Environmental remediation set to begin for The 78

Related Midwest has received approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to begin environmental remediation work at The 78 site. Located just south of W. Roosevelt Rd along the South Branch of the Chicago River, the 78 megadevelopment is being anchored by the Chicago Fire’s new dedicated soccer stadium. 

Designed by Gensler, the Chicago Fire stadium has been designed to be authentic to Chicago, reflecting the rich industrial heritage of the city with a brick facade that incorporates steel and glass. An exposed steel canopy over the seating bowl will help enhance the intimacy of Fire matches by directing light and crowd noise back to the pitch, creating an environment that will enhance the Fire’s home-field advantage.

The bowl is designed to prioritize the match viewing experience with seating positions that are dramatically lower and closer to the action. The stadium will feature a variety of best-in-class hospitality spaces, amenities, and premium seating options across multiple tiers with 50 suites, more than 500 Loge seats, and 3,500 Club seats, including some with access to exclusive clubs-within-clubs. A dedicated supporter section will be built at the core of the stadium, purpose-built to be loud with room for approximately 2,000 die-hard fans on safe-standing bleachers.

As an anchor for The 78, the Chicago Fire stadium will help kickstart the megadevelopment. The surrounding masterplan for the project has been designed to accommodate a variety of experiences to balance everyday life with the spectacle and destination of major events at the stadium anchoring the project. 

With IEPA approval secured, Phase 1 remediation will begin this week and continue for approximately four to six weeks near the northeast corner of the Chicago Fire stadium footprint. Remediation materials and impacted soil will be removed from the site via tarped trucks and transported for disposal at a licensed landfill in Joliet, Illinois.

As the work kicks off groundwork for The 78, construction on the $750 million Chicago Fire stadium is targeted to begin construction in early 2026 with opening set for the 2028 MLS Regular Season.