Chicago Politics

Chicago Fire Stadium Groundbreaking 3.3.26

Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the groundbreaking for the new Chicago Fire Stadium.

Transcript

0:06 All Chicagoans know, our great fire didn't break us. It built us. And now, another fire is ready. This is an investment in Chicago. The stadium would sit in the vacant piece of property known as the 78. It was important for our owner, Joe, that it was inside the city.

0:37 And as we looked at all the different sites, we fell in love with the 78. Seeing this new stadium come to life here is really going to be huge for economic development for downtown. Big change, not only for the sport of soccer, but really for the entire city skyline. The beautiful game that goes across continents. When it begins, the world stops. It's sung from balconies, celebrated in streets, argued in bars, and felt by the billions who know its power,

1:08 its joy, and its heartbreak, uniting families and strangers alike. Because this isn't just a game. It's THE game. Across the country, the sport is erupting. It's sung, worn, lived. No longer important. The world's game is now ours. In Chicago, we bring our own rhythm. Grit. This is a new era for the fire.

1:42 And the fire are back. Back to the city. Back to the people. Back to winning. But one thing is still missing. to me it's the last piece of the puzzle with this club by design but open to the city for our club for concerts for culture and for our community with food

2:15 that's as locals our fans and as elevated as the skyline built for the game and everything beyond it rooted in the 78 our city's newest neighborhood This stadium is more than a home for the fire. It's a new heartbeat for the South Loop, a new cultural district, creating jobs, sparking growth, and giving Chicago its next great landmark. This isn't just a stadium. It's a promise built in blood, sweat, and steel.

2:50 A new home for our club and a new stage for our city. and proof that in Chicago, we don't wait for the future. We build it. Let's go.

3:24 That was exciting as it gets, ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon, Chicago. It feels good to say that and not be in the burbs. Welcome to the 78, and welcome to a day that will live in history, not just for the city of Chicago, but also Chicago Fire FC. My name is Gabe Ramirez. I am the proud host of all things Chicago Fire FC, and how amazing is this, where we are at right now, what we are doing, standing here together as we officially break ground on a privately funded soccer-specific stadium in the beautiful city of Chicago.

4:06 Now back in June, it was just an announcement. We saw Sparky out there on a lawn chair, drones above him. Probably one of the best announcements we've ever seen in the city. And today, those words come to life. Today is about commitment. Commitment to our fans who have believed in us for decades, to the players who represent the crest on their chest. and a city, a place that I've been born, raised, grew up in and deserve a world-class stadium for a world-class team.

4:41 We have a lot of people in attendance today, our season ticket members who some would call the heartbeat of our club. We also have our city leadership who we've been so fortunate to walk side by side during this journey. We have our corporate partners, our stadium partners. Media in the back. And of course, we have our team. Let's give them a round of applause. We got our Chicago Fire here, alumni. We also have the man who leads them on the pitch,

5:12 director of football operations, and of course, head coach, Greg Berhalter. Big round of applause for Greg and what he's been doing with this club. You know, I had the opportunity to speak in the back to someone from Related who said they've been a season ticket holder since the late 90s. and how proud they were to be able to work on this stadium. And that's what this stadium is, an opportunity for those that believe, those that are passionate about this city, to come together and to work as one.

5:42 And we know, the people in this room, that this stadium is more than just concrete and steel. If you're in this room today, you also believe it is about jobs for the community. It is about building the 78. And it's about giving kids like myself something to look at, a vision, to dream bigger, and to be able to see a stadium in their backyards. And what Chicago is ultimately doing is staking their claim in the next era of Major League Soccer. So in 2028, when we walk through this building for the first time, I want you to remember the dirt that's on your shoes right now.

6:18 And where we were standing as we walked in, because it will be more than just that. It will be our belief, our vision coming to life. And so to talk more about that belief and to get things started, please help me welcome the president of Chicago Fire FC, Dave Baldwin. It is so great to see all of you.

6:50 I am overjoyed to be here. This has been a couple of years of hard work to get us to today. It is a historic day for the club, but it's also a historic day for the city. This is the first time in over three decades in the city of Chicago that a new stadium is being built. You know, sports, it's special because it has a unique ability to do something that other things in life can't, and that is that it can amaze, it can inspire, and it can unite a city.

7:22 It can take people from all different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, creeds, North Shore, South Side, and it can bring us all together on a Saturday night for 90 minutes to cheer on the men in red. Today, that vision of what a new stadium will become, the vertical reality of it is going to start to set in. And so I have a list of thank yous. For those of you that have been at these type of events, you know that the list can get long. I apologize in advance if I miss anyone, but I'm going to do my best to go through this quickly.

7:53 Mayor Johnson, I want to start with you. We met with you several times over the last couple of years, and your support from day one allowed us to meet an ambitious timeline. Alderman Dowell, your leadership in the community is second to none. I feel like you and I probably did a dozen-plus meetings, bars, restaurants, elementary schools. One time we met in the elevator lobby of a condo association for about two hours. And after each one of those meetings, you came up with your notebook and you said,

8:24 Dave, I want you to work on this, and related, I want you to do this. And then you worked to get support from Alderman Lee, Alderman Conway, Alderman Robinson, Alderman Irvin. Thank you for being here and for putting Chicago first. Commissioner Boatwright, City Council, the Department of Planning and Development, CDOT, and all the different city agencies that either got us to today or will get us to opening day in 2028. Thank you. Docker's having its moment in America right now. Commissioner Garber is here with us.

