Latest news with #The78
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Chicago Fire Muscle In On White Sox's Dream Of South Loop Stadium
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 17: New coach Gregg Berhalter of the Chicago Fire poses for a photo with ... More owner Joe Mansueto during a press conference at Waldorf Astoria Chicago on October 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by) The Chicago Fire is poised to end the long search for a stadium that will be embraced by soccer fans. But the Fire's gain could prove to be a loss for Jerry Reinsdorf and the Chicago White Sox. Fire owner Joe Mansueto announced on Tuesday he has reached an agreement to build a 22,000-seat stadium in the South Loop, on the 62-acre site, which the Sox had previously identified its ideal future home. Reinsdorf has said the White Sox cannot remain viable at The Rate, its home since 2003, due to an inability to generate revenue to compete with the top teams in Major League Baseball. The team released renderings of a stadium in the development known as The 78 last summer, emphasizing both the potential beauty and versatility of this underused land east of the Chicago River, but has failed to gain traction in its push for public funding for the project, estimated at $1.25 billion. Like the Bears' push for a ew stadium either in suburban Arlington Heights or downtown, the White Sox's lobbying efforts did not lead to any funding measures being introduced in the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly. You would think Reinsdorf and George McCaskey would not have enjoyed a message Mansueto is sending about privately financed sports venues. 'It is my belief that these stadiums should be privately financed,' Mansueto said. 'Most of the value accrues to the sports team. So it's only fair that the sports team shoulders the cost of its construction.' Mansueto, 68, founded the financial services firm Morningstar in 1984. His net worth is $6.6 billion, according to Forbes, which ranks him 528th in the world. He purchased the MLS' Chicago Fire in a series of transactions in 2018 and '19. Mansueto's agreement with Related Midwest involves the purchase of only 10 acres for the stadium. Both the White Sox and Related Midwest CEO Curt Bailey believe a baseball stadium could fit on the remaining acreage but not everyone agrees. Pat Dowell, an alderman for the 3rd Ward, told Crain's Chicago 'the site is too small for two stadiums.' Bailey said he hopes to have received city approval for the soccer stadium by November, allowing construction to begin with an eye of opening in 2028. The first step is a public hearing on June 16. In a statement following Mansueto's announcement, the White Sox said they 'continue to consider the site as an option. We believe in Related Midwest's vision for The 78 and remain confident the riverfront location could serve as a home to both teams. We continue to have conservations with Related Midwest about the site's possibilities and opportunities.' Chicago-based sports marketing consultant Marc Ganis told the Tribune he believes the lot is large enough to accommodate both a soccer and baseball stadium. 'It could work,' Ganis told the Chicago Tribune. 'They would have to work out the use of the infrastructure and the parking and the scheduling and things of that nature. I think it'd be great for the city.' Founded as an expansion team in 1997, the Fire has had three different home stadiums, including two stints at Soldier Field. Its fan base comes largely from the city, which limited the success of a run of 14 seasons in SeatGeek Stadium, located in suburban Bridgeview. Soldier Field lacks the intimacy and ambience of popular soccer venues forces the team to deal with terms of its lease. When Reinsdorf first began his push for public funding to drive a move to the The 78, he offered up the possibility or reconfiguring The Rate as a home for the Fire. Mansueto had other ideas, not only putting in his own claim to The 78 but promising to pay for construction.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Daywatch: Dispatches from Route 66
Good morning, Chicago. Our Route 66 road trip began at the end, at the famed fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the first day of June, a steady stream of visitors waited their turns to pose with one of the pier's most popular attractions: a Route 66 sign, perched on a pole 12 feet above the wooden planks, advertising the spot as the 'end of the trail.' Except, it's not really the end. That distinction resides a mile east, at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, the 'official' end of a route that since its decommissioning in 1985 does not officially exist. Read the full dispatch from Tribune reporter Jonathan Bullington and photojournalist E. Jason Wambsgans. Have a suggestion for a stop along their drive? Share it with us. