First Look: Chicago Fire FC's new South Loop stadium plans
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Rendering: Courtesy of Chicago Fire FC
The Chicago Fire FC is wasting no time imagining the future of its proposed stadium in the South Loop.
The big picture: Earlier this month, Fire FC owner Joe Mansueto announced he would privately fund a $650 million stadium in the South Loop as part of "The 78" mega development.
State of play: "The 78" must have a full-time rendering department, because the in the past we've seen plans for a casino, a research institute and a White Sox stadium.
Yes, but: This privately funded soccer stadium may actually become a reality.
Here are new renderings released by the club and developer Related Midwest:
Zoom in: This rendering shows what the stadium would look like after the rest of "The 78" is built, complete with towers and condo buildings filling out the remaining 62 acres along the south branch of the Chicago River.
The intrigue: The final rendering shows the stadium being used for a non-soccer event. The proposed stadium would seat 22,000, big enough to compete for events held at the nearby Wintrust Arena or even the United Center.
What's next: Construction is set to begin later this year and is projected to be completed before the 2028 season.