8:56 He'll probably talk a little bit about this, but if you don't know, in 100 days the World Cup is coming to the United States, 100 days from today. Yeah, yeah, you clap for that. It's the fastest-growing sport in America, and for too long the Chicago Fire have been a sleeping giant. And so today we're taking a major step to change that. Last year we took a big step with the hiring of Greg Berhalter, one of the most decorated coaches in the U.S. men's national team history.

9:27 In Greg's first year, we had the second highest scoring offense in the entire league, and we made the playoffs. Yeah, let's all clap it up. And Greg just smirked at me because he knows what's coming next. I'm not getting fitted for jewelry just yet, Greg, but we want a championship here in Chicago, okay? So no pressure, but we have big aspirations for this year. Thank you to our alumni, our season ticket holders, supporters, and the greater Chicago.

10:01 This stadium is a privately funded stadium, $750 million, which is not just to help the team, but it's a long-term investment in the city of Chicago. This is designed as a year-round engine for activity and for growth throughout Chicago. It's going to host matches, concerts, stand-up comedy, rugby, lacrosse, high school state championships, a variety of corporate outings and community get-togethers and events. We have a lot of early momentum around our founding partnerships.

10:34 A couple I want to thank, I want to specifically thank Carvana, who's our front-of-kit partner and recently extended and expanded their relationship into the new stadium. I want to thank Endeavor Health for treating the pros. They take great care of our athletes and are highly engaged in the club in a variety of different ways. And I want to thank Wintrust, Chicago's bank, for stepping up and helping us here as we go out and we fund the stadium. Our early partners shape what comes next. And speaking of partnership, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Related Midwest.

11:05 Kurt Bailey, Jeff Blau, Charlie Trotier, and the ambitious vision that they have for the 78 helped us. Yes, please, clap it up. Their ambitious vision for what this land will become. While today we're kicking off a $750 million is what we kick off today.

11:38 Phase one is a billion dollars, but when this whole site is built out, it's going to be an $8 billion development that Related is leading. So let's clap it up one more time for them. What that means is this not only will be a great place to come watch a soccer match or a concert, it will be a fantastic place to call home for thousands of Chicagoans. and it's going to create thousands of jobs. I was on an elevator not too long ago, and there was a guy, he kind of kept looking at me,

12:09 and when we went to get off, he says, hey, you're the fire guy, right? And I said, yeah, and he said, well, thank you for building the stadium. And I said, well, it's not me, it's Joe you need to thank. And he said, well, thank Joe, and I said, okay. He said, I live in the South Loop, I just joined the wait list for season tickets. I said, that's amazing, thank you. And he said, tell Joe, when you show up for Chicago, Chicago shows up for you. And I walked away, and I thought, wow, this is so cool. Sponsors are signing up. Season ticket holders are coming on board. But then I thought a little bit more about it.

12:40 Joe, it's amazing that you're writing a check, and we're going to talk about that in a minute. But, you know, you're not really building the stadium. It is the crane operators and the steel workers, the plumbers, the electricians, the welders, the carpenters, the masons, and all the other tradespeople that will be involved in this project. And Chicago is going to show up, and they're going to change the skyline of this city forever.

13:12 Here at the FIRE, we realize that our responsibility doesn't end at trying to put a great team on the pitch or employ thousands of people as we build a stadium, but we recognize that we have a civic responsibility as well in our community to help the youth. Through the Chicago FIRE Foundation, we've invested over $10 million since inception. Ninety-five percent of the children that we work with in the over 60 CPS schools that we're active in are below the poverty line. And while we will change the skyline starting today, something that will never change is our commitment to the community and to the youth.

13:47 Lastly, I just real quickly want to thank our project advisory team, Mike Alvarez, Gensler, who has designed the stadium, CA Icon, and our Chicago-based GC team of Pepper, GMA, and all. We're excited to build this with you. Internally, with the fire, none of this would have been possible without Ari Glass, Ted Fahey, Nate Engel, the legal team at DLA Piper, Laura Warren, and Shelby Close.

14:19 And on a personal note, I'd like to thank my wife and three kids. Many times I had to step away to take a call and skip out on family time on nights and weekends to help get us to today. In closing, there's one man that this wouldn't be possible without. He's starting to blush. He hates any type of public recognition. For those of you that know Joe, you know his heart. He's very transparent. He's very humble. He's very pragmatic. He's the best owner of a sports team I've ever been around,

14:50 and he's one of the nicest people I've ever met, period. Not one of the nicest wealthy people I've ever met or one of the nicest owners I've ever met. He's just truly one of the nicest. people. Your humility is in a class of its own, Joe, and your investment in this club is unprecedented. I can tell you're getting uncomfortable, so I'm going to accelerate this here. But the first thing you did when you bought the team is you spent $65 million to move downtown. The second thing you did is work with Alderman Irvin over in the 28th Ward to build the Endeavor Health Performance Center, the number one performance center in all of MLS. And when you

15:22 realized Soldier Field wasn't working, you said that you were going to go do your own stadium. And so thank you. The future of the Chicago Fire is so bright due to your leadership and your investment. And on behalf of all of Chicago and the one random guy I met on the elevator, I want to say thank you. Next up, please help me in welcoming Alderman Pat Dowell.