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the future of a grocery tax in Chicago, the Fire calling dibs on The 78 and our picks for the best food and drink festivals to attend this summer. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of tax breaks and spending cuts as a 'disgusting abomination' yesterday, testing the limits of his political influence as he targeted the centerpiece of Republicans' legislative agenda. As the city gets set to borrow $518 million for infrastructure projects and $92 million more toward Mayor Brandon Johnson's massive affordable housing plan, aldermen and the mayor's team argued yesterday over which of them are to blame for recent credit downgrades that will end up costing taxpayers more. Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing aldermen to add a city grocery tax in Chicago as the long-established state grocery levy expires. Johnson's top finance leaders urged aldermen to implement the tax soon during a meeting of the City Council's Revenue Subcommittee. Failing to install the tax would blow an additional $80 million hole in Chicago's 2026 budget as the city already faces a budget gap of around $1 billion, Budget Director Annette Guzman said. A parade of witnesses in Michael Madigan's recent corruption trial — including Madigan himself — insisted there were airtight protocols in place to avoid any potential conflicts of interest between the powerful Democratic House speaker's public duties and his private job as a property tax attorney. But in asking a federal judge to sentence Madigan to 12 ½ years in prison, prosecutors wrote in a lengthy court filing Friday that in reality he was working behind the scenes to exert his unmatched political powers to help his own bottom line. A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health — even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children. The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids. The black-crowned night heron is the world's most widely distributed species of its kind, found on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. But it's been endangered in Illinois since the 1970s as the population has declined across the Great Lakes region because of human harassment and disappearing wetlands. For the last 15 years, however, Chicago has become a popular summer hub and the location of the last remaining breeding colony of the species in the state, specifically atop the red wolf enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hundreds of black-crowned night herons flock there starting in mid-March every year, migrating from nearby Indiana and Kentucky, and from farther away like Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and more recently, even Cuba. There may be a few more balls in the air at The 78 than just the Chicago Fire's proposed $650 million soccer stadium. In the wake of the announcement that the Fire's privately financed, 22,000-seat stadium could open for play before the 2028 MLS season, the White Sox said they are still considering building their proposed new ballpark at the South Loop site as well, potentially creating a new pro sports nexus in Chicago. Column: Did the Fire just call dibs on The 78? Or are the White Sox's ballpark dreams still alive? Editorial: Soccer-loving Joe Mansueto comes through for Chicago and its Fire In his soft-spoken but businesslike manner, D'Andre Swift offered four words yesterday regarding his outlook for the 2025 season: 'Excited about this year.' Swift shared that sentiment after the first of three Chicago Bears minicamp practices at Halas Hall and at the end of a response to a question regarding his reflections on 2024. The movement du jour is for a museum to describe its offerings as 'immersive.' It's become a cliché, but it does nod to a cultural trend that predated, then was amplified by, the pandemic: Experiences, not exhibitions, are coaxing folks off their couches and into cultural institutions. That trend crops up in our museum preview this year. In fact, some of these suggested events don't even take place within the confines of their host institution. Festivals are one of the best parts of summer in Chicago, ranging from blowout concerts to small neighborhood parties. Food and drinks are key to any celebration, but sometimes they're the real headliners. The city and surrounding suburbs host annual bashes including burger competitions, beer and wine tastings, and celebrations of vegan fare. Enjoy the weather by heading to one of these 30 festivals.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Dispatches from Route 66
