CHICAGO – Chicago Fire Soccer Club Owner and Chairman Andrew Hauptman joined with team supporters, partners and city officials to officially open The PrivateBank Fire Pitch today, located adjacent to the Chicago River at Addison and Talman on the city’s northwest side. The new 125,000-square-foot complex is the city’s premiere facility for year-round soccer and is open to the public and soccer players from across the region. The $20 million project features both indoor and outdoor fields, serves as an indoor practice site for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club first team and houses games for youth and adult recreational leagues.
“We are proud to officially open The PrivateBank Fire Pitch, which represents the Club’s comprehensive commitment to soccer, the community and its fans and supporters in the region,” said Andrew Hauptman, Owner and Chairman, Chicago Fire Soccer Club.
PHOTO GALLERY: Opening The PrivateBank Fire Pitch
“The City of Chicago is a true sports town and this new Chicago Fire facility provides even more opportunities for our dedicated athletes and passionate fans to come together,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Key long-term investments like these drive tourism and bolster Chicago’s future by encouraging our youth to engage in sports and spurring economic development across neighborhoods.”
With more than 250,000 visitors expected annually, The PrivateBank Fire Pitch showcases the Chicago Fire Soccer Club’s commitment to investing and growing the soccer community across Chicago. The unique state-of-the-art facility for year-round soccer allows the Fire to engage soccer fans beyond their 17 MLS home games each year.
“We are excited to partner with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and to work together to extend soccer’s reach even further into our communities. The PrivateBank Fire Pitch specifically provides the City of Chicago a terrific venue to expand access to this great game,” said Larry Richman, CEO, The PrivateBank. “We value investments that strengthen our city and the neighborhoods within it.”
The PrivateBank Fire Pitch facility has two full-size outdoor pitches from April through November and a 100,000-square-foot dome with multiple field configurations in the winter. The 12,500-square-foot clubhouse features Pub97 and restaurant, an outdoor patio, concessions, merchandise store, gym and meeting and party space.
“Soccer is this generation’s sport,” Hauptman continued. “The interest in soccer, especially in Chicago, continues to surpass expectations. We’re excited to be a part of that.”
The PrivateBank Fire Pitch is open to the public. Questions about the facility, programming or rentals, please contact 773-327-3473 or info@fire-pitch.com or visit fire-pitch.com.
