The Chicago Fire became the latest MLS team to announce definitive new stadium plans on Tuesday, with a pledge to build a $650-million, 22,000-seat venue in a vacant parcel of downtown land long targeted for redevelopment known as "The 78."
The club aims to open the facility in time for the 2028 season, which will come one year after New York City FC opens its new Etihad Park in Queens in 2027.
And while there is no guarantee a new facility will convene with a reversal of the club's recent competitive fortunes, there is real cause to believe this could represent the beginning of a giant being roused from its slumber.
Here are three of the more compelling reasons a new Fire stadium could result in a new era of greatness for what was once one of MLS' model clubs.
Mansueto not waiting on stadium to make moves
Some MLS clubs that have endured long stadium searches have also used those searches as justification for delaying investment in other parts of the club.
And in general, when those teams -- like D.C. United and the San Jose Earthquakes, to name a couple -- finally did move into permanent homes, it turned out that ownership still struggled to make good on those pledges.
By contrast, Mansueto has proven willing to spend to win now, even if his early decisions have been unwise. The acquisition of Xherdan Shaqiri and the failed pursuit of Kevin de Bruyne are two examples.
Better leadership in place
Not much went right under Georg Heitz, Mansueto's first sporting director, who parted with the club following the 2024 season.
But while Gregg Berhalter may have carried some baggage from his USMNT tenure into his role as Heitz's successor, there's no denying his MLS track record.
The new Fire head coach and director of football reached the playoffs in four of five seasons with the Columbus Crew, including a run to the 2015 MLS Cup final.
And that success all came while the Crew played under a far more limited budget under previous owner Anthony Precourt.
A unique market
The Fire may be two decades removed from their glory years, but Chicago is arguably the current MLS market with the most growth potential.
The Chicago metropolitan area is the largest in the United States that currently has only one MLS club. It's also a region with enormous Latin and Eastern European communities that love the sport. And it's a city where the NFL team is actively exploring a move outside the city limits.
A combination of on-field success with a modern, intimate venue and a sports vacuum to fill could easily make the Fire one of the most relevant MLS teams to their local market, much the way they were in their early days playing at the old version of Soldier Field.