The first USL expansion team for 2020 has been announced: Chicago http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/859201?referrer_id=2333971 The team would play at a sports-entertainment complex in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood on the near north side along the Chicago River. The complex is also bidding to be the location of the new Amazon HQ2. They are planning a 20,000 seat stadium with a retractable roof that would also be used for concerts and other events. This a very early rendering of what the stadium might look like:
1. I would not be surprised if this bid is contingent on being awarded the Amazon 2 headquarters. 2. I find it interesting that USL would welcome a Chicago team, despite there being an MLS team in the same city (yeah, I know the Fire are in Bridgeview). Given that USL allegedly told the potential San Diego bid that they did not want them because of the San Diego MLS bid, I find that interesting. I know the situations are not quite the same, but I find it interesting nonetheless. 3. The stadium in thatimage in no way has a retractable roof.
Is that bid legitimate? 20,000 seat stadium in a better neighborhood than where Fire plays? I don't believe it. What will MLS make of this?
https://www.oursportscentral.com/se...co-owner-of-new-usl-team-in-chicago/n-5330410 Sterling Bay Announces Chicago Cubs' Owner and Chairman Tom Ricketts as Co-Owner of New USL Team in Chicago
Where did you get that logo? I did see that the Chicago USL investors derailed a plan for development in the Billions.
Well it's on prime, prime land. Acquisition alone cost the developers major $$ but it's one of two or three major undeveloped sites in the central city, so they'll make it back and then some. Transit is ok, good but not great, and traffic is already atrocious in that area, but there's reason to be excited. There's been a fairly detailed discussion about it over in the Fire board.
Time to "pump the brakes" on plans for a USL Championship side to set-up shop within the City of Chicago. In the face of public opposition, including pushback from a Chicago alderman, developer Sterling Bay has scrapped plans for a 20,000-seat stadium within its Lincoln Yards mixed-use project. Alderman expected to reject 20,000-seat soccer stadium proposal on North Side Lincoln Yards plan will scrap 20,000-seat stadium, Live Nation entertainment district Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins, who represents the ward in which Lincoln Yards would be sited, had been indicating that he would come down against the inclusion of a stadium in the development. Hopkins was skeptical about whether the traffic infrastructure in the Lincoln Park and Bucktown neighborhoods would be capable of supporting a 20,000-seat venue. On Monday of this week, Hopkins sent an e-mail to his constituents that cited a public survey about the Lincoln Yards proposal. In the e-mail, Hopkins said that 53% of respondents to the survey were opposed to the stadium, 25% were undecided about the venue's inclusion in the development, and 23% supported its construction. Yesterday, Hopkins sent out a follow-up e-mail in which he informed constituents that he had told Sterling Bay that he did not support the proposed stadium being part of the 70-acre, $5-billion project. Further, he stated that he had let the developers know that he wanted a planned entertainment district featuring venues operated by Live Nation to be replaced by independently-owned and operated restaurants, clubs, theaters and performance spaces scattered throughout the development. In a statement later on Tuesday, Sterling Bay spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said: "While much of the feedback has been positive, Alderman Hopkins and residents have been very clear: they do not want a stadium. And we want to say, 'We heard you loud and clear.' We have removed the stadium and broken up the entertainment district, allowing for assorted smaller venues throughout Lincoln Yards where all independent music operators will have the opportunity to participate." It is now unclear how - indeed, whether - Sterling Bay will attempt to proceed with plans to bring a USL franchise to Chicago. Following the news of the stadium plan being scrapped, a spokesman for the USL sent out an e-mail in which the league claimed to be dedicated to moving forward with the establishment of a team in Chicago. According to the USL's Ryan Madden: "We remain committed to bringing a USL franchise to downtown Chicago. Stadium projects are of course inherently complicated, but there is a huge appetite for professional soccer in Chicago and we look forward to working with Sterling Bay to deliver a club - and stadium - that the community can rally around and be proud of." That said, Sterling Bay will need to find a new majority owner for said club, as the Chicago Cubs' Tom Ricketts - originally tabbed for that role - is apparently no longer involved in the venture. In the wake of the announcements by Alderman Hopkins and Sterling Bay's Sarah Hamilton, Ricketts family spokesman Dennis Culloton said: "The Ricketts family's potential involvement was focused on the soccer team and contingent on city approvals. While we are disappointed the concept is no longer included in the master plan, we understand the ambitious Lincoln Yards project needs to move forward." My gut instinct tells me that, regardless of pronouncements by the league to the contrary, the USL-to-Chicago effort is dead. At least any such attempt with Sterling Bay and Tom Ricketts involved. One thing is certain: Andrew Hauptman, lead investor/operator of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, can breathe a sigh of relief.
I don’t think MLS was particularly worried, especially after taking on addditional well funded minority partners last year. It’s all moot now anyways.
Not likely. The article seems to indicate he’s out of the soccer business. Typical bait and switch anyway.
I suspect it was thrown in with no actual intention to build it, so in an attempt to "compromise" he can simply take it out and the deal doesn't seem so bad for the opponents.
I think the chances of them bringing the stadium back is very unlikely. Traffic in that area is already bad and this would have made it even more crazy. But this is Chicago, so there is always a chance that it come up again.
There's always them moving in to Bridgeview to fill the vacancy once the Fire move out, although with different owners and a different philosophy. I doubt Ricketts was actually inclined to this project beyond building a venue to make extra income.