16:00 This, I have to say, is the biggest groundbreaking I've ever been to in my years as Alderman of the Third Ward. But I am delighted to be here today because this is the culmination of some work that seeks to turn some of the most valuable and prominent pieces of fallow land in the city of Chicago into a world-class stadium and a vibrant surrounding community. So when Kurt Bailey from Related Midwest came to see me and he plopped that big book on my desk,

16:39 I was a little hesitant about, you know, getting this done because there had been a lot of starts to this project and I'm somebody that likes to see things get done. I also like to have cutting-edge things that I can be involved in. And when he showed me the Chicago Fire Stadium, I, being a basketball fan and a former player,

17:10 I wasn't quite sure about soccer. I don't know too much about soccer. So I listened. And then when Joe Mansueto did his love letter to the city, I'm saying to myself, hmm, that's just a ploy. But I soon learned that Kurt has vision, and Joe, you love the city of Chicago. And that became clear as you and your team worked with the city of Chicago to get this done.

17:45 And throughout the process, the FIRE has shown that they are truly a community-driven organization. And it's obvious from the commitments that they've made to the community here. I want to take a moment to thank Joe for your leadership, Kurt for your vision. And what I like about them, because we all have similar characteristics, they are positive, no-nonsense, and purpose-driven.

18:25 So those are good things. We had over a dozen community meetings with constituents. and I would say that my constituents truly shape portions of this development. I want to thank the community for showing up, for attending all these meetings, for providing us with your criticisms, your feedback, and your support. These types of projects do not take place in a vacuum. It requires a lot of input and listening.

18:56 And Dave, thank you for being there and being positive about the work and answering all the questions that my constituents had. I want to thank the Third Ward community and the broader South Loop community for their input. And I want to thank my colleagues. I know I saw Alderman Lee walking here, so I know she's here. There you go, Alderman Lee. I want to thank you. Alderman Irvin, Alderman Conway, and Alderman—I knew you were going to be in the back—

19:34 and Alderman Robinson for your suggestions, your guidance, and your support as we seek to bring this beautiful stadium to the city of Chicago. This stadium is gritty and soulful. It reflects back to what we know as Chicago as the City of Broad Shoulders. That's the foundation of a team in Chicago for Chicago. This stadium is going to activate the riverfront, and hopefully one day it will connect into our downtown,

20:11 connect us to Ping Tom Park, and connect us to the city as a whole. And I think that this day-to-day signals that Chicago is open for business and major developments like the stadium show the world that what happens when Chicago comes together and works together, it benefits the whole city. In closing, I want to say that soccer is booming in the United States, I'm told. I look forward to seeing the team play.

20:48 I hear that we have the World Cup coming in 2026, and the 2028 Olympics are hosting soccer matches in St. Louis, which is just a stone throws away. We have the fans. We have the city. now we will have a stadium dedicated to the beautiful game that so many have dedicated themselves to. I'm excited to see this come from up out of the ground, and perhaps in the next year I'll become a soccer fan.

21:25 And with that, I want to introduce you to, many of you know, the mayor of the city of Chicago, who is swinging with a big bat for the city of Chicago. We've had some great announcements over the last couple of days. I know he's going to talk about that. But without further ado, I would like to introduce our mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson.

21:58 Well, thank you so much, Alderwoman Dow, for that introduction. And good afternoon, everyone. I am truly honored to join you all this afternoon for this transformational day here in the city of Chicago. Every great team needs a home, and every great city needs a place where communities can come together in celebration. And today we launched the development of both. The groundbreaking of the Chicago Fire Soccer Stadium marks a major step forward for all of Chicago, and particularly here on the near south side.

22:32 For too long, this stretch along the river has been empty. Yet it has been filled with so much potential. With today's groundbreaking, we begin to meet our city's fullest potential. The Chicago Fire Stadium is just a major step towards the development of this whole city. And this first major new stadium development project in our city in more than 30 years. This is signaling that Chicago has never done and never outdone.

23:03 And far from it, we expect the Chicago Fire Stadium to be an anchor on the 78 that will attract recreation, dining, cultural spaces, and investments for our entire city. Today is a demonstration of what is possible when private investment align with public goals for jobs, neighborhood activation, and long-term economic growth. Today is also a demonstration of what it means when an organization shows its dedication to the fans who live and who swear by this team.

23:40 I have made this case for a while now. There is no better city for sports than the city of Chicago. This project will build a home for our beloved Chicago Fire soccer team, and it will help to build more vibrant, safer, and affordable communities for the next generation. To do so, it must employ local workers and give contracts to local businesses who will benefit from the construction and long-term operations of this facility.

