Chicago Stars to Move Stadium for 2026 NWSL Season
The Chicago Stars will play the 2026 NWSL season at Northwestern University’s Martin Stadium, marking the end of a decade at SeatGeek Stadium. The announcement was made before Sunday’s match against the Orlando Pride, which will be played at the 12,000-seat stadium in Evanston, Illinois. This change represents a temporary solution for the franchise, although it involves switching from natural grass to artificial turf.The Stars’ contract at SeatGeek Stadium, located in the suburb of Bridgeview, expires at the end of this year. The club’s management had publicly expressed the need for a better location, as access from the city center was complicated. Average attendance at SeatGeek Stadium has been a few thousand fans per game, consistently among the worst in the NWSL. Laura Ricketts, of the Ricketts family, owners of the MLB’s Chicago Cubs, became the majority owner of the NWSL’s Chicago franchise in 2023 and publicly stated that “the stadium and location are one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for this team” and “it’s no secret that we can do better”. Ricketts and club president Karen Leetzow have indicated that they are exploring the construction of their own stadium, but it is a long and complicated process, especially in Chicago. Stars officials and players have appeared before government officials to advocate for their inclusion in any public stadium funding, as the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the Chicago White Sox of the MLB seek to build new stadiums. The MLS’s Chicago Fire FC announced in June that it will build a privately funded 22,000-seat stadium within Chicago’s limits, with an opening planned for 2028. There are currently no indications that the Stars will play there. The Stars have played some double matches with the Fire in recent years at Soldier Field. Last year, Chicago set a new league record of 35,038 fans for a match at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The record was broken in August when Bay FC hosted a match at another baseball stadium in San Francisco, attracting more than 40,000 fans. The Martin Stadium is home to the Northwestern University football and lacrosse teams. It will also host the school’s football team while Ryan Field, the larger football stadium next door, is renovated. Ryan Field is expected to open in the fall of 2026. The NWSL’s collective bargaining agreement with its players states that “it is generally preferable to play matches and train on natural grass surfaces,” although it acknowledges the possible use of artificial turf. The Seattle Reign FC and the Portland Thorns FC currently play home matches on artificial turf. The Boston Legacy FC will play the 2026 home matches at Gilette Stadium, which also has artificial turf. (Seattle and Boston are expected to present natural turf for a portion of 2026 as host stadiums for the men’s World Cup). Northwestern can be accessed from Chicago via the city’s subway, although the nearest stop is more than half a mile from Martin Stadium.“A new era” and “just a step in a series of changes”
Karen Leetzow, president of the Stars
“What began as a temporary lakeside home for Northwestern football has quickly become a unique venue that has welcomed collegiate, professional, and international competition, and the response from athletes and fans has been tremendous”
Mark Jackson, the school’s athletic director
