Construction Advances at Chicago Fire’s New South Loop Stadium

• McDonald’s Park: The 78, South Loop, Chicago, Illinois — the future home of Chicago Fire FC is now taking shape above ground as concrete seating tiers and columns begin forming around the stadium.
• The privately funded 22,000-seat, 475,000-square-foot soccer stadium is being built at The 78 and is expected to open in spring 2028.
• Gensler is designing the stadium, while Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group and ALL Construction Group are working together as the construction team.
• The stadium is expected to anchor The 78, a 62-acre mixed-use neighborhood being developed by Related Midwest along the Chicago River.

What Is Taking Shape at McDonald’s Park

Construction at McDonald’s Park is becoming much easier to read from the surrounding streets as the stadium's seating bowl begins to rise at The 78 in Chicago's South Loop. The first level of seating above the playing surface is now taking shape, with stepped concrete visible along the west side of the stadium. Vertical construction has moved around the southwest corner and into the south end, while concrete columns continue extending toward the north end. The progress marks an important transition for the project. What was previously a largely horizontal construction site is increasingly starting to resemble the soccer stadium shown in the project's renderings.

What The Stadium Will Include

Designed by Gensler, McDonald’s Park will be a 475,000-square-foot, 22,000-seat soccer-specific stadium built specifically for Chicago Fire FC. The venue will feature a dedicated supporters' section, premium clubs and suites, a natural-grass playing surface and 360-degree views around the pitch. The stadium is also being designed as a year-round destination rather than a venue used only for soccer. Plans call for concerts, festivals, community events and other programming outside of Chicago Fire matches. A permanent McDonald's flagship restaurant will also be part of the venue under the naming-rights partnership between McDonald's and Chicago Fire FC.

What Construction Looks Like Now

The seating tiers are currently one of the most visible signs of vertical progress. Stepped concrete sections are forming along the west side, while columns are being poured as construction advances around the stadium footprint. The project is being built by a three-company partnership between Pepper Construction, GMA Construction Group and ALL Construction Group. The Chicago-based team was selected to construct the stadium after a nationwide contractor search. A crawler crane is also now operating on the site. The yellow crane components previously seen at the property were initially thought to be pieces of a second tower crane, but the equipment has instead been assembled into a crawler crane for the ongoing construction work.

What The Design Will Look Like

Gensler's design draws from Chicago's industrial architecture, using exposed steel, brick-inspired elements and a compact seating bowl to bring fans close to the field. The stadium is planned with an open-air design and an exposed steel canopy over the seating areas. The configuration is intended to create a more intimate atmosphere for soccer while also allowing the building to accommodate concerts and other large events. As construction progresses, the stepped seating visible on the west and south sides is beginning to give the site a clearer sense of its eventual scale.

What McDonald’s Park Means for The 78

McDonald’s Park is being positioned as the centerpiece of The 78, Related Midwest's planned 62-acre mixed-use neighborhood along the Chicago River. The broader development is planned to combine housing, offices, retail, entertainment, parks and public spaces. Gensler describes the stadium as a cornerstone of the district, with adjacent plazas and riverfront spaces intended to keep the area active beyond game days. For Chicago Fire FC, the project also represents a permanent home in the city after the club previously played its home matches at Soldier Field. The club expects McDonald’s Park to open in spring 2028. As the seating bowl continues to rise, the stadium is moving closer to becoming one of the most visible pieces of The 78's transformation and a new landmark for Chicago's South Loop.