Natalia Chi
Fire midfielder Gaston Jimenez had an interesting perspective when asked about the franchise’s upcoming training facility.
“It will have the advantage of making you feel at home,” Jimenez said through an interpreter. “To feel that it belongs to you and that it belongs to you.”
It was announced Monday that the fire has signed a land lease for a 23.3-acre parcel in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood on the Near West Side to build the $80 million center. The plan was not without controversy after now-outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot effectively pushed for zoning changes.
But coach Ezra Hendrickson sounds optimistic about the project’s civic benefits, perhaps hinting at the team’s pledge to provide $8 million to preserve and restore a nearby CHA unit, helping to free up municipal space. created to provide employment to the community.
“Giving back to the community is at the core of the club’s mission, and this is another way to make an impact in the situation,” Hendrickson said. “We have world-class sports facilities and will be able to help people in that community.”
Fire and the city, which are funding the development, hope people will agree. And while the business side of the team and the city have to weather controversy and public relations backlash, the benefits to the football side of the Fire are clear.
“You’re really happy to have something like that when someone comes home,” Jimenez said. I think it’s really great to be there because you can be really proud of the project and you have something very nice, you can go out and come home and see something nice And that’s going to be a really big advantage for us.”
Instead of training at Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium, Fire calls the state-of-the-art center their own. No one has scoffed at the Bridgeview accommodations the club paid to upgrade before the 2020 season, but the new center will help bridge some of the facility gaps with other teams around MLS. must.
The Fire split their time between a football stadium, perhaps too big for football, and an outdated suburban venue that was abandoned three years ago, but showing potential recruits a modern training building. I can. Also, unlike Bridgeview, the new center will be closer to the city center where many players live.
As for current players, defender Arnaud Souquet said he and his teammates are excited about the upcoming facility. He was enthusiastic about the new center and said the plans were “beautiful” for the city and the club.
“I know we have good things [facility in Bridgeview] It will be better in the future,” said Souquet.