Good morning, Chicago. Our Route 66 road trip began at the end, at the famed fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the first day of June, a steady stream of visitors waited their turns to pose with one of the pier's most popular attractions: a Route 66 sign, perched on a pole 12 feet above the wooden planks, advertising the spot as the 'end of the trail.' Except, it's not really the end. That distinction resides a mile east, at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, the 'official' end of a route that since its decommissioning in 1985 does not officially exist. Read the full dispatch from Tribune reporter Jonathan Bullington and photojournalist E. Jason Wambsgans. Have a suggestion for a stop along their drive? Share it with us. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the future of a grocery tax in Chicago, the Fire calling dibs on The 78 and our picks for the best food and drink festivals to attend this summer. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of tax breaks and spending cuts as a 'disgusting abomination' yesterday, testing the limits of his political influence as he targeted the centerpiece of Republicans' legislative agenda. As the city gets set to borrow $518 million for infrastructure projects and $92 million more toward Mayor Brandon Johnson's massive affordable housing plan, aldermen and the mayor's team argued yesterday over which of them are to blame for recent credit downgrades that will end up costing taxpayers more. Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing aldermen to add a city grocery tax in Chicago as the long-established state grocery levy expires. Johnson's top finance leaders urged aldermen to implement the tax soon during a meeting of the City Council's Revenue Subcommittee. Failing to install the tax would blow an additional $80 million hole in Chicago's 2026 budget as the city already faces a budget gap of around $1 billion, Budget Director Annette Guzman said. A parade of witnesses in Michael Madigan's recent corruption trial — including Madigan himself — insisted there were airtight protocols in place to avoid any potential conflicts of interest between the powerful Democratic House speaker's public duties and his private job as a property tax attorney. But in asking a federal judge to sentence Madigan to 12 ½ years in prison, prosecutors wrote in a lengthy court filing Friday that in reality he was working behind the scenes to exert his unmatched political powers to help his own bottom line. A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health — even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children. The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids. The black-crowned night heron is the world's most widely distributed species of its kind, found on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. But it's been endangered in Illinois since the 1970s as the population has declined across the Great Lakes region because of human harassment and disappearing wetlands. For the last 15 years, however, Chicago has become a popular summer hub and the location of the last remaining breeding colony of the species in the state, specifically atop the red wolf enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hundreds of black-crowned night herons flock there starting in mid-March every year, migrating from nearby Indiana and Kentucky, and from farther away like Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and more recently, even Cuba. There may be a few more balls in the air at The 78 than just the Chicago Fire's proposed $650 million soccer stadium. In the wake of the announcement that the Fire's privately financed, 22,000-seat stadium could open for play before the 2028 MLS season, the White Sox said they are still considering building their proposed new ballpark at the South Loop site as well, potentially creating a new pro sports nexus in Chicago. In his soft-spoken but businesslike manner, D'Andre Swift offered four words yesterday regarding his outlook for the 2025 season: 'Excited about this year.' Swift shared that sentiment after the first of three Chicago Bears minicamp practices at Halas Hall and at the end of a response to a question regarding his reflections on 2024. The movement du jour is for a museum to describe its offerings as 'immersive.' It's become a cliché, but it does nod to a cultural trend that predated, then was amplified by, the pandemic: Experiences, not exhibitions, are coaxing folks off their couches and into cultural institutions. That trend crops up in our museum preview this year. In fact, some of these suggested events don't even take place within the confines of their host institution. Festivals are one of the best parts of summer in Chicago, ranging from blowout concerts to small neighborhood parties. Food and drinks are key to any celebration, but sometimes they're the real headliners. The city and surrounding suburbs host annual bashes including burger competitions, beer and wine tastings, and celebrations of vegan fare. Enjoy the weather by heading to one of these 30 festivals.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago White Sox mulling their options as starter Jonathan Cannon goes on the 15-day injured list
