Residents in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood hosted a town hall Wednesday to learn more about the newly-proposed Chicago Fire FC stadium.
The stadium will be built along the Chicago riverfront in a development known as “The 78,” and neighbors are concerned it could impact parks, increase rent and cause other issues.
City and team officials have pointed to the thousands of jobs and the additional tourist revenue the project could provide, but residents want a seat at the table to potentially harness some of those benefits.
“We’re struggling with housing, and the next thing is parking. We don’t have enough parking spots,” one resident said in the meeting.
While the stadium is a half-mile from the heart of Chinatown, it does sit adjacent to Ping Tom Park, a lush and green space along the river that has served as a cultural anchor for generations of Chinatown families.
“So we’d like to see the nature area persevered as much as possible, once you start construction there would be some environmental impacts,” Grace Chan McKibben of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community said.
The zoning committee is reviewing landmark changes as new visuals emerge for “The 78” mega project in the South Loop, which could house the Chicago Fire by 2028.
In a statement, developer Related Midwest said they have received “overwhelming support” for the project and they look forward to continuing to work with community members as part of the process.
“We received overwhelming support for the project from stakeholders across the South Loop and Chinatown. Working alongside the Chicago Fire, we look forward to continuing this dialogue,” the company said.
According to officials, the hope is that construction could get underway in fall 2025 or early in 2026, with an expected opening date for the 2028 MLS season.
The stadium would seat 22,000 fans, according to the club.
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