Since 2006, the Chicago Fire have either played full seasons or a couple of games each year in Bridgeview.
That appears to be coming to an end.
The Fire left what used to be known as Toyota Park and now is SeatGeek Stadium in 2019 to head to Soldier Field in Chicago.
But the team was at the mercy of the Chicago Bears and if there was a conflict, the Bears won out and the Fire moved those games to Bridgeview.
But on June 3, Fire owner Joe Mansueto wrote an open letter declaring the team was going to build and move into a soccer-specific stadium in the area known as The 78, an area in the South Loop the Chicago White Sox also have their eyes on.
“Soccer is the world’s game and a world-class city like ours deserves a world class club with a world-class home to match,” he wrote.
He expects the new 22,000-seat facility to open in 2028.
The news comes on the heels of an announcement that Fire are adding another MLS game at SeatGeek Stadium.
The Fire will host the Los Angeles Football Club at 7:30 Aug. 9 in Bridgeview due to a Bears conflict. They previously announced an Aug. 16 match against St. Louis and a Sept. 6 match against New England will take place in Bridgeview.
Earlier this year, they beat Detroit City 4-0 on May 7 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open at SeatGeek in front of an announced crowd of 4,374.
The Fire (7-5-4) are red-hot right now as they whipped Washington 7-1 on the road on June 7.
Tom Barlow recorded a hat trick in his first start of the year and Philip Zinckernagel scored a goal in his seventh straight road match. Maren Haile-Selassie made his first start of the year and scored a goal.
Backup goalie Jeff Gal made two saves. Starting goalie Chris Brady will miss possibly five matches due to international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The Fire hosts Nashville at 7:30 p.m. June 14 at Soldier Field.
Hounds at home for playoffs
The Chicago Hounds (11-5) won a tough 15-12 Major League Rugby battle over Houston on June 4 at SeatGeek Stadium to clinch a home playoff game.
Jackson Zabierek scored a pair of tries for the Hounds and the defense held on.
The Hounds host either Old Glory DC or Miami at 6 p.m. June 14 to open the MLR playoffs. It’s the first time in the team’s three-year history it will host a playoff game.
Stars tie Angel City
The Chicago Stars remain in last place in the 14-team NWSL, but their 1-8-2 mark is the same as Utah’s after a 2-2 tie on the road against Angel City.
Nadia Gomes and Ally Schlegel scored goals for Chicago.
The Stars host Seattle at 4 p.m. on June 14 at Soldier Field in the opener in a soccer doubleheader with the Chicago Fire game to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Fire II game suspended
The Chicago Fire II/New England Revolution II MLS NEXT pro match was suspended June 8 in the first half with New England leading 1-0 in the 23rd minute due to bad weather at SeatGeek Stadium.
The game was slated to resume on June 9 in Bridgeview.
The Fire visits Carolina Core FC on June 14.