A change is coming to the Chicago White Sox rotation after the club placed right-hander Jonathan Cannon on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a lower back strain. But what that next move is remains to be seen. Cannon exited after allowing five runs in three innings during Monday's 13-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Rate Field. 'It was clear just with how he was feeling that it was going to be an IL (stint),' manager Will Venable said before Tuesday's game against the Tigers. '(He) got some imaging done and they're continuing to evaluate it. It's going to be some time here, but we'll continue to see how he feels before we put a timeline on it. 'I don't want to speculate on a timeline right now as we're continuing to just get information.' Cannon surrendered three home runs in Monday's outing. '(The back) bothered me a little bit out there, but I chose to go out there and try to compete, work through it a little bit,' Cannon told reporters after Monday's game. Cannon has recently dealt with back issues. He was scratched ahead of a scheduled May 24 start against the Texas Rangers with lower back tightness. He rebounded in time to start on May 27 against the New York Mets at Citi Field, allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings — including a pair of two-run home runs in the first. Column: Did the Fire just call dibs on The 78? Or are the White Sox's ballpark dreams still alive?Cannon ran into more trouble in the first inning on Monday, surrendering a two-run home run to Kerry Carpenter and a solo blast to Dillon Dingler during a three-run inning. And he was out of the game after the third, throwing 85 pitches. 'We have a process for evaluating a player, trust what he tells us,' Venable said. 'He's out there throwing bullpens, and kind of a responsible ramp-up to the decision point in which we decided that he was good to throw (against the Mets). 'Fine about our process, again also trusting the player that he was in a good spot. Jonathan is a competitor and wants to pitch and believed that he was in a good spot. He just didn't come out of this last one feeling very good.' Cannon said Monday that he felt it 'a little bit in the finish, following through a little bit, which I think is why I've kind of left some pitches up and struggling with a little bit of command there.' 'But I was able to work through it last week, kind of work around it and make it through the outing,' he said. '(Monday), it stiffened up on me a little bit.' Cannon, 25, is 2-7 with a 4.66 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 12 appearances (10 starts) this season. The Sox are working through their next steps to fill the spot in the rotation. 'Scheduled for a bullpen day (Wednesday),' Venable said. 'So obviously with (reliever) Caleb Freeman coming (back from Triple-A Charlotte as Tuesday's corresponding move), add him to the mix and then evaluate where we're at as we get through these next couple days.' The Sox utilized Bryse Wilson in a starting role earlier this season when Martín Pérez went on the injured list. Wilson shifted back to the bullpen after the Sox signed Adrian Houser. Wilson allowed eight runs on 12 hits in five innings Monday, throwing 80 pitches. 'We haven't really made any decisions,' Venable said of the next move. 'Obviously (Wilson) threw a lot yesterday, so he'll be down for a couple days. We'll see what (Wednesday) looks like, knowing that we'll be leaning on some bulk bullpen guys, also. 'So just kind of got to take it day by day for now.' Struggling Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was not in Tuesday's starting lineup as he works on making adjustments at the plate. 'He's continued to work really hard on making adjustments to get right,' Venable said. 'As he continues to do that, similar to (Miguel) Vargas earlier in the year, where he's taking on some real adjustments, just not having him do that with also dealing with the results of the game. 'So I just think that today and tomorrow we'll give Luis the day off and not be in the starting lineup. He'll be available, but not in the starting lineup, just to give him an opportunity to really dial in some of these adjustments without just feeling the pressure of having to go out there and perform. He's in a good spot physically. And just want to give him a couple days here to lock in some of these adjustments.' Robert is hitting .177 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 55 games. Venable said Robert had a positive response to the move. 'He wants, more than anything, to be the best version of himself and has been extremely committed to doing that,' Venable said. 'He is putting in a ton of work and working extremely hard all throughout the day to try and get this thing right. 'He agreed that it would be a good idea just to press pause on the games, just for a couple of days here. But again, he's going to contribute and be around and obviously someone that we can use to run and play defense, so still be available for us.'
