SeatGeek Stadium
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SeatGeek Stadium in March 2013
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SeatGeek Stadium
Location in the Chicago area
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| Former names | Toyota Park (2006–2018) |
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| Address | 7000 South Harlem Avenue |
| Location | Bridgeview, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°45′53″N 87°48′22″WCoordinates: 41°45′53″N 87°48′22″W |
| Owner | Village of Bridgeview |
| Operator | Spectra[1][2] |
| Capacity | Soccer: 20,000[3][4] Concerts: 28,000 |
| Field size | 120 x 75 yards |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass[5] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 30, 2004 |
| Opened | June 11, 2006 |
| Construction cost | $98 million ($122 million in 2018 dollars[6]) |
| Architect | Rossetti Architects |
| Project manager | ICON Venue Group[7] |
| Structural engineer | John A. Martin & Associates[8] |
| Services engineer | A. Epstein & Sons International[8] |
| General contractor | Turner Construction[7] Harbour Contractors |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago Fire (MLS) (2006–2019) Chicago Red Stars (WPS, NWSL) (2009–2010, 2016–present) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2011–2012, 2015–2017) Chicago Machine (MLL) (2007–2009) Roosevelt University Lakers men's and women's soccer (NAIA) (2010–present) Northwestern Wildcats men's and women's soccer (NCAA) (2015) | |
SeatGeek Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium at 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, Illinois, about twelve miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is the home stadium of the Chicago Red Stars[9] of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The stadium has also hosted the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse, and Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League (LFL). Originally named 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.[10][11][2]
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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 forty two 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 9,000 square feet (840 m2).
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 120-by-75-yard (110 by 69 m) 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 eighteen hours. The field accommodates 8,000 additional chairback seats for
concerts and other stage events.
In 2006, Toyota entered into a ten-year naming rights agreement and renamed the new stadium Toyota Park.[2] In 2016, it was reported that Toyota had opted against renewing their naming rights.[12] 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.[10]
The naming rights agreement that was signed in 2018 is the first such agreement that SeatGeek has ever entered into.[1][2] It has been reported that, as part of the deal, SeatGeek will also serve as the venue's primary ticketing service, starting in 2019.[1] SeatGeek has reportedly promised that they will work to, "bring more live programming, including premier concerts, music festivals and international sporting events" to the stadium.[1][11]
In July 2016 two large scale murals where 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.[13]
The Chicago Fire entered Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 1998, playing for its first four seasons at Soldier Field in Chicago. The club moved to Cardinal Stadium in Naperville for two seasons while Soldier Field was renovated, leading to calls for a soccer-specific venue. The Fire received several bids, announcing Bridgeview as the winner in 2003. Construction on the Bridgeview venue began on November 30, 2004,[14] and was completed on June 11, 2006.[citation needed]
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.[15] In early April 2019, several media reports emerged about a potential contract buyout that would allow the Fire to move back to the city of Chicago, playing temporarily at Soldier Field once again.[15][16] On May 8, 2019, Chicago 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.[17] 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.[18] The Red Stars have no plans to move.[19]
| Date | Teams | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2008[20] | United States  3–0  Trinidad and Tobago | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification–CONCACAF | 11,452 |
| October 11, 2016[21] | Mexico  1–0  Panama | Friendly | 19,017 |
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.[22][23]
SeatGeek Stadium was the venue for the 2006 MLS All-Star Game in which the MLS side defeated Chelsea F.C. 1–0.[24]
The stadium also hosted the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's final in which Chicago Fire defeated Los Angeles Galaxy 3–1.[25]
SeatGeek Stadium hosts annual friendly matches between Chicago Fire and the popular European and Mexican clubs, which in the past included 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.
SeatGeek Stadium hosted its first international rugby match in 2006, United States VS Munster. 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 USA in its campaign to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[26]
| Date | Winner | Score | Opponent | Competition | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 21, 2008 |  Canada | 26–10 | United States | 2008 Churchill Cup Bowl Final | – |
| June 21, 2008 |  Ireland A | 33–8 |  Argentinian XV | 2008 Churchill Cup Plate Final | – |
| June 21, 2008 |  England Saxons | 36–19 |  Scotland A | 2008 Churchill Cup Final | – |
| June 13, 2009 |  Wales | 48–15 | United States | June tests | 6,264 |
| November 04, 2016 |  Māori All Blacks | 54–7 | United States | end-of-year tests | 18,700 |
SeatGeek Stadium also serves as the home site for Roosevelt University men's and women's soccer matches.[27]
Since 2006,[28] SeatGeek Stadium has been the host venue for Chicago radio station B96's annual summer concert, The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash.[29] The Crossroads Guitar Festival was held on July 28, 2007 and again on June 26, 2010. A three-day, all-electronic music festival, Future Sound Dance Music Festival, was hosted at SeatGeek Stadium May 24–26, 2013. The Chicago Open Air festival, a 3-day rock festival put on by Danny Wimmer Presents, was held there July 15–17, 2016.
| Date | Artist(s) | Opening act(s) | Tour | Tickets sold | Revenue | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 8, 2007 | Dave Matthews Band | Guster | 2007 Summer Tour | — | — | [30] |
| June 6, 2008 | Dave Matthews Band | Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings | 2008 Summer Tour | — | — | [31] |
| 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"[32] |
| 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.[33] |
| 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.”[34] |
| 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.[35] |
| August 26, 2012 | Evanescence Chevelle Halestorm Cavo New Medicine | — | Carnival of Madness | — | — | [36] |
| 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. |
Pace operates the #387 SeatGeek Stadium Express nonstop from the Midway Orange Line Station for Chicago Fire matches and special events.[37] A $2.475 million transit center operated by Pace was constructed at the east end of the stadium's parking lot in 2014.[38][39]
The club also provides bus transportation from nine different bar locations in the city to and from the games.[40]
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