[Randomguy34]

Well this is encouraging news

United Soccer League expansion team coming to North Side site proposed for Amazon's HQ2

By Ryan Ori
A new professional soccer team plans to begin playing on Chicago’s North Side within three years, at one of the sites proposed for Amazon’s second headquarters.

Developer Sterling Bay has bought a United Soccer League expansion team to play in its planned sports and entertainment stadium along the Chicago River, with the goal of beginning play in the 2020 season, Sterling Bay Managing Principal Andy Gloor said. Sterling Bay and other investors will own and operate the USL team, Gloor said.

It remains to be seen how the USL, a professional league one level below Major League Soccer, will fare in Chicago. But there is a passionate soccer fan base within the city, and many supporters of the sport have lamented the MLS Chicago Fire’s location in southwest suburban Bridgeview, as well as the team’s struggle to stay relevant in a market that includes teams in each of the major sports.

“There are a lot of cities that have two soccer teams,” Gloor said. “New York and Los Angeles have two MLS teams. They can co-exist in a city the size of Chicago.”

Specific details of the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed stadium are still being fine-tuned, but the venue is expected to have a retractable roof and about 20,000 seats. Gloor said. A retractable roof will allow the stadium to be used for events year-round, potentially including international soccer matches, college football and basketball games, concerts and other events, Gloor said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...121-story.html