“We interviewed some of the largest national contractors who are known for building stadiums but, at the end of the day ... it felt right to go with a triumvirate of Chicago-based contractors led by Pepper, but alongside GMA Construction Group and All Construction Group,” said Ari Glass, head of real estate for team owner Joe Mansueto.

Noting that the venue is expected to be a gathering place for people from all walks of life, Cornelius Griggs, president and CEO of GMA Construction Group, said “we wanted a joint venture that reflects that [diversity], which is why we have such a diverse group of owners at the JV level.” 

With a compressed schedule proposed to deliver the stadium by 2028—if construction starts in 2026—Pepper says the project presents riverfront-build challenges on former railyard land, such as soil stabilization, utility relocations and traffic control coordination in a dense urban corridor.

"Being that the Chicago River previously ran through the proposed location of the stadium, there has been an emphasis on the right foundation/soil remediation strategies to ensure the building is built to last," said Rob Martinelli, senior vice president for Pepper Construction in an email. "In addition to the right foundation, our tri-venture with GMA and ALL Construction will focus on community engagement and coordination with Related Midwest to bring Chicago’s newest neighborhood The 78 to life."

Mansueto, founder and executive chairman of Chicago-based financial research firm Morningstar, has vowed to pay for the stadium entirely with private funds.  

The facility is designed as an open-air bowl with a natural grass playing surface beneath an exposed steel canopy intended to amplify crowd noise. Renderings show a brick, steel and glass facade with a steep supporters’ section, suites and multiple levels of premium seating. 

The project, currently under city review, requires modifications to Planned Development 1434, originally approved in 2018 for a mix of residential, commercial and open space. City planning documents filed in September confirm that Crescent Park, a central green space originally envisioned for The 78, would be eliminated. 

The riverwalk, once designed at 100 ft in width, would be reduced to 40 ft. Metra tracks through the site would remain in place rather than being shifted to allow new east-west street connections to Clark Street. 

A previously proposed CTA Red Line station at 15th and Clark has been dropped, with the Roosevelt station identified as the primary transit access point.

Those adjustments are part of the city’s review of traffic, transit and public space impacts. A presentation by the Chicago Dept. of Planning and Development projected weekday morning peak traffic of nearly 14,000 vehicles and almost 16,000 in the evening. On Saturdays, volumes are expected to drop before and after games but still concentrate flows into the South Loop. 

City Council action on the PD amendment is expected after Plan Commission review this fall. If approved, site preparation and infrastructure work could begin in 2026.

The project is part of a $7-billion mixed-use project that the city reports will include up to 13 million sq ft of new commercial, residential and institutional construction, 12 acres of open space and 20% affordable housing commitment for up to 10,000 residential units.

The proposed development, including the stadium, has met with opposition from the Chinatown community, which borders the site on the south, and other organizations. In a letter to the planning commission, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community and other organizations said they are concerned about the impact of gentrification of the proposed stadium on their neighborhood. 

They are asking the city to commission a Displacement Impact Study to be done by a neutral party for Chinatown and the other nearby lower-income neighborhoods of Bronzeville and Pilsen. 

"It [the stadium] will attract higher income people to live in the area and these folks can drive up prices [of homes and rents]," said Sarah Tang, director of programs for the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community. 

The organizations are also seeking a new, third-party, neutral traffic study to include Wentworth Avenue and Clark Street in the neighborhoods of South Loop, Chinatown, Bronzeville and Pilsen. 

"We're concerned about the lack of transit improvements and adding to congestion on Roosevelt Road, Clark Street and Wentworth Avenue," Tang said.

In addition, the groups are asking for a Community Benefit Agreement, which would cover such issues as the affordability of residential units and require larger units to accommodate families. 

"This would be a great precedent for the city where a private development would have public accountability elements," Tang said. 

Mansueto emphasized that the stadium will give the team a permanent base after years of playing at Soldier Field under a lease with the Chicago Park District. “A world-class city deserves a world-class football club—with a world-class home to match,” he said. “This development will be transformative for both the Chicago Fire FC and the city of Chicago.”

Pepper previously built the team’s Endeavor Health Performance Center, a two-story, 51,000-sq-ft training and operations center. 

“Part of the reason we ended up choosing Pepper Construction and getting comfortable with their ability to build something of the scale of a stadium was actually their performance on building the performance center,” Mansueto said. 

City Council action on the PD amendment is expected after Plan Commission review this fall. If approved, site preparation and infrastructure work could begin in 2026 with project completion set for 2028.