to do business because of our energy, our ability and our diversity.

"Bridgeview and the southwest suburbs are diverse communities that will help expand the Fire's fan base. We look forward to giving fans across the region a sports and entertainment complex and fan experience that are simply the best in Chicago and around MLS."

The new stadium will serve as a catalyst in the soccer-rich community of the Southland region. The area is home to more than 5.5 million people of Latino or European descent, many of whom have strong ties to soccer. The area also boasts more than 1.3 million households with children under the age of 18 located within a 20-mile radius of the proposed stadium.

"Having represented this area for 30 years, I couldn't think of a better place for an entertainment and sports company that is looking for supportive communities and a large untapped market," said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. "Bridgeview and the Southland will make Chicagoland and Illinois proud as the new home of the Chicago Fire."

In conjunction with AEG's Live Division, the site will also serve as a major concert venue. Singing diva Celine Dion, rock legends The Eagles, The Dave Mathews Band and Latin rock sensation Mana are just a few of the select artists that have partnered with AEG.

"The stadium is critical to the team's long term economic viability," said Wilt. "It is important to have a stadium where we can control our own destiny. In addition to the obvious need to control revenue streams, it is critical that we control scheduling, fan services and additional programming. This will allow us to serve our fans in the best possible way, offer additional games and concerts. This multi-purpose stadium will be the center of soccer in the Midwest as well as a major concert facility. The offerings will be attractive for a diverse group of sports and entertainment fans and corporate partners."

The stadium site is easily accessible by car and public transportation and is served by two of Chicago's main expressways, I-294 (Tri-State) and I-55 (Stevenson). Nearby exits include I-294 at 95th Street and Harlem Avenue and I-55 at Harlem Avenue and 52nd Street. It is 12 miles southwest of downtown Chicago (approximately 23 minutes). Other major suburbs such as Naperville, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove and Hammond (Indiana) are all within 45 minutes. The CTA's (Chicago Transportation Authority) Orange Line connects with direct bus service to the site at Midway Airport. Metra provides service to nearby Summit and Worth with connecting CTA bus service directly to the site.

During the construction process, the Fire will spend its 2004 and 2005 seasons at New Soldier Field, where it hosted two regular season games and two playoff matches last Fall, averaging more than 22,000 fans during those four games. Prior to that, the Fire spent the 2002 and most of the 2003 season at Naperville's Cardinal Stadium, as Soldier Field underwent renovations. During its tenure in the western suburb, playing in a 15,000-seat capacity stadium, the Fire averaged 13,500 fans.

"For the second time in less than a year, I am proud to celebrate the vision and innovation of a community which has dedicated its resources to the development of professional soccer in the U.S.," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Lamar Hunt coined the term 'soccer-specific stadium' with the Columbus Crew Stadium in 1999. The Home Depot Center in Carson is referred to in soccer circles as 'The Cathedral.' Last April, the forward-thinking leaders of the City of Frisco voted for a public-private partnership to build one of our spiritual homes in suburban Dallas for the 2005 season. Today marks yet another watershed moment for our sport, and the New Soccer Nation applauds everyone with the Chicago Fire, AEG and the Village of Bridgeview who enabled this dream to come true."

The agreement is captured in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Chicago Fire/AEG and the Village of Bridgeview, which is contingent upon the approval of the Village of Bridgeview Village Council at a meeting scheduled next month. Pending such approval, the site is expected to break ground in the Fall of 2004.

"My gratitude goes out to many people who have worked tirelessly on this search process," said Wilt. "Special thanks to Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Congressman Bill Lipinski, who had the vision and the dedication to get this done, former Fire captain Peter Nowak, who initially discussed the stadium idea with Mayor Landek almost two years ago, and Paul McDermott from the Fire's Development Services partner, Mesirow Stein, who added organization and direction to the search process. The Illinois and Indiana soccer associations were instrumental in this effort as well. I also want to thank Jim Garrett of the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, who has already made us feel welcome and with whom we look forward to partner to market our team and the stadium.

"Finally, I'd like to thank Tim Leiweke, whose tremendous vision and endless support will allow this dream to come true for the Fire and our fans."

The Fire and Village will be hosting a reception for the general public on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:00 p.m. at Bridgeview's Sports Dome, located at 8900 S. 77th Avenue. Fire players, coaches and officials are expected to attend, as well as various Bridgeview and Chicago Southland dignitaries and leaders from Chicagoland soccer organizations.

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, the London Arena, The Forum (as exclusive booking agent for sports and entertainment programming), HealthSouth Training Center and NextStage at Grand Prairie and Kodak Theaters (as operators); sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Manchester Monarchs (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), Chicago Fire, DC United, Los Angeles Galaxy, Metrostars and San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), five hockey franchises operated in Europe and management of shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA). AEG LIVE is currently producing Celine Dion A New Day...Presented By Chrysler, a spectacular theatrical production starring Dion and an international cast of 60 dancers, musicians and artists and directed by Franco Dragone now appearing at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In addition, AEG has recently developed and opened The Home Depot Center, a $150 million national training "campus" designated as an "Official U.S. Olympic Training Site" by the United States Olympic Committee that includes major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, volleyball, basketball and other sports in southern California.

AEG is currently overseeing the development of L.A. Live, a proposed 4 million square foot development featuring a 7,000-seat state-of-the-art live theatre, a 1200-room convention "headquarters" hotel along with entertainment, restaurant, residential and office space all adjacent to STAPLES Center. The company was recently selected to fully develop the 28-acre Millennium Dome and adjacent property located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River and will create new arenas within the Millennium Dome and on a 50-acre site in the heart of Berlin.

Incorporated in 1947, the Village of Bridgeview offers a blend of residential, commercial and industrial development. With a population of about 17,000, the Cook County community is part of Chicagoland's budding housing, retail, cultural and entertainment markets. Fine and performing arts centers are located throughout the Chicago Southland. The region is home to many art galleries, theatre groups, and an internationally recognized sculpture park.

The Chicago Fire was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. In 2003, in only its sixth year of existence, the Fire was crowned Eastern Conference Champion and captured its third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The team also won its first MLS Supporters' Shield after posting the best overall regular season record. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1998 and 2000. It was crowned Central Division Champion in 2000 and 2001.

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features many top stars from the United States and around the world and is America's Division I men's outdoor professional soccer league. MLS consists of teams in 10 markets: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars, New England Revolution and the Defending Champion San Jose Earthquakes. Major League Soccer's ninth season kicks off April 3, 2004. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official Web site at www.MLSnet.com.

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 25, 2004


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