24:14 The Chicago Fire Organization, Mr. Joe Mansueto, have been stellar partners throughout this entire journey. I know that they will continue to work to ensure that the benefits of this stadium stretch far beyond this footprint. It reaches the entire city. In closing, I want to give a huge thanks to Mr. Joe Mansueto and the entire Chicago Fire Organization for their commitment to keeping their club rooted in Chicago while investing in our city's future.

24:46 I also want to thank Major League Soccer and Commissioner Don Garber for their partnership and continued confidence in the city of Chicago as a world-class sports city. And finally, I want to thank all the city leaders and partners who are a part of this development, who have guided this development, as well as investments across our city. Thank you to Alders Dow, Lee, Conway, Irvin, to Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Sierra Boatwright, Phil Clement, our Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood and Economic Development and Acting Decase Commissioner Kenya Mayor.

25:21 We're also joined by our city's clerk and treasurer, State Representative Sonia Harper, and all the people who have made this endeavor possible. I will say that it is so good to make sure at least one of our football teams in Chicago is good. One more to go. I was telling Joe that since I've been mayor, the only interest that my sons have had in my time as mayor is since I've been talking to Joe Mansueto.

25:56 I'm raising a right forward and a center mid-back. Alderman Dow, don't ask me what those positions mean. That's just I just know that because that's the positions they told me that they play. But this international global sport that has done so much, not just for Chicago, but for humanity. I am proud to be raising soccer players in my home and to know that at a time in which our nation and our country really needs a uniting force. Thank God for our sports and the international global game that is known as football.

26:29 God bless you all, and God bless the greatest freakish city in the world, the city of Chicago. All right. We had the luxury of hearing from a lot of our city officials, and now we get an opportunity to hear what kind of an impact Chicago Fire is having on Major League Soccer. And wouldn't it be great if Mayor Brandon Johnson, or anyone for that matter, and I know Greg Berhalter talked about that, somebody from the city of Chicago coming and playing for the Chicago Fire team.

27:08 But again, to speak on that impact and what they're doing, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber. Well, good afternoon. I'd like everybody to turn around and just look at the crowd here in this tent. There are hundreds and hundreds of people lining up outside this room over here, lots of media, to celebrate this historic moment for the Chicago Fire,

27:43 a historic moment for our sport, and a historic moment for the city of Chicago. And I want to take a step back because I was listening to the aldermen and listening to the transformation of how our sport is really going to continue to touch the hearts of a new generation of people in cities and states around this country. I promise you at that opening game, you will never go to a more exciting event than a Chicago fire event in this new building.

28:21 And to you, Mayor Johnson, beyond all the great things that you've done to help this project, I said to you when we were in the back, mayors are the people that get things done in cities. This doesn't happen without you and your support and your staff's support, and we greatly appreciate that. But I didn't realize that you have two young boys that are playing the game. And as we were launching this league 30 years ago, we were launching it after the 1994 World Cup. There was no professional men's soccer league in the United States.

28:53 If a player wanted to play for our national team that was playing in 1994, they had to go in residency because they didn't have clubs to play in our country. And when we founded the league, we said the time is going to come when generations of people that are influencing decisions, that are driving culture, that are driving influence, that are driving the way people think about where we need to go

29:24 as a city, as a state, and as a country, and a participant in global economics and the like. And here we have a guy that probably didn't grow up with a game that has two sons that are playing, one who might dream to be a professional player and is playing locally in college. That is everything that we dreamed would happen when Major League Soccer was founded. We knew, and I'll get done quick because I've got to throw it to the humble Joes,

29:56 so I'll try to get through this quickly. We knew that we needed to build a foundation for the sport. Not only was there no league, not only were there no jobs for professional players and coaches and administrators, there were no academies for young kids, there were no heroes to aspire to try to be, we didn't have any place for our teams to play. And what league can be viable without having homes that are cathedrals for the sport? And in some cases, like in Chicago, we had multiple options and multiple paths on this, multiple facilities on this path to what we'll have in 2028.

30:37 But never did we think that we'd have a ballroom filled with hundreds and hundreds of people, that we would be here in downtown Chicago, one of the most passionate and important cities in our country and an influence and a driver of culture throughout here and abroad, that we MLS would have a stadium that we could call our own. So, Joe, to you, thanks for your vision. There are very few sports team owners, and you're all probably sports fans,

31:09 very few of them are silent and deep, who just believe in doing and don't necessarily care about talking about it, that have a passion and a vision not just for what it is that they could achieve with their team, but what that team could achieve in the community and being embedded in the culture of a city. And, Joe, from the day I met you, that's what you cared the most about. So I want to thank you on behalf of all your partners, soccer fans here in Chicago,

31:41 and everybody who loves the game. Thank you for everything that you've done for Major League Soccer. Dave, I met Dave a couple of years ago who came from another sport. Some of us came from those other sports. And, Mayor, there is only one football. I can never understand why they play with their hands and we play with our feet, and they're caught football, and so are we. But Dave and I had similar backgrounds.

32:11 You've done an amazing job, Dave, you and your staff, and how you've connected with fans. And importantly, Dave, focus on not just what this team can be and how it needs to deliver for Joe financially, but what it needs to mean in the community. So I'll say it because you didn't. If you own a business here in Chicago, buy tickets or buy a suite. If you are thinking about being a season ticket holder, buy more season tickets.

