Toyota Park

• Chicago Fire SC (MLS ) (since 2006)
• Chicago Machine (MLL ) ( 2007-2009)
• Chicago Red Stars (WPS ) ( 2009-2010 )

The Toyota Park is a football stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois (USA). The stadium was opened on 11 June 2006, and is the home of the football franchise Chicago Fire SC from the Major League Soccer. The construction costs amounted to about 100 million U.S. dollars.

The stadium

The stadium has a capacity of 22,000 mostly covered seats. At concerts, this capacity will increase to 28,000 places. The first row of spectators is less than three meters away from the field.

In the stadium there is a permanent stage for concerts. Within 18 hours, the Toyota Park can be transformed from football stadium to a concert, or vice versa.

According to Chicago Fire president John Guppy, the stadium can be expanded by an additional 10,000 places without disturbing the running game operation. For this step, a second rank on the north stand ( Harlem End) must be attached. Currently there are no plans for a stadium expansion.

Besides the sports facilities, the stadium has 42 offices in which the office of the Chicago Fire is housed, and the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame.

Owner of the Toyota Park is the city Bridgeview. Managed the stadium of the private investment firm Andell Holdings. In June 2006, the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota purchased the naming rights to the stadium for a period of ten years.

Important Games

On 5 August 2006, the MLS All -Star Game was held at Toyota Park. The MLS All -Star team beat the English champions Chelsea FC 1-0. According to the TV channel ESPN, the stadium was sold out with 21,210 spectators.

The Toyota Park has applied to host the MLS Cup in 2007. However, the game was to Washington, D.C. awarded.