SeatGeek Stadium

SeatGeek Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, about 12 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is the home stadium of Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League, Chicago Fire FC II of MLS Next Pro, and the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby. The stadium has also hosted the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse, Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League, Chicago State Cougars men's and women's soccer teams of NCAA Division I, and Chicago House AC of the National Independent Soccer Association. Originally Toyota Park when it opened on June 11, 2006, the facility has a capacity of 20,000 and was developed at a cost of around $100 million. The naming rights agreement with SeatGeek went into effect following the Fire's 2018 season.<ref name=indebtedbreak>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=timeout1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=sportsbusiness1/>

History

The Chicago Fire entered Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 1998, playing its first four seasons at Soldier Field in Chicago, which they shared with the National Football League (NFL)'s Chicago Bears. Beginning in 2002, the club moved to Cardinal Stadium (now Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium) in Naperville for two seasons while Soldier Field was renovated, leading to calls for a soccer-specific venue. The Fire received several bids before announcing Bridgeview as the winner in 2003. Construction on the Bridgeview venue began on November 30, 2004,<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref> and was completed on June 11, 2006.Template:Citation needed

Naming rights

In 2006, Toyota entered into a ten-year naming rights agreement and renamed the new stadium Toyota Park.<ref name=sportsbusiness1/> In 2016, it was reported that Toyota had opted against renewing their naming rights.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite this, the stadium continued to be known as Toyota Park through the 2018 season. Afterwards, new sponsor SeatGeek assumed stadium naming rights starting with the 2019 Fire season.<ref name=indebtedbreak/>

The naming rights agreement signed in 2018 was the first such agreement SeatGeek entered into.<ref name=pollstar1/><ref name=sportsbusiness1/> It was reported that as part of the deal, SeatGeek would also serve as the venue's primary ticketing service starting in 2019.<ref name=pollstar1/> The company reportedly promised that they would work to "bring more live programming, including premier concerts, music festivals and international sporting events" to the stadium.<ref name=pollstar1/><ref name="timeout1" />

Future

The Fire and Bridgeview began negotiating a re-evaluation of the stadium lease in 2018, shortly after Joe Mansueto acquired his stake in the team.<ref name="Mikula">Template:Cite news</ref> In early April 2019, several media reports emerged about a potential contract buyout that would allow the Fire to move back to Chicago, playing temporarily at Soldier Field once again.<ref name="Mikula"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 8, 2019, Fire president Nelson Rodriguez confirmed that the team was negotiating a tentative deal with the village to terminate their lease, which was slated to run through 2036, at an estimated cost of $65 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The terms of the deal were confirmed on July 9, 2019. In consideration for releasing the Fire and MLS from the lease, the Fire will put money toward a "multisport recreation and entertainment center" at the site.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 3, 2025, the Stars announced plans to move to Northwestern University for the 2026 season.<ref>https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/46146529/chicago-stars-play-26-season-northwestern-stadium</ref> On January 27, 2021, Chicago House AC of the NISA announced that they had selected SeatGeek Stadium as their home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nevertheless, beginning in 2022, because of Soldier Field availability, the Fire have played late-season matches at the stadium and may still play other matches there in future seasons while it solves its Chicago stadium situation. Moreover, its MLS Next Pro affiliate Chicago Fire FC II is based out of Bridgeview.

Design

Incorporating traditional stadium features from American and European facilities, SeatGeek Stadium includes predominantly covered seating, a brick facade and stone entry archway, and first rows placed fewer than three yards from the field. It includes 42 executive suites, six larger party suites, the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame, and the Fire club offices, as well as a large stadium club/banquet room measuring over Template:Convert.

A practice facility with two fields (one natural grass; the other artificial turf) for the Fire club and its youth programs lies next to the stadium. The stadium's design allows expansion of 50% more seating at negligible expense. Its Template:Convert natural grass field's $1.7 million turf management system comprises full heating, drainage, and aeration capabilities.