32:41 I toured the experience facility. That experience center cost more than most of our development centers cost when we were building them in the early years. If you haven't gone there, it's best in class. So, Joe, you and your partners, Dave, you and your partners have done a good job. To the folks that related, Kirk, I've just met you a couple of times, but I know this doesn't happen without you. Jeff Blau, who is Kurt's partner, this is our second groundbreaking that we've done together.

33:14 We did one in New York City a couple of years ago. So I'll finish with two things. Major League Soccer has enormous momentum and is on a roll, And it's capturing the hearts and minds of soccer fans here and around the world. But our best days are still ahead. We are opening up a stadium in downtown New York City in 2027 in partnership with Jeff and Related. In April, we'll be opening up a new stadium in downtown Miami.

33:46 And then, of course, I think in a couple of years, we'll hopefully be opening up a stadium in Boston. This is our 25th groundbreaking. When we finish our stadium development plans, we'll have 30 stadiums from scratch that have built for our fans. and to profile all you guys who deserve and earn the right to be playing in facilities that rank among the best facilities in the world. So for all of you and for all our fans, this is for you, for Greg, this is for you and your staff as well.

34:21 Hopefully, this is going to be an opportunity for this country to accelerate and show the world what we are when the World Cup comes here this summer. billions and billions of viewers are going to see what this soccer nation has been able to achieve and millions and millions and millions of fans are going to come through all of our stadiums the United States and Mexico and Canada to prove to the world that we kind of get this game of football so thanks very much congratulations to you all

34:54 you're a busy man Don don't worry about it I'll take the honors Ladies and gentlemen, a big round of applause for the owner of Chicago Fire FC, Joe Mansueto.

35:32 Hey, thank you so much. That's very kind. What an exciting day. Are you guys as excited as I am? You know, we've been working on this project for a couple of years now. And it's amazing to me to go from renderings on paper to reality, to go to actually taking a shovel into the dirt and saying, this is really happening. It's an amazing feeling, so I couldn't be more excited for today.

36:06 Commissioner Garber, Mayor Johnson, Alderman Dowell, Dave Baldwin, thank you so much for those overly generous comments. You know, often the spotlight is on me, but I assure you there's a very broad and deep team that I work with that does the heavy lifting on this project. I often get the credit, but there's a lot of people to do a project of this magnitude and scope. And so on behalf of all of those people who've worked on this project, thank you so much for those nice comments.

36:36 Now, one of the great joys of building a business or a soccer organization is having a vision of what you want to build, but then celebrating the milestones as you progress to achieving that vision. Today is one of those milestones as we break ground on our new stadium. Our vision for the fire is to have a world-class soccer organization, and an integral part of that is to have our own stadium. So over the past six years, we've had other milestones that we've celebrated.

37:10 We like to celebrate. We've moved from the suburbs down to Soldier Field. Yeah. That was a good step forward. We've built the Endeavor Health Performance Center a couple of miles west of here, a state-of-the-art performance center. A lot of the folks here worked on that project. And then we've brought new leadership into the club. Greg Berhalter, former U.S. Men's National Coach on the sporting side. Dave Baldwin from the NFL, Commanders, Dolphins, on the business side.

37:40 And we've got the right leadership now to kind of take us to the next level. But today is a huge step forward for our club, a gigantic step forward in having our own stadium. And it's a whole mindset shift as we move from a tenant to an owner. It affects how you think about decisions. You don't wash a rental car. You just have a totally different view. And so all of the advantages that we'll have, we'll be able to control our own schedule.

38:11 So last year, I think three times we got pushed out to the suburbs due to conflicts with the Bears and concerts. Not ideal. You know, just other conflicts that arise, like playing surface we can control, something very important in soccer is to control that playing surface. Now we can do that. And then most importantly, for our fans, we'll have an environment for our fans that I think is second to none in North America that I think will take fan engagements to new levels of heights.

38:44 So a big step forward today for our club, a historic moment. Now, sports stadiums hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Chicagoans. Most of us have vivid childhood memories of attending sporting events with our families, our friends, loved ones. I still remember the first sporting event I attended. I was eight years old, and my dad took my brothers and me to a Chicago White Sox game. We sat in the upper deck, a night game. I still remember the game vividly. The White Sox won. Rocky Calavito hit a home run.

39:17 I remember coming up from the concourse and seeing the lights and the green grass of the field. And what an impression that made upon me. And, of course, you know, I've gone to other events where, you know, the old Chicago Stadium. Saw the Blackhawks play. Bobby Hull, Stan Makeda. Saw the Bulls play in the old stadium. I saw Will Chamberlain play. I'm kind of dating myself. Not to mention hundreds of games on television, watching the Bears, the Bulls, the Blackhawks.

39:47 And so a stadium is not just a building, but it's a memory machine. And so if you think of all of the future memories that are going to be created on these grounds, as family, friends, loved ones come together, it's very gratifying and very heartfelt to see that that's going to happen in the future based on all the work that we're all doing here today. And it's not just these memories, but it's also on the sporting side.

