Chicago Fire FC is a professional soccer club based in Chicago that competes in Major League Soccer. Founded in 1997, the team began play in 1998 and quickly established itself as one of MLS’s most successful early franchises, winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in its inaugural season—a rare achievement known as the “double.” Throughout its history, the Fire have captured multiple U.S. Open Cup championships and have featured notable players such as Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Brian McBride. Named in honor of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the club has built a passionate fan base and plays its home matches at Soldier Field. After periods of rebuilding and changes in ownership, Chicago Fire FC continues to focus on developing young talent and returning to championship contention while remaining one of the founding clubs that helped establish Major League Soccer in the United States.
Chicago Fire Tour Information -> PDF files
Chicago Fire -> Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire -> Wikipedia
Soldier Field -> Wikipedia
Toyota Park (Seat Geek Stadium) -> Wikipedia
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium -> Wikipedia
CHICAGO FIRE – MAIN OFFICES
410 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
The main offices of Chicago Fire FC serve as the club’s administrative headquarters, housing its executive leadership, business operations, marketing, finance, ticketing, community relations, legal, and corporate partnership departments. The offices are in the heart of the city’s business district and close to many of its corporate partners and supporters. From this location, the club manages its day-to-day business operations while coordinating with its technical staff and players, who primarily work from the team’s training facilities. The headquarters reflects Chicago Fire FC’s commitment to expanding its presence in the city and supporting its growth as one of Major League Soccer’s original clubs, overseeing everything from fan engagement and community outreach to sponsorships and long-term strategic planning.
PERFORMANCE CENTER – TRAINING FACILITY
S. Loomis Street and 14th Street, Chicago
The Chicago Fire FC Performance Center, officially known as the Endeavor Health Performance Center, is the club’s state-of-the-art training headquarters located in Chicago’s Roosevelt Square neighborhood on the Near West Side. Opened in 2025, the privately funded, approximately $100 million facility was designed to provide world-class resources for the first team, Chicago Fire II, and the club’s academy. It features multiple natural and synthetic training fields, a 53,000-square-foot performance building, advanced strength and conditioning areas, hydrotherapy pools, sports medicine and rehabilitation facilities, and modern player amenities that support elite athletic development. Beyond serving as a premier soccer training complex, the performance center was built with a strong community focus, creating jobs, offering youth programming, expanding green space, and supporting local businesses. The facility reflects owner Joe Mansueto’s long-term investment in elevating the club’s competitiveness while strengthening its connection to the city of Chicago.
SOLDIER FIELD (1997-2006 & 2020- present) – STADIUM
1410 Special Olympics Drive, Chicago
Chicago Fire FC has a long and important connection with Soldier Field, where the club played its inaugural home matches after joining Major League Soccer in 1998. The historic lakefront stadium served as the team’s home through 2005 before the Fire relocated to a soccer-specific venue in suburban Bridgeview, seeking a more intimate atmosphere designed specifically for soccer. In 2020, under new owner Joe Mansueto, the club returned to Soldier Field to reconnect with fans in the heart of Chicago. The move restored the team’s presence at one of the city’s most recognizable sports landmarks, where the Fire now share the stadium with the Chicago Bears. Although the venue’s large capacity can make attendance appear smaller than in soccer-specific stadiums, Soldier Field provides an iconic backdrop for Major League Soccer matches and major international soccer events, reinforcing the club’s identity as Chicago’s premier professional soccer team. The Fire have announced plans to move into a new privately funded soccer-specific stadium in Chicago’s South Loop, expected to open in 2028, but Soldier Field remains their home until then.
TOYOTA PARK (2007-2019) – STADIUM
7000 S. Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview
Chicago Fire FC played at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, from 2006 through the 2019 season, marking the club’s first permanent soccer-specific home after several years at Soldier Field. The stadium opened on June 11, 2006, with a seating capacity of approximately 20,000 for soccer and was designed to create an intimate, fan-focused atmosphere while also hosting concerts and other sporting events. Built at a cost of roughly $100 million, Toyota Park featured a natural grass playing surface, luxury suites, and a permanent concert stage, making it one of the premier soccer venues in Major League Soccer during its early years. Although the stadium provided an excellent matchday experience, its suburban location in Bridgeview made it less accessible for many Chicago fans, contributing to attendance challenges over time. In 2018, the venue was renamed SeatGeek Stadium following a naming rights agreement, and after the 2019 season the Fire returned to Soldier Field in Chicago. Toyota Park remains an important part of the club’s history, serving as the site of numerous memorable matches and the team’s 2006–2019 era as one of MLS’s early soccer-specific stadiums.
CARDINAL STADIUM (2002-2004) – SITE
North Central College, Naperville
Chicago Fire FC played its home matches at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville during the 2002 and part of the 2003 seasons while Soldier Field underwent a major renovation. Located on the campus of North Central College, Cardinal Stadium was temporarily expanded to seat approximately 15,000 fans, allowing the Fire to remain in the Chicago metropolitan area during construction. Although the venue was smaller than Soldier Field, it provided an intimate atmosphere where supporters stayed close to the action, and the club continued to compete successfully during the transition. Once renovations to Soldier Field were completed, the Fire returned there in 2003 before eventually moving to their soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview in 2006. Cardinal Stadium remains an important part of Chicago Fire history, serving as the club’s temporary home during a pivotal period in its early years.