Chicago Stars drop Wilmette-opposed request to play at Ryan Field

(Editor’s Note: Hope Perry reported this story for Evanston RoundTable, a neighboring independent newsroom. It was shared with The Record as part of an ongoing collaborative effort.)

The Chicago Stars FC announced Wednesday that it will no longer be pursuing a unique use permit to play at the new Ryan Field, instead opting to play the entirety of their 2026 season at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

“After thoughtful consideration with Northwestern University and their desire to open the new Ryan Field in a phased approach out of consideration for its neighbors, at this time we will not be proceeding with our application for a unique use permit to play in Ryan Field,” a statement from the Stars said.

The women’s professional soccer team had wanted to use Ryan Field as a temporary home starting in 2027, which would have required a special zoning approval. The Most Livable City Association mounted an effort against that plan, contending that the games “would wreak havoc on Evanston and nearby Wilmette.”

The Village of Wilmette also issued a formal statement opposing the plan, with Village President Senta Plunkett saying: “To now add more uncertainty and potential impact to the already impacted area is imprudent at best, and unneighborly at worst.”

The MLCA originally formed in response to the Ryan Field stadium rebuild and rezoning proposals, with members showing up to every meeting in the approval process to forcefully oppose allowing concerts, and more than two years later is still suing the city to overturn their approval.

Andy Berman, the president of the MLCA, however, said that the Stars’ statement did not mention the 2027 season, which he called “puzzling.” The permit, he pointed out, was specifically for the 2027 season.

“Our primary objection to the whole thing is we had a not-for-profit tax-exempt institution [Northwestern University], trying to turn a tax-exempt piece of property into a commercial enterprise,” Berman said.

“We’re not so much opposed to women’s soccer — which as I’ve told people before, I personally love,” Berman said. “It’s the idea of pro sports being played in a collegiate environment and not paying the sort of taxes that professional sports pay.”

Stars leaders had announced their intent to apply for a “unique use” permit with the city proposal at a Seventh Ward meeting in January. That permit would have allowed the Stars to play in NU’s collegiate stadium for up to five years while working to secure and build a new permanent stadium elsewhere. These permits are reserved for “unusual one-of-a-kind” uses that wouldn’t be appropriate for permanent addition to the code, but have enough “land use or economic benefit” to justify a one-off approval.

Seventh Ward Councilmember Parielle Davis said in February that she would not support the Chicago Stars’ request to play at Northwestern’s Ryan Field, which is situated in Davis’ ward. In a ward newsletter, she said that she would support the team playing at Martin Field in 2027.

In a statement to the RoundTable Wednesday, Davis said that city staff had informed her that the Stars were a few days away from submitting a permit asking to play at Martin Stadium for the 2027 season. A spokesperon for the Stars confirmed that the club has submitted a permit to use Martin Stadium in 2027 as they explore options moving forward — but nothing is yet set.

“I’m glad to hear that they’re considering what I suggested in the first place and found a way to make it work,” Davis said, adding that she looked forward to seeing the team play at Martin Stadium.

“I have been and continue to be supportive of the Stars,” Councilmember Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th Ward) told the RoundTable on Wednesday.

“I hope there is a way we can, we are able to keep them in town for the next several years, because I think it would be great for the city,” he said.

“As I understand, the arguments that a lot of opponents are making are not so much against having the Stars, but more focused on Northwestern and looking for some more financial support for our community from Northwestern — and I’m not going to turn down financial support from the big purple institution,” he clarified.

Nieuwsma said that he wanted the community to understand that the City of Evanston and Northwestern have a community benefits agreement that will bring the community more than $150 million over the next 10 years, including money that will go directly to the public schools.

“With our season now in progress, we are turning our full attention to delivering an exceptional inaugural season at Martin Stadium in Evanston while continuing to connect with the community through additional conversations, town halls, and civic engagement,” the statement from the Stars said.

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