40:18 Iconic sporting events will be held right here, including when the Chicago Fire win the MLS Cup and we host the trophy over our heads. May it come soon. Now, people have asked me, you know, why are you doing this? Why here? Why now? What are you thinking? And so let me give you a few reasons. One, it's a belief in the future of soccer. It's the global game, the beautiful game, the biggest, most popular sport in the world.

40:52 And I think over time, the U.S. will catch up to the rest of the world in terms of the popularity of the sport. It's 90 minutes of nonstop action. It's a great sporting experience. I'm on the edge of my seat for the 90 minutes, and you tune off the world, turn on the game, and it's just a very captivating experience. I also think it's one of the best sports for kids. I'm glad, Mayor Johnson, your kids play the game. But it teaches them teamwork, resilience, creativity, discipline,

41:26 and they don't even know they're learning these things. And then they have a ball doing it. It's aerobic. And so I love evangelizing about the sport. I love turning kids on to soccer and people on in general to soccer. So, one, a belief in the future of sport. I'm extremely passionate about soccer. Secondly is a belief in the future of Major League Soccer. Don Garber, we're honored to have you here today, has led the league since its infancy, 30 years old. But I think we're just getting started.

41:57 More and more of the world's global soccer stars are choosing MLS, Lionel Messi into Miami, Hongman, Sund, LAFC, Thomas Mueller, Vancouver, Timo Werner, the earthquakes out in San Jose. So more and more of the world's best are coming to Major League Soccer. Our games are broadcast on Apple TV. It's a great broadcast quality, streamed in 100 countries around the world. And viewership was up 29% last year.

42:30 That's huge. Opening weekend, it was up 59%. Don told me over lunch was up even more on the second weekend of the season. And this year, Apple has dropped the paywall. It used to be behind a paywall on Apple TV. You had to pay extra. And we had maybe a million, million and a half people watching the games. Now Apple has opened it up to everybody on Apple TV. That's 70 million going to 80 million people who have access to Major League Soccer.

43:01 So I think viewership is just going to skyrocket. So super positive about the league. The World Cup is coming, has been mentioned. So a huge tailwind for the growth of the league. And I just couldn't be more excited. The new facilities that Don mentioned coming on stream, Miami this year, New York next year, 2028 Chicago, and hopefully Boston the next year. So I think a great future ahead for Major League Soccer. The next reason is a belief in our club, the Chicago Fire.

43:34 I've often said Chicago is a world-class city that deserves a world-class soccer club. And the Chicago Fire are a very storied club. We've won the MLS Cup, we've won the U.S. Open Cup, and hopefully many more trophies in the future. We have one of the best academies in the country in terms of developing talent. We have a very rich talent pool in the Chicago area. Last year, if you look at our first-team minutes, we had more homegrown minutes of any team in MLS,

44:07 people from our local area playing in our first-team games. Amazing. And one of our players, Brian Gutierrez, Guti we call him, we sold him to Chivas in Mexico, one of the top clubs in Mexico. He made the Mexican national team, scored a goal last week. And he is, as we like to say, just a kid from Berwyn. And there's just so much talent here, and our academy helps develop these kids.

44:38 And then below the academy, we have one of the largest youth programs in Major League Soccer. 11,000 families are members of our youth programs, boys and girls. So, again, turning more kids on to soccer. And so it has a big impact in the community. And then we have our PLACE program. Jessica Yavitz, I saw her outside, heads up our foundation. But we go into lower-income parts of Chicago, run after-school programs, turning kids on to soccer, getting them involved in productive activities.

45:11 So big believer in the Chicago Fire, its future, and what this means to our city. We touch every neighborhood, all 77, and soon 78 neighborhoods in the city. And also it's a belief in this site. It's another reason we're doing this. So I want to commend Kurt Bailey, CEO of Related Midwest, Jeff Blau, the CEO of Related. When I first walked this site, it was August of 2024, and I immediately fell in love with it.

45:42 I knew it was the right home for the fire. You can see the Sears Tower in the background as you sit there, and you can see the skylines in the background. You've got the river to the west, Dearborn Park, Chinatown to the south. Great public transportation, the CTA, the Roosevelt stop, the red, orange, green line, buses, we'll extend the riverfront, driving, all the highways converge here. You know, it's really perfect. And I think the right model today to develop a neighborhood is to have a stadium as an anchor.

46:18 So we're very proud to be the anchor to the 78 site and really get this site going. Jeff and Kurt bought this site 10 years ago, and they've tried a few things that maybe didn't work out. So you saved the best for last, and we're going to make this a home run. But I want to thank Related for their commitment to stick with this for 10 years

46:52 and then commit to developing these 62 acres. It will be huge for the city of Chicago and the Third Ward, so excited to be a partner to make that happen. Then it's a belief in the city of Chicago. This statement is a statement that Chicago is worth investing in and has a great future ahead of it. We hope it inspires others to say yes to investing in Chicago, third largest market in the country. I've invested in a number of projects, and I'm proud and excited to invest more in Chicago.

47:24 Now, I have deep roots in the Chicago area. I grew up in northwest Indiana. I was born in East Chicago, Indiana. I've lived in Hammond. I've lived in Calumet City. Maybe I'll stop there. So I'm from the Chicago area. And then I came to here for college when I was 18. Lived in Hyde Park for five years. Now I live on the north side. So I know the city very well. I've watched the city grow, evolve, and develop.