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Chicago Fire plan to build $650M soccer stadium in South Loop
CHICAGO - After nearly a decade of big swings and misses, including a recent failed bid to build a new White Sox ballpark, The 78 and developer Related Midwest may have finally found an anchor tenant to kick-start the proposed mixed-use megadevelopment in the South Loop. The Chicago Fire announced plans Tuesday for a privately financed $650 million soccer stadium at the mostly vacant 62-acre site along the Chicago River at Roosevelt Road, giving the team a "world-class home," and potentially turning the former rail yard into a bustling South Side Wrigleyville. "It's transformative for the club, and I think for the city as well," said Fire owner Joe Mansueto, 68, the founder and executive chairman of Chicago-based investment research firm Morningstar, who bought the team in 2019. Designed by architectural firm Gensler, the proposed 22,000-seat, open-air soccer stadium would be located at the north end of the long-fallow development. It would feature a natural grass pitch, an array of seating - including club options and luxury suites - and an intimate setting for fans to cheer the Fire on match days. The new stadium is scheduled to break ground as early as this fall, pending approval from the city, with a target completion date ahead of the 2028 MLS regular season. The Fire currently play at a rarely filled Soldier Field on a newly signed three-year lease extension. Mansueto said the new right-sized soccer stadium will be the perfect fit for Fire fans and the city. "I think we should sell out every game," Mansueto said. "We want to create this unrivaled match day experience." The undeveloped swath of land bordered by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street and a half-mile stretch of riverfront south of downtown Chicago, has been a field of dreams for Related Midwest since acquiring it in 2016. The ambitious plan from the outset was to create a sprawling residential, retail and commercial development that would become the city's 78th neighborhood. Over the years, The 78 has been in the running for everything from Amazon's second headquarters to a Chicago casino, but time and again, Related was unable to land that elusive anchor tenant to catalyze the megadevelopment. Last year, the White Sox proposed a new publicly funded ballpark at The 78, but Springfield lawmakers balked at the idea of contributing a reported $1 billion to build it. That's when the Fire stepped up. "We have always believed in this location and our ability to build something great, we just needed a partner," said Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest. "All of our preparation, all of our work, all of our disappointment, got us to the perfect place where we met with Joe and the Fire, and it was a great match." While the city needs to sign off on the proposed Fire stadium, the project will not require public funding, increasingly the biggest impediment to building a new sports facility. Mansueto, a self-made billionaire who grew up in northwest Indiana and bootstrapped the launch of Morningstar from his Lincoln Park apartment in 1984, said teams should foot the bill for their own stadiums. "It is my belief that these stadiums should be privately financed," said Mansueto, who earned an MBA at the University of Chicago. "Most of the value accrues to the sports team. So it's only fair that the sports team shoulders the cost of its construction." In addition to funding the $650 million stadium, the Fire recently opened a new $100 million training facility 2 miles west of The 78 at a formerly vacant 30-acre Chicago Housing Authority site on the Near West Side. With the Bears likely leaving for a new stadium in Arlington Heights and the White Sox also recently shopping for a new home, the Chicago Fire are planting roots in the city that could substantially grow the fan base. "Joe Mansueto isn't just building a soccer stadium - he's reshaping the future of soccer in Chicago," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "This is one of the most ambitious stadium projects in Major League Soccer history, and a powerful reflection of Joe's extraordinary commitment to the Fire, the fans, and the city." There is certainly plenty of upside for the Fire, which has yet to ignite a large following among Chicago sports fans during much of the team's somewhat itinerant 27-year history. Founded as an early Major League Soccer expansion team, the Fire began playing at Soldier Field, winning the league championship during their inaugural season in 1998. In 2006, the Fire moved into a newly built, $98 million stadium in Bridgeview, then known as Toyota Park, with a lease that ran through 2036. The 20,000-seat venue, which was rebranded as SeatGeek Stadium in 2018, was the Fire's home for 14 seasons. When Mansueto bought the Fire for about $325 million in 2019, he negotiated a $65.5 million lease buyout with Bridgeview, allowing a move back to Soldier Field, where post-pandemic attendance is rising. "We are the Chicago Fire," Mansueto said. "So it was important to me that we be in the city proper." On April 13, the Fire set an attendance record with 62,358 fans at Soldier Field for an MLS match against Inter Miami and Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi. The teams played for 90 minutes to a 0-0 draw. Last season, the Fire averaged 21,327 fans per game at Soldier Field, leaving the stadium two-thirds empty for most matches. At 61,500 seats, Soldier Field is the smallest venue in the NFL, but it is huge for the MLS, where stadiums average 25,000 to 30,000 seats. Selling