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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Toyota Park (Bridgeview)
SeatGeek Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, about 12 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. It is the home stadium of the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League, Chicago Fire FC II of MLS Next Pro, and the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby. The stadium has also hosted the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse, Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League, Chicago State Cougars men's and women's soccer teams of the NCAA Division I, and Chicago House AC of the National Independent Soccer Association. Originally 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.

History

The Chicago Fire entered Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 1998, playing its first four seasons at Soldier Field in Chicago, which they shared with the National Football League (NFL)'s Chicago Bears. Beginning in 2002, the club moved to Cardinal Stadium (now Benedetti–Wehrli Stadium) in Naperville for two seasons while Soldier Field was renovated, leading to calls for a soccer-specific venue. The Fire received several bids before announcing Bridgeview as the winner in 2003. Construction on the Bridgeview venue began on November 30, 2004, and was completed on June 11, 2006.

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 signed in 2018 was the first such agreement SeatGeek entered into. It was reported that as part of the deal, SeatGeek would also serve as the venue's primary ticketing service starting in 2019. The company reportedly promised that they would work to "bring more live programming, including premier concerts, music festivals and international sporting events" to the stadium.

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 Chicago, playing temporarily at Soldier Field once again. On May 8, 2019, 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. On January 27, 2021, Chicago House AC of the NISA announced that they had selected SeatGeek Stadium as their home.

Nevertheless, in 2022, because of Soldier Field availability, the Fire played late-season matches at the stadium and may still play other matches there in future seasons while it solves its Chicago stadium situation. Moreover, its MLS Next Pro affiliate Chicago Fire FC II is based out of Bridgeview.

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 9,000 square feet (840 m).

A practice facility with two fields (one natural grass; the other artificial turf) 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 120-by-75-yard (110 by 69 m) 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.

In July 2016, two large-scale murals were 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".

Major soccer events

Date Teams Competition Attendance
September 10, 2008 United States  3–0  Trinidad and Tobago 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification–CONCACAF 11,452
October 11, 2016 Mexico  1–0  Panama Friendly 19,017
June 8, 2021 Canada  4–0  Suriname 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification - CONCACAF 0
June 15, 2021 Canada  3–0  Haiti 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification - CONCACAF 0

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 the Chicago Fire defeated the LA Galaxy 3–1.

SeatGeek Stadium hosts annual friendly matches between Chicago Fire and the popular European and Mexican clubs, which in the past included Tottenham Hotspur F.C., 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 2007, with the United States Eagles losing 6–10 to provincial side 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 US in its campaign to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Date Winner Score Opponent Competition Attendance Ref.
August 25, 2007 Munster Munster 26–10  United States 2007 Setanta Challenge Cup 8,260
June 21, 2008  Canada 26–10  United States 2008 Churchill Cup Bowl Final —
 Ireland A 33–8  Argentinian XV 2008 Churchill Cup Plate Final —
 England Saxons 36–19  Scotland A 2008 Churchill Cup Final —
June 13, 2009  Wales 48–15  United States June tests 6,264
November 4, 2016  Māori All Blacks 54–7  United States end-of-year tests 18,700
July 5, 2024  Romania 22–20  United States mid-year tests —

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 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.

For their 2021 season, the Chicago State Cougars men's and women's soccer teams played at the stadium.

Concerts and music festivals

The concert stage at SeatGeek Stadium, as seen during the 2010 B96 Pepsi Summer Bash

From 2006 to 2015, 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.

Concerts

Date Artist(s) Opening act(s) Tour Tickets sold Revenue Additional notes
July 8, 2007 Dave Matthews Band Guster 2007 Summer Tour — —
June 6, 2008 Dave Matthews Band Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 2008 Summer Tour — —
July 24, 2008 Jimmy Buffett — The Year of Still Here Tour — —
July 26, 2008
June 13, 2009 Kelly Clarkson — All I Ever Wanted Summer Fair Tour — — This concert was a part of the "B96 Pepsi SummerBash"
July 31, 2009 Korn Powerman 5000
Filter		 Escape from the Studio Tour — —
August 8, 2009 Jimmy Buffett — The Summerzcool Tour — — Ilo Ferreria, Jake Shimabukuro and Joe Perry of Aerosmith were special guests.
August 11, 2009 Phish — Late Summer Tour 2009 — —
August 15, 2009 Jimmy Buffett — The Summerzcool Tour — — Ilo 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, 2010 Phish — Early Summer Tour 2010 — —
August 14, 2010 Jimmy Buffett — Under the Big Top Tour — —
June 9, 2011 Kenny Chesney Billy Currington
Uncle Kracker		 Goin' Coastal Tour — —
July 23, 2011 Jimmy Buffett Ilo Ferreira Welcome to Fin Land Tour — — This 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, 2012 Evanescence
Chevelle
Halestorm
Cavo
New Medicine		 — Carnival of Madness — —
July 12, 2013 Bob Dylan Wilco
My Morning Jacket
Richard Thompson Electric Trio		 Americanarama Festival of Music 11,075 / 13,068 $689,308
July 14, 2017 Kiss — Kissworld Tour — — This concert was part of Chicago Open Air.

Music festivals

Illenium closing out the night on the stadium stage at North Coast Music Festival 2022
Festival grounds at North Coast Music Festival 2022
Festival Dates Headliner(s)
Chicago Open Air July 14–17, 2016 Rammstein
Disturbed (band)
Slipknot (band)
Chicago Open Air July 14–16, 2017 Kiss (band)
Korn
Ozzy Osbourne
Chicago Open Air May 18–19, 2019 System of a Down
Tool (band)
North Coast Music Festival September 3–5, 2021 Kaskade
Louis the Child (DJs)
GRiZ
Ganja White Night
Zeds Dead
Rezz
North Coast Music Festival September 2–4, 2022 Armin van Buuren
Fisher (musician)
Illenium
Diplo
Porter Robinson
Kaytranada
The Summer Smash June 24–27, 2023 Kid Cudi
Future
Playboi Carti

Accessibility

Pace 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 Fire had also provided bus transportation from nine different bar locations in the city to and from the games. However upon moving back to Soldier Field that service is no longer offered for SeakGeek Stadium.

See also

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toyota Park (Bridgeview).
Preceded by Home of
Chicago Fire FC
2006–2019 		Succeeded by
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