47:57 I can remember Chicago before there was a Sears Tower, before there was a John Hancock building. So it's been one of the great pleasures of my life to see Chicago grow and develop. And someday, after we build our stadium, after related fills in this site with all these high-rises, you can say, I remember this site when it was just an empty field. And so you, too, will watch the city grow and develop. And as has been mentioned, you know, there are a few things that unite.

48:30 a city like a professional sports team. So we look forward to getting this stadium up, bringing Chicago together, jump-starting a whole new neighborhood in Chicago, and so super excited to get going. And now I, too, also have a few thank yous, so I may be a little repetitive, but I do want to extend my deep gratitude to a number of people because a project of this magnitude, this scope, really doesn't happen without the cooperation of many, many stakeholders. First to the city of Chicago, led by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

49:04 The first time we met with you, Mayor, you were enthusiastic about the project. You asked a lot of good questions, but you engaged, and your unwavering support has been essential to making this happen. We would not be here today without Mayor Brandon Johnson. So thank you so much. And also your whole team, your deputy mayor, Jason Lee, you know, Sierra Boatwright, the head of planning. just terrific.

49:35 Alderman Dowell, head of the Third Ward, you've also been a key partner for us. The 10 to 15 community meetings you've held, I've admired your leadership, your willingness to put in the time, and really listen to your constituents to take your responsibility seriously and push us on a number of issues. So it's been great partnering with you, and we look forward to continuing the partnership and making this a vital part of the Third Ward and how we can connect with you and your residents here and be the best neighbor that we possibly can.

50:09 MLS, Don Garber, thank you. The League has also been a great partner with us, helping us with the design of the stadium, taking all of their learnings from the other 29 stadiums and MLS to bring them to bear on our project to make it better, reviewing our financing, and then for seeing Chicago as a cornerstone of the League. Chicago Fire leadership, Dave Baldwin, you've been the point person from the fire on this.

50:41 You've been amazing. Dave is just a pleasure to work with. Always upbeat, smile on his face, works relentlessly. He's available 24 by 7 despite three young kids. And as honest as they come, you know, full of integrity, smart as they come. And so he's just been a great partner to us. And, Dave, I thank you for your leadership and your friendship. There's also a lot of other folks at the FIRE, our CFO, Pavel Sinelik, Laura Warren, our GC,

51:17 Nate Engel, Chief of Staff, Goyo Perez, Head of Sponsorship Sales, and many more who have done amazing work. And then I have a small family office that has partnered with the FIRE. Ari Glass has been the point person who has worked hand-in-hand with Dave to really drive this project forward. Ari more from a real estate construction perspective. Ted Fahey has worked closely with Ari. Mike Ibril, they've done tremendous work, and so it's been a really nice partnership.

51:48 Kurt and Jeff Blau from Related, I've touched on you, but your vision, your perseverance have been essential to bringing us to the point we are today. And then the number of partners we have, Gensler, we have a great architectural firm, Jonathan, Elizabeth, have designed a stadium that is going to be amazing. You're going to love it. CAA Icon, the owner's rep, Sam, Chris, keeping us on time, on budget, essential for a project like this.

52:18 Levy, I believe Andy Lansing is here somewhere, the CEO of Levy. Levy is a national food and beverage firm, but they're based here in Chicago. But you're going to love the food and beverage in the stadium. We're going out. We're partnering with local restaurants. Levy has hired, you remember him, Steve Dolinsky, the Hungry Hound on Channel 7. But Steve knows the restaurants in Chicago, and he's helping us bring the best restaurants into our stadium, and we'll have by far the best food and beverage in the Chicago market.

52:52 The folks at Pepper, GMA, helping to build this wonderful facility, thank you for your work. They worked on the Performance Center. And then our sponsors, Endeavor Health and Wintrust, both stepped up immediately and said, we love the vision, we love what you're building, we love Chicago, we want to be a key partner with you. So thank you. You really helped move this project forward, and thank you for your belief in our club and in Chicago. And then finally, most importantly to our fans, none of this would exist.

53:25 If it weren't for you. So the club is almost 30 years old. You've had your we've had your undying support. And so I thank you for your continued support, your enthusiasm and just a heartfelt thank you to all of the fans of the Chicago Fire. So in closing, this isn't just a stadium. It's a statement about ambition. It's about pride. It's about belief in the city of Chicago. We're on an exciting journey to create a world-class soccer club,

53:58 and we're delighted that you're all joining us on this journey. But we're also building a place for families, for neighborhoods, and the city to come together, unite people from all backgrounds. So today we break ground, and tomorrow we start the next chapter of Chicago sports history. So let's go build a great stadium, one worthy of the great city of Chicago. Thank you. Keep the applause going. Keep the applause going. Come on. It's an exciting day, Chicago.

