By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
Signs are indicating the Chicago Red Stars will be moving out of SeatGeek Stadium.
The Bridgeview-owned facility, formerly known as Toyota Park, has been the home of the NWSL franchise since 2016. The Red Stars’ lease with Bridgeview runs through December 2025.
Where they play after that it’s anyone’s guess, but Red Stars President Karen Leetzow reportedly told the Chicago Tribune the franchise needs a stadium in Chicago and that the goal is to have one there.
Two things could keep the Red Stars in the Southwest Suburbs for a little while.
First, they are trying to get money from a variety of sources, including public funds — the same way Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is trying to make a move. That won’t be easy an easy ask.
Second, if the Red Stars find a new location that doesn’t have an existing stadium, it will take time for one to be built. It’s possible they would try to ink a short-term deal to stay at SeatGeek during the interim.
Prior to the move to Bridgeview, the Red Stars played at Concordia University, Northwestern University and Benedictine University.
While NWSL attendance averages have soared from 4,270 in 2013 to 10,432 in 2023, the Red Stars have usually been near the bottom, and some blame the location of SeatGeek Stadium for the low numbers. Their high-water mark for average attendance was 5,863 in 2022; last year they averaged 4,848, which was last in the league.
New GM ready to go
New Red Stars general manager Richard Feuz met with media members on Feb. 29, and he is looking forward to turning the team around after last year’s last place finish.
The first question lobbed at him was the pronunciation of his last name, which sounds like “foyts.”
“But you can call me ‘Rick,’’’ he said. “Rick is alright.”
After a long career in management roles in the Switzerland soccer landscape, he was ready for a new challenge.
“It’s a new project, here,” Feuz said. “My cycle there was over and I needed to see something else. Sometimes you can fall in love with a vision and I have the same vision as (Red Stars majority owner Laura Ricketts) about women’s sports.
“They should be treated the same way as men. We’re talking about amazing athletes, and we have the same vision for the future. We want to empower this women’s sport. It’s a great opportunity and I’ve loved the U.S. for a long time.”
Getting the team back to playoff form will be a process, he said, but he likes what he has seen.
“We have a great history,” he said. “We have a tremendous bunch of people here. We have an amazing president and great ownership. For me to be adopted as a Chicagoan, we’ll have to make amazing results, so we will work hard with the people we have here.”
Just around the corner
The 2024 NWSL season is almost here.
The league is expanding this year from 12 teams to 14 and the season has increased from 22 games to 26.
The Red Stars open the season at Utah, one of the two expansion clubs, on March 16. They play their first home game at SeatGeek Stadium at 3 p.m. March 23 against OL Reign.