USA – ILLINOIS Trends and Developments Contributed by: Jason R. Gorczynski, Katten
Introduction The past year saw a transformative acceleration of the integration between the real estate and sports industries across the United States. Gone are the days when stadiums and arenas simply served as home venues for teams. Many teams in professional sports and numerous universities are pursuing cutting-edge stadiums, arenas and practice facilities to elevate the fan experience, achieve a competitive edge and unlock revenue-generating events beyond home games, among other motivations. A team’s home venue has evolved into the centre - piece of neighbourhood revitalisation. Teams seek to strategically control areas around their stadiums and arenas to generate revenue not only during the game, but also before and after the action on the field. Cities are capitalising on this momentum to engage in long- term multiphase developments of underperforming urban areas. Illinois has been a hotbed of activity, illustrating these trends and developments associated with the real estate and sports industries. • The Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) have been pursuing a new domed stadium as one component of a mixed-use entertainment district. • Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) is developing a new soccer-specific home venue in the to-be-developed 78th neighbourhood of Chi - cago, The 78. • The Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) are evaluating options for the future of their home venue, as its lease at Rate Field expires in 2029. • The owners of the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) are preparing to break ground on the first phase of The 1901 Project, a multi-year sports-anchored mixed-use development surrounding the United Center. • The Chicago Cubs of MLB continue to benefit from their previous development of Gallagher Way, a mixed-use development adjacent to the Cubs’ historic Wrigley Field.
• The Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Bas - ketball Association (WNBA) will be opening their practice facility in 2026. • In 2027, Chicago Stars FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expects to open a newly constructed, ten-acre, purpose-built performance centre in Bannockburn, Illinois. In 2026, Chicago Stars FC will also have a new home venue along Lake Michigan at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, a stadium in Evanston, Illinois that served as the temporary home venue of the North - western University football team. • In 2026, Northwestern University is scheduled to open the new Ryan Field, its newly constructed football stadium in Evanston, Illinois. This article highlights these trends and developments in the areas of new stadium and arena construction, sports and entertainment districts, women-specific sports venues and sports-related developments by universities. New NFL Venues The Chicago Bears currently play at Soldier Field, with its lease expiring in 2033. Soldier Field is an open-air stadium along Lake Michigan in the City of Chicago and has the smallest capacity among all NFL stadi - ums. The Bears are pursuing a new, modern, domed sta - dium to upgrade their home venue through enhanced fan experiences, including better amenities, protection from extreme weather and amplified crowd noise. The dome also enables the stadium to host and generate revenue from year-round marquee global events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, global soccer games and concerts. The Bears are currently evaluating locations for the new stadium. One option is a former racetrack they already own, Arlington Park in the Village of Arling - ton Heights, Illinois. Another option is a golf course in Hammond, Indiana, a city located near the border of Chicago. The following list includes new NFL stadiums across the United States in various stages of development, with most including a roof.
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