out the proposed 22,000-seat soccer stadium at The 78 could be a regular occurrence, and be a much better experience for fans and players. "Having a completely full stadium, intimate, everybody's close to the pitch … should just be an awesome experience for our fans," Mansueto said. "We want to create a fortress for our team, really provide an edge that teams are intimidated coming to play us." The MLS has 30 teams playing 34 regular season matches from March through October. Mansueto said the new stadium will also host concerts and events to keep it busy throughout the year. The Fire has already retained an agent to sell stadium naming rights, a standard practice at sports venues to defray the cost. The new stadium will also likely increase the value of the franchise. Helped by the 10-year, $2.5 billion partnership with Apple TV+ inked in 2023, the value of MLS franchises continues to rise, averaging $690 million per club, with the Los Angeles Football Club, Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy all worth more than $1 billion, according to the annual Forbes list published in February. The Chicago Fire ranks 24th at $530 million, near the bottom of the list, which pegs annual revenue for the team at $51 million. "I think one of the things that has restrained the value of the club is not having our own stadium," Mansueto said. "Hopefully, after this gets done, those numbers will move upward." Building the stadium will also be central to realizing the broader vision for The 78, which includes retail, residential, outdoor gathering spaces and a half-mile riverwalk, none of which has yet come to fruition. Even Discovery Partners Institute, a University of Illinois-led initiative given free land in 2018 to build a technology innovation hub at The 78, canceled plans in October for an eight-story tower at the development, announcing the project would relocate to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park planned for the former U.S. Steel site on the city's South Side. For the past two years, The 78 has served as winter storage for the 2,200 concrete barriers that line the temporary NASCAR Chicago Street Race course in Grant Park, which will return for its third annual run during the Fourth of July weekend. More recently, the Chicago Sport & Social Club opened some pop-up pickleball courts by the river at The 78 for its summer outdoor leagues. A mini soccer pitch and softball field are also in recreational play. Bailey expects things to get a lot busier when the Fire stadium gets built, with thousands of fans descending on the site for match days, arriving by car, public transportation - including a nearby "L" station and multiple bus lines - and even by water taxi. Once there, Bailey said The 78 may feel very much like Wrigleyville during Cubs games, with festive fans strolling the neighborhood amid retail, restaurants, bars and open space for events, concerts and other activities. "The environment there, created organically over 100 years, is something that we will try to re-create, in as organic a process as we can given that we're building new," Bailey said. "But absolutely, that energy, that housing surrounding a great stadium, is exactly what we're going to create, and I think it's going to be a game changer for this part of the city." While The 78 is pre-approved for stadium use, the Fire will still need the City Council to sign off on the project. The first community meeting to discuss the proposed stadium is set for June 16, hosted by Ald. Pat Dowell, whose 3rd Ward includes The 78. Mansueto said he is confident the city and neighboring communities will get behind the Fire stadium, as will the growing ranks of Chicago soccer fans. Mayor Brandon Johnson said the stadium plan is a "good sign" for the city. "We look forward to continued conversations with the Fire and the community to make sure that this investment benefits local residents and our city as a whole," Johnson said in a statement. "If the community is supportive, the Chicago Fire would be an excellent anchor tenant for the 78 site." Chicago is one of three U.S. cities hosting the Premier League's Summer Series exhibition tournament, with AFC Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester United and West Ham United playing an evening doubleheader July 30 at Soldier Field. In September, the Premier League soccer fan fest drew a record 15,646 attendees to Lincoln Park for a weekend early morning watch party, with 10 live matches broadcast al fresco on nine large-screen TVs. Mansueto, who did not play soccer as a kid growing up in Munster, Indiana, became interested in the sport when his three kids took it up, learning it on the fly as their coach. He grew to love what is known as the "beautiful game," which led him to buy the Chicago Fire. "After I stepped down from my CEO role at Morningstar, I wanted to invest in my passions, and one of my passions was soccer," Mansueto said. "And this one nicely aligned with an investment in a sport I was passionate about, and an investment in Chicago, which I'm very passionate about." As owner, Mansueto is focused on making the team more competitive. In October, the Fire hired Gregg Berhalter, the former coach of the U.S. Men's National Team, as the new director of football and head coach. Mansueto acknowledged that the team needs to "win some trophies" to engage more Chicago sports fans. But getting a new stadium, he said, would be an important step. "I think the stadium will provide the catalyst to create that tipping point and really elevate the club and make the Chicago Fire and soccer popular." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
