Fire fans will have access to premier field-side seats, a private speakeasy and invite-only club when McDonald’s Park opens for the 2028-29 season, the club announced Wednesday.
The Fire said it’s rolling out three types of luxury seating, including mini suites, at its 22,000-seat stadium at The 78. And the 600 seats across the three high-end clubs will set fans back by about $10,000 to $25,000 a seat.
Fire Chief Ticketing Officer Ted Glick said it’ll be one of the most exclusive offerings compared to other Chicago stadiums — with fewer seats compared to Wrigley Field’s 1914 Club.
“We’ve intentionally designed these to be intimate, to be exclusive, and it’s really the top end of the seating experiences that we’ll have in the new stadium,” Glick said. “This is really the first and the most upscale that we’ll bring to market.”
The team will formally unveil the concepts during a private launch event on Oct. 8. Levy Restaurants will be the Fire’s food partner across all three clubs.
The most exclusive space will be the invite-only Chairman’s Club that members can also access during concerts and other stadium events.
There will also be luxury field seats, offering access to a private speakeasy with a view into the player tunnel and post-match press conference room. Glick said tunnel access is being offered at more soccer stadiums worldwide and brings fans “as close to the action as possible.”
“The seats are directly on top of the pitch to really provide access that will leave them wanting more and to come back game after game,” he said. “They have access to this great, opulent speakeasy bar with a curtain that opens up where the players will walk straight through. As they’re congregating pregame or getting hyped for the game, you’re going to be able to have a great Manhattan or old fashioned in your hand and watch all of the sights and sounds of the game right before it starts.”
Fans that want a bit more privacy can opt for mini loge seat suites. Loge seats — open air-seating typically surrounded by a rail or short wall — will have all-inclusive food and select beverages, access to a private stadium level and a dedicated bar space, according to the Fire. The seats are like a “living room” experience and mirror what many recently built NFL stadiums offer, Glick said.
The Fire stadium’s design is inspired by Chicago’s industrial roots. Many of the materials — including the brick, glass, steel and rich wood tones — will be brought into the club levels. But each club will have its own look, Glick said. For example, the speakeasy is inspired by the Prohibition era and Chicago’s history of speakeasies, while the Chairman’s Club draws design inspiration from Gold Coast.
The stadium is still expected to be open next year, according to the Fire. The site’s foundation is complete and concrete has been poured for the southwest concourse. Structural steel will be installed later this year.
“Progress is being made,” Glick said. “We remain on track and really pleased with the progression to date.”
About a quarter of McDonald’s Park will be luxury or premium seating, Glick said. The seats unveiled Wednesday are just a portion of what’s available. About half of its luxury suites have already sold, though the club wouldn’t say how many.
The number of premium seats at McDonald’s Park will put it toward the top of the MLS in terms of luxury offerings, Glick said.
“We felt there was a gap and an opportunity in the marketplace to bring some new offerings to Chicagoland,” Glick said. “And we also know that we’re about to go through a renaissance of new venues and facilities across the city, and so we wanted to make sure that we could set the bar really high.”
He said the Fire has been “overwhelmed” by the interest in its offerings, and it has pre-sold a small portion of the seats.
Current season ticket holders will have the first right of refusal for the three clubs. The Fire will then offer the luxury seats to depositors, which includes 18,000.
The club broke ground on its $750 million stadium in March. Bankrolled by the Fire’s billionaire owner, Joe Mansueto, the stadium will give the Fire a permanent home after some of its Soldier Field games have been pushed to the suburbs, due to scheduling conflicts with the Bears and other events.
The stadium will anchor The 78, the 62-acre site at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street that has eluded development for years. The land, owned by Related Midwest, is one of the largest undeveloped parcels left in the city.
The first development phase of The 78 will include more than 1,400 feet of publicly accessible riverfront space, a new water taxi stop, 1 1/2 miles of bike trails, Divvy bike stations, two temporary surface parking lots, public parking and 3 acres of sports fields, according to Related Midwest.