A permanent stage allows the stadium to host concerts and quickly change configurations. A typical conversion from soccer to stage takes no more than 18 hours. The field accommodates 8,000 additional chairback seats for concerts and other stage events. SeatGeek Stadium is currently operated by Spectra.<ref name=pollstar1/><ref name=sportsbusiness1/>

In July 2016, two large-scale murals were designed and painted by artist Tony Passero on the east and west walls of the stadium's stage suites. The murals measure 14 feet high by 27 feet in length, and are named "Offense" and "Defense".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major soccer events

Date	Teams	Competition	Attendance
September 10, 2008<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Fb-rt 3–0 Template:Fb	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification–CONCACAF	11,452
October 11, 2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Fb-rt 1–0 Template:Fb	Friendly	19,017
June 8, 2021	Template:Fb-rt 4–0 Template:Fb	2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification - CONCACAF	0
June 15, 2021	Template:Fb-rt 3–0 Template:Fb	2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification - CONCACAF	0

On November 27, 2010, SeatGeek Stadium was the venue for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification match between USA and Italy; USA defeated Italy 1–0 and advanced to the World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> SeatGeek Stadium was the venue for the 2006 MLS All-Star Game, in which the MLS side defeated Chelsea F.C. 1–0.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The stadium also hosted the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's final, in which the Chicago Fire defeated the LA Galaxy 3–1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

SeatGeek Stadium hosts annual friendly matches between Chicago Fire and the popular European and Mexican clubs, which in the past included Tottenham Hotspur F.C., A.C. Milan, Everton, C.D. Guadalajara, Club America, Santos Laguna, and others. SeatGeek Stadium hosted four matches during the group stage of the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship.

Rugby union

SeatGeek Stadium hosted its first international rugby match in 2007, with the United States Eagles losing 6–10 to provincial side Munster.<ref name="Munster 07 match">Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2008 the stadium hosted three matches of the Churchill Cup, including United States vs Canada, England Saxons vs Scotland A, and Ireland Wolfhounds vs Argentina Jaguares. On June 6, 2009, the stadium hosted a 2009 mid-year rugby test series match between United States and Wales in a warmup match for the US in its campaign to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Date	Winner	Score	Opponent	Competition	Attendance	Ref.
August 25, 2007	Template:Flagicon Munster	26–10	Template:Ru	2007 Setanta Challenge Cup	8,260	<ref name="USA MUN 07 attendance">Template:Cite web</ref>
June 21, 2008	Template:Ru	26–10	Template:Ru	2008 Churchill Cup Bowl Final	Template:N/a	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:RuA	33–8	Template:RuA	2008 Churchill Cup Plate Final	Template:N/a	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Template:RuA	36–19	Template:RuA	2008 Churchill Cup Final	Template:N/a	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 13, 2009	Template:Ru	48–15	Template:Ru	June tests	6,264	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
November 4, 2016	Template:Ru	54–7	Template:Ru	end-of-year tests	18,700	<ref name="rugbytoday.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
July 5, 2024	Template:Ru	22–20	Template:Ru	mid-year tests	Template:N/a	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other sports events

SeatGeek Stadium served as the home site for Roosevelt University men's and women's soccer matches from 2010 until 2019, when the team moved their matches to Illinois Institute of Technology's on-campus stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was announced in December 2019 that the Chicago Blitz of the Extreme Football League would play their inaugural season at SeatGeek Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The first college football game at the stadium took place on September 7, 2013, between DIII schools John Carroll and Saint Norbert, a game which John Carroll won 41–0.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

For their 2021 season, the Chicago State Cougars men's and women's soccer teams played at the stadium.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Concerts and music festivals

The concert stage at SeatGeek Stadium, as seen during the 2010 B96 Pepsi Summer Bash

From 2006<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to 2015,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SeatGeek Stadium has been the host venue for Chicago radio station B96's annual summer concert, The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Crossroads Guitar Festival was held on July 28, 2007, and again on June 26, 2010.

Concerts

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July 8, 2007	Dave Matthews Band	Guster	2007 Summer Tour	—	—	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 6, 2008	Dave Matthews Band	Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings	2008 Summer Tour	—	—	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 24, 2008	Jimmy Buffett	—	The Year of Still Here Tour	—	—
July 26, 2008
June 13, 2009	Kelly Clarkson	—	All I Ever Wanted Summer Fair Tour	—	—	This concert was a part of the "B96 Pepsi SummerBash"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 31, 2009	Korn	Powerman 5000 Filter	Escape from the Studio Tour	—	—
August 8, 2009	Jimmy Buffett	—	The Summerzcool Tour	—	—	Ilo Ferreria, Jake Shimabukuro and Joe Perry of Aerosmith were special guests.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 11, 2009	Phish	—	Late Summer Tour 2009	—	—
August 15, 2009	Jimmy Buffett	—	The Summerzcool Tour	—	—	Ilo Ferreria was the special guest. This show featured a unique medley of "Tryin’ to Reason with Hurricane Season" with a verse of "Banana Republics" in the middle before going back to "Tryin’ to Reason with Hurricane Season."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 11, 2010	Phish	—	Early Summer Tour 2010	—	—
August 14, 2010	Jimmy Buffett	—	Under the Big Top Tour	—	—
June 9, 2011	Kenny Chesney	Billy Currington Uncle Kracker	Goin' Coastal Tour	—	—
July 23, 2011	Jimmy Buffett	Ilo Ferreira	Welcome to Fin Land Tour	—	—	This show was plagued by many technical issues before the power finally went out after Fins. Jimmy performed the first encore while they waited for power to be restored. Once restored, the band came back for the second encore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 26, 2012	Evanescence Chevelle Halestorm Cavo New Medicine	—	Carnival of Madness	—	—	<ref name="COM2012">Template:Cite web</ref>
July 12, 2013	Bob Dylan	Wilco My Morning Jacket Richard Thompson Electric Trio	Americanarama Festival of Music	11,075 / 13,068	$689,308
July 14, 2017	Kiss	—	Kissworld Tour	—	—	This concert was part of Chicago Open Air.

Music festivals

Illenium closing out the night on the stadium stage at North Coast Music Festival 2022

Festival grounds at North Coast Music Festival 2022

width=8% style="text-align:center; background:#AF1E23; color:#FFFFFF; Template:Box-shadow border;"|Festival	width=9% style="text-align:center; background:#AF1E23; color:#FFFFFF; Template:Box-shadow border;"|Dates	width=9% style="text-align:center; background:#AF1E23; color:#FFFFFF; Template:Box-shadow border;"|Headliner(s)
Chicago Open Air	July 14–17, 2016	Rammstein Disturbed Slipknot
Chicago Open Air	July 14–16, 2017	Kiss Korn Ozzy Osbourne
Chicago Open Air	May 18–19, 2019	System of a Down Tool
North Coast Music Festival	September 3–5, 2021	Kaskade Louis the Child GRiZ Ganja White Night Zeds Dead Rezz
North Coast Music Festival	September 2–4, 2022	Armin van Buuren Fisher Illenium Diplo Porter Robinson Kaytranada
The Summer Smash	June 24–27, 2023	Kid Cudi Future Playboi Carti

Accessibility

Pace operates the #387 SeatGeek Stadium Express nonstop from the Midway Orange Line Station for Chicago Fire matches and special events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A $2.475 million transit center operated by Pace was constructed at the east end of the stadium's parking lot in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Fire had also provided bus transportation from nine different bar locations in the city to and from the games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However upon moving back to Soldier Field that service is no longer offered for SeakGeek Stadium.

See also

• List of sports venues with the name Toyota

External links

• SeatGeek Stadium official website
• SeatGeek Stadium at StadiumDB.com