SeatGeek Stadium


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 of the National Women's Soccer League. 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. 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.

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.
A practice facility with two fields 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 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.

Naming rights

In 2006, Toyota entered into a ten-year naming rights agreement and renamed the new stadium Toyota Park. In 2016, it was reported that Toyota had opted against renewing their naming rights. 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.
The naming rights agreement that was signed in 2018 is the first such agreement that SeatGeek has ever entered into. It has been reported that, as part of the deal, SeatGeek will also serve as the venue's primary ticketing service, starting in 2019. 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.

Public artwork

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.

History

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, and was completed on June 11, 2006.

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. 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. 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. 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. The Red Stars have no plans to move.

Major soccer events

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.
SeatGeek Stadium was the venue for the 2006 MLS All-Star Game in which the MLS side defeated Chelsea F.C. 1–0.
The stadium also hosted the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's final in which Chicago Fire defeated Los Angeles Galaxy 3–1.
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.

Rugby union

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.
DateWinnerScoreOpponentCompetitionAttendance
June 21, 200826–102008 Churchill Cup Bowl Final
June 21, 200833–82008 Churchill Cup Plate Final
June 21, 200836–192008 Churchill Cup Final
June 13, 200948–15June tests6,264
November 04, 201654–7end-of-year tests18,700

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. It was announced in December of 2019 that the Chicago Blitz of the Extreme Football League would play their inaugural season at SeatGeek Stadium.
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.

Music events

Since 2006, SeatGeek Stadium has been the host venue for Chicago radio station B96's annual summer concert, The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash. 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.
DateArtistOpening actTourTickets soldRevenueAdditional notes
July 8, 2007Dave Matthews BandGuster2007 Summer Tour
June 6, 2008Dave Matthews BandSharon Jones and the Dap-Kings2008 Summer Tour
July 24, 2008Jimmy BuffettThe Year of Still Here Tour
July 26, 2008Jimmy BuffettThe Year of Still Here Tour
June 13, 2009Kelly ClarksonAll I Ever Wanted Summer Fair TourThis concert was a part of the "B96 Pepsi SummerBash"
July 31, 2009KornPowerman 5000
Filter
Escape from the Studio Tour
August 8, 2009Jimmy BuffettThe Summerzcool TourIlo Ferreria, Jake Shimabukuro and Joe Perry of Aerosmith were special guests.
August 11, 2009PhishLate Summer Tour 2009
August 15, 2009Jimmy BuffettThe Summerzcool TourIlo 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.”
June 11, 2010PhishEarly Summer Tour 2010
August 14, 2010Jimmy BuffettUnder the Big Top Tour
June 9, 2011Kenny ChesneyBilly Currington
Uncle Kracker
Goin' Coastal Tour
July 23, 2011Jimmy BuffettIlo FerreiraWelcome to Fin Land TourThis 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.
August 26, 2012Evanescence
Chevelle
Halestorm
Cavo
New Medicine
Carnival of Madness
July 12, 2013Bob DylanWilco
My Morning Jacket
Richard Thompson Electric Trio
Americanarama Festival of Music11,075 / 13,068$689,308
July 14, 2017KissKissworld TourThis concert was part of Chicago Open Air.

Accessibility

operates the #387 SeatGeek Stadium Express nonstop from the Midway Orange Line Station for Chicago Fire matches and special events. A $2.475 million transit center operated by Pace was constructed at the east end of the stadium's parking lot in 2014.
The club also provides bus transportation from nine different bar locations in the city to and from the games.