Midwest native Peter Wilt has targeted Soldier Field as the temporary home field for a new NASL team that plans to play in downtown Chicago, according to an interview on Soccer Morning.
Wilt has taken on the role as senior advisor for CLUB 9 SPORTS, a sports consulting group that is aiming to launch a NASL team in the same city where MLS team Chicago Fire calls home. There have been widespread rumors that the new NASL team could be named the Chicago Sting after the successful team that won two national championships.
“I want soccer to be relevant in Chicago,” said Wilt. “There’s a void, for an urban team in Chicago. The Fire have been great, but they’re not accessible via public transportation.
“We’ve already met with the city’s planning commissioner and have identified multiple sites that could work for a stadium.
“For a short term solution, Soldier Field is our target but we plan to build a soccer specific stadium in the city of Chicago.”
Wilt has targeted an average attendance of 10,000+ as the goal for his team. It’s understood that the team may launch in NASL as early as 2017.
When asked whether his return to Chicago was something personal for him, Wilt responded, “There’s certainly an inch I need scratched. I want Chicago to have great soccer, to get things right.”
Wilt was the president of Chicago Fire from 1997 to 2005.
Wilt will continue to fulfill his general manager duties at Indy Eleven as a consultant into the Spring season.
200+ Channels With Sports & News
- Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
- Watch Premier League, World Cup, Euro 2024 & more
Live & On Demand TV Streaming
- Price: $35/mo. for Sling Blue
- Watch Premier League, World Cup & MLS
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
- Price: $9.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $13.99/mo.)
- Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & more
2,000+ soccer games per year
- Price: $4.99/mo
- Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & NWSL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
- Starting price: $4.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
- Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season
110+ channels, live & on-demand
- Price: $59.95/mo. for Plus Package
- Includes FOX, FS1, ESPN, TUDN & more
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
SOCCER TV SCHEDULES APP
 |
 |
STREAMING OFFERS
 Includes: Premier League + 84 Sports Channels | |
| 7-Day Free Trial | |
 Includes: Bundesliga & La Liga | |
| Sign Up |
|
Includes: Champions League & Serie A | |
| 7-Day Free Trial | |
Includes: Premier League | |
| Sign Up |
|
 Includes: USA, NBC, FOX, FS1 + more | |
| Browse Offers |
|
Eplnfl
January 12, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Sign me up if Peter is the heading the team. While Soldier Field is not the right place it’s ok until a soccer specific stadium can be built in the City.
I am a Fire season ticket holder and will remain loyal to the Men in Red. However I enjoy the NASL would be happy to both leagues thrive in the Windy City.
Good Luck Peter because we know your good for Chicago and good for soccer.
George Gorecki
January 12, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Playing in Soldier Field presents a lot of obstacles, like quality of the playing surface, fitting the soccer schedule to sync with the Bears’ schedule, and how the revenue will be shared. Peter Wilt should be well aware of these obstacles because they existed when he ran the Fire. And these obstacles were precisely the reason that the Fire were so diligent about building a soccer-specific stadium.