At a pivotal moment for the city of Chicago—as sports teams Chicago Bears, White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Chicago Fire FC all pursue new stadiums or campus expansions—the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) has released “Win/Win: The New Game Plan for Urban Stadiums.” The report proposes a bold new framework for stadiums as catalysts for equitable, neighborhood-centered development, shifting the conversation from isolated venues to integrated urban anchors. As part of this initiative, CAC convened a cross-sector working group of civic, design, and policy leaders, including contributions from SOM.
SOM Partner Adam Semel served on the CAC’s Stadium Working Group, helping shape strategies that align infrastructure investment, community planning, and long-term civic outcomes. The report introduces “The Chicago Model,” a forward-thinking framework that challenges the traditional stadium playbook. Rather than viewing stadiums as standalone facilities dependent on public subsidies, the model advocates for treating them as essential components of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.
Key principles of the model include transit-first planning, neighborhood density, public space integration, and long-term flexibility. It makes the case that public investments tied to stadiums should advance broader city-building goals, delivering lasting benefits for residents whether or not a game is being played. Illustrations by Phil Enquist, FAIA, retired SOM Partner and a long-recognized voice in sustainable urbanism, accompany the report. His visualizations underscore the opportunity to transform underutilized parcels into vital, inclusive districts.
In its recent coverage, Crain’s Chicago Business described the report as “a call to flip the script” on how stadium deals are approached