Chicago Fire Reveal New Stadium’s Hospitality Details

A rendering of the main club space within the Chicago Fire FC’s McDonald’s Park.

Chicago Fire FC

Exclusivity marks the highest end of premium opportunities at the Chicago Fire FC’s planned downtown McDonald’s Park venue when it opens in 2028. It’s a focus on quality, rather than scale.

While Dave Baldwin, president of business operations for Chicago Fire FC, tells me that roughly a quarter of the estimated 22,000 seats at the privately funded McDonald’s Park, located in the South Loop riverfront’s The 78 development, features premium seating options, the highest-tier luxury offerings limit to 600 seats.

“This exclusivity allows us to deliver a highly personalized experience defined by exceptional service, access and comfort,” he says. “It’s a level of hospitality that has been intentionally designed for McDonald’s Park from day one.”

The limited seats across exclusive areas priorities behind-the-scenes access. The most exclusive space, the Chairman’s Club, represents an invite-only members’ space. The field seats option includes a private speakeasy with club views onto the player walk-out tunnel and press conference room and loge seats offer a mini-suite experience with all-inclusive food and beverage, private stadium access and a private bar, all designed with the amenities of a suite, but embedded in the energy of the seating bowl. Comfort also plays a key role, with heated seats outside and climate-controlled indoor spaces. The club says the culinary program is meant to rival some of Chicago’s most popular restaurants.

“What makes these offerings unique is the combination of elevated hospitality, exclusive access and immersive experiences,” Baldwin says, adding it’s a program not currently seen in Chicago sports. “Today’s fans want more than just a ticket to the event, they want a complete experience, and great hospitality plays a major role in making McDonald’s Park a destination year-round.”

The Gensler-designed stadium features Chicago-centric architectural nods and owner Joe Mansueto hopes McDonald’s Park becomes a venue not only for the Fire, but for concerts and other major events all year. Already, the plans have started to draw fresh interest.

“We’re seeing these experiences attract new audiences and create new fans,” Baldwin says about interest in the venue coming from people not currently following the Fire or soccer, “which is a tremendous opportunity four our club and for the sport in Chicago.”

Kevin Willer, a Chicago native and CEO of 1871, says he committed to field seats once he saw the way he could experience the game. “Having a home designed specifically for our sport is incredibly meaningful,” he says. “As a Chicago native, what this project means for the city matters just as much.”

Baldwin says everything about the stadium aims to “bring people closer to the game and to each other” while elevating the sports experience in downtown Chicago.

“Joe Mansueto continues to raise the bar for what’s possible in Major League soccer with McDonald’s Park,” says Don Garber, MLS commissioner. “These best-in-class premium hospitality experiences reflect the ambition behind this project and will help establish McDonald’s Park as one of the premier soccer venues in the world.”

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