The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is a professional soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). The Fire have played their home matches at Soldier Field since moving back to the stadium in 2020 after spending the previous 11 seasons at SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview.
Quick Answer
The Chicago Fire currently play their home matches at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. They moved back to Soldier Field in 2020 after playing at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview from 2006 to 2019.
History of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded in 1997 and originally played at Soldier Field. The Fire enjoyed great success in their early years, winning an MLS Cup and three U.S. Open Cup titles between 1998 and 2003. Some of the club’s most famous players from that era include forwards Ante Razov and Josh Wolff, midfielder Peter Nowak, and goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
In 2006, the Fire moved out of Soldier Field to play at SeatGeek Stadium (then known as Toyota Park) in suburban Bridgeview. They played at SeatGeek Stadium for over a decade from 2006 to 2019 before returning to a renovated Soldier Field in 2020.
Years at Soldier Field: 1997-2006
When the Chicago Fire joined MLS as an expansion team in 1997, they made Soldier Field their first home stadium. Soldier Field is a historic multi-purpose stadium located along Lake Michigan in Chicago. It opened in 1924 and has been the home field for the Chicago Bears NFL team since 1971.
During their early years at Soldier Field from 1997 to 2006, the Fire experienced great success, making the playoffs every year and winning several major trophies:
- 1998 MLS Cup
- 1998, 2000, and 2003 U.S. Open Cups
- 2003 Supporters’ Shield
Some key facts about the Fire’s first stint at Soldier Field:
- They shared the stadium with the Chicago Bears.
- The playing surface was natural grass.
- Seating capacity was roughly 67,000 for soccer matches.
- The Fire’s average attendance peaked in 1998 at over 17,000 per game.
Years at SeatGeek Stadium: 2006-2019
In 2006, the Fire moved out of Soldier Field into their own soccer-specific stadium in suburban Bridgeview called SeatGeek Stadium.
Some key facts about the Fire’s time at SeatGeek Stadium:
- The stadium has a capacity of 20,000 for soccer.
- They were the sole major tenant, unlike at Soldier Field.
- The field used artificial turf instead of natural grass.
- The Fire’s average attendance declined over the years they played there.
While having their own stadium gave the team more control, ultimately the Fire struggled to attract consistent crowds out to Bridgeview. This was one factor that led them to eventually move back to Soldier Field where they could tap into a larger city fanbase.
Return to Soldier Field
After years of declining attendance playing at SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview, the Chicago Fire returned to a renovated Soldier Field in downtown Chicago in 2020.
Here are some key facts about their return to Soldier Field:
- A $512 million renovation of Soldier Field was completed in 2003 that modernized amenities but preserved its historic colonnades.
- The Fire signed a 15-year stadium lease with the Chicago Park District.
- Capacity is around 61,500 for Fire matches.
- They invested $90 million to renovate Soldier Field’s playing surface back to natural grass.
- The Fire contributed $80 million towards improved seating and stadium upgrades.
The main motivation behind the return was to reverse declining match attendance by playing in a larger stadium in the city rather than the suburbs. The club hoped tapping into Chicago’s soccer fanbase would drive higher attendance and interest in the team.
Benefits of Returning to Soldier Field
Here are some of the major benefits the Fire have experienced from returning to Soldier Field:
Increased Attendance
In their first season back at Soldier Field in 2020, the Fire averaged over 19,000 fans per home match. This was a significant jump from the roughly 12,000 they averaged during their last years playing in Bridgeview. The increased capacity and downtown location has allowed them to draw bigger crowds.
Enhanced Gameday Experience
With its located along Lake Michigan, proximity to public transit, and various pregame entertainment options, Soldier Field provides an enhanced gameday experience that was harder to replicate in Bridgeview. Fans have more restaurants, bars, and activities to enjoy before and after matches.
Marketing and Branding
Playing in one of Chicago’s most iconic venues gives the Fire increased visibility and an associating with the stadium’s prestige. The club has greater ability to market the team to the city and leverage the Soldier Field brand.
Player Recruitment
The return to Soldier Field and the city of Chicago gives the Fire a recruiting edge when trying to attract top players to the club. Players want to play in a large capacity downtown stadium where the club has invested heavily.
Matchday Revenue
The increased attendance and ticket sales playing at Soldier Field has driven higher matchday revenue through gate receipts and ancillary purchases like merchandise and concessions. It has provided a financial boost compared to playing in the suburbs.
Conclusion
After spending over a decade playing home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview, the Chicago Fire returned to Soldier Field in 2020. Soldier Field is the historic stadium located in downtown Chicago along Lake Michigan. It has been the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears since 1971.
The Fire played at Soldier Field from their inaugural MLS season in 1998 until 2006. They moved to Bridgeview to play in their own soccer-specific stadium in 2006. However, after years of declining attendance, the Fire decided return to Soldier Field and the city in order to tap into Chicago’s soccer fanbase and grow the club.
The benefits of returning to Soldier Field have included increased attendance, an enhanced gameday experience, greater visibility and marketing opportunities, player recruitment advantages, and more matchday revenue. After a decade in the suburbs, Soldier Field once again became the home of the Chicago Fire in 2020 through a new stadium lease agreement.