54:38 I want to thank all of our speakers today for stepping up for this club, for this city. Again, the celebration continues. Drinks in the back, an opportunity to talk, mingle with your cohorts. If you've been invited outside to take a picture, please bring your hard hat. want to remind you guys of that and you know joe talked about the heroes that he saw when he was younger you do not have to wait to 2028 to see these heroes they exist in real time whether it's all-star phillips zinkernago hugo kuipers chris brady behind the net guzman leo anton we

55:14 want you back i mean these are the guys right here that you can see so big round of applause for them big round of applause for this club and we will see you guys in 2028 let's go

57:09 to create opportunities for this type of massive development is unprecedented in second half. And so we're grateful for some of the private non-investments that are coming from Joe. The full force of government will be on display to make sure that our transportation, the opportunity for affordable housing, that the entire development of this neighborhood will be able to reach this full position and reach the back of it. Thank you.

57:45 You know, what was just a concept is now, you know, real. We're actually digging into the ground. Those terms, this is very normal for a project of this size to continue to work out the details. But the values are what's in tact. That clearly, under my administration, there are multiple cranes in the air, more cranes coming up. it's clear that this is a real good example of why investing in Chicago is the right time to do it. A group yesterday called for a community

58:15 benefits agreement. How do you address those concerns? Do you want to meet with them? Well, look, we've had multiple community meetings. I'm grateful for the alders who support this project. We'll continue to have Ongoing conversation as this project develops, this is an investment in the people of Chicago. This is not just about a sports team. This is about a clear indication that as our city continues to move towards becoming the safest, most affordable big city in America, we have an incredible development and investment here that speaks to my value system. You know, creating opportunities for working people, building out a community where affordable housing can take place,

58:52 the investments in our young people and youth sports in our schools. all of the above, right? The full force of government, a complete partnership between ownership of the city of Chicago to develop a community, of course, that has been desolate and vacant for years now. Well, look, this is going to have full impact on the entire region. You know, when you think about an investment of this size, it's going to pull together families from the south end, you know, even as, of course, we go east.

59:26 You know, this is an incredible development for the entire city of Chicago, quite frankly. I've made it very clear that in order for these type of investments to be realized, it has to have a community benefit to it. We're building more affordable homes. Our transportation system is going to be sharper. And the number of jobs, of course, that are going to come with this project. This is a real good example when you have ownership that's committed to the people of this city. Mr. Mansueto has deep ties and roots in this city. He's a resident of this city.

59:56 He's not just a proponent and supporter of the sport. He's a proponent of the development and the expansion of the city of Chicago, and that's why he's making such an incredible investment. Mayor, given the success that the Flyers see with a privately funded stadium, do you have verged in Macau to consider also going that route to that so they can stay in Chicago and bypass three games? Well, look, it's evident that we can put together an agreement that works for the fans, the players, ownership in the city of Chicago. What I've said from the very beginning, the Bears belong in the city of Chicago.

1:00:28 Keep in mind, the circumstances are a little bit different because the stadium in which the Bears were investing in, in Chicago, is the stadium that the city of Chicago owns. So they will be a tenant. So this is a slightly different circumstance. But the point being is that we can build stadiums in Chicago and we can create an opportunity that works for all of Chicago. There's no better place to invest in right now than the city of Chicago, and today is evident of that. Right here, Justin. Oh, thank you. Talk a little bit about what this personally means for you. You have two kids who play soccer.

1:00:59 This stadium is going to be built in a couple of years. What does this mean to you and to your family personally? Yeah, well, look, I'd not be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my daughter plays as well. She's starting to play more, right, so the whole house is invested. You know, look, you know, I'm raising, you know, two boys on the west side of Chicago, you know, who are playing, you know, in our public league here in the city. You know, the game of soccer was not necessarily available for my generation. and to think that my son and my daughter and young people across this city

1:01:31 can see themselves grow in a sport like soccer. It's a remarkable testament to how the game has grown. I remember a time ago when my wife and I, we were in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil and we were at a Tuesday night game for essentially a minor league soccer team and there were 60,000 people out. I mean, it was something that I had never experienced, and what you're seeing is an incredible growth in this sport. And, you know, as my sons and my daughter and other sons and daughters across this city continue to play in a growing sport here in America,

1:02:09 it's just really humbling to know that kids on the west and south sides of the city of Chicago can see themselves in an international game like soccer. All right, thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Chicago Fire FC head coach Greg Berhalter up next. We'll take questions here. Please indicate your media outlet first and your question, please,

1:02:40 starting with Joe Chatz on the right. Joe Chatz WLS. Greg, how exciting is it to be here on this day when it was part of the vision bringing you in and setting all this up to be this day today? You know, I think it's another example of the commitment by Joe Monsueto to both the soccer club and also the city of Chicago. It's an exciting day and really sets the intention of what this club is about, trying to be a world-class club. So I'm really excited for the players, for the staff, and for the city of Chicago.

1:03:10 Brian. Brian Sandwell, sometimes. How much pressure does this have on you, though? Do you see the owner investing all this money and everything? But now it's on you and your soccer staff to, you know, go the winners. I think that's the good type of question. You know, there's nothing better. playing a game in front of a whole stadium and the fans bringing the atmosphere and the excitement to the stadium that's what soccer players that's what professionals play for so to have this to have our own venue is going to be a game-changer for the club and the organization

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