The home of the Chicago Fire (MLS) and Chicago Red Stars (NWSL) is debuting a new name, as SeatGeek Stadium branding was unveiled Thursday.
Located in suburban Bridgeview, SeatGeek Stadium was previously known as Toyota Park. An official name change has been on tap since last year, however, as it was revealed last April that a naming-rights partnership between online ticket broker SeatGeek and Bridgeview would go into effect after the Fire’s 2018 season concluded.
With the Fire and Red Stars both approaching their 2019 home openers, officials from both clubs, Bridgeview, and SeatGeek gathered on Thursday to unveil the SeatGeek Stadium branding. Going forward, one of the goals will be to increase the venue’s overall event schedule. More from Daily Southtown:
“We are trying to broaden our spectrum,” [Bridgeview Mayor Steven] Landek said outside what is now SeatGeek Stadium and was formerly Toyota Park.
The naming rights agreement with New York-based online ticket broker SeatGeek was announced almost a year ago, and Bridgeview officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with officials from SeatGeek, Fire and Red Stars to cement what Landek described as a “business partnership.”
Bridgeview, SeatGeek and Spectra Venue Management, which has taken over operation of the stadium, Harlem Avenue and 71st Street, said they will work in tandem to bring other events, including music and sports, to the 28,000-seat-facility.
The Fire will play its 2019 regular-season home opener against Orlando City SC on Saturday, with the Red Stars returning to SeatGeek Stadium for their home opener against the Portland Thorns on April 20. Prior to this 10-year naming rights agreement, SeatGeek Stadium had been known as Toyota Park since its 2006 opening.
Image courtesy Chicago Red Stars.
RELATED STORIES: SeatGeek Stadium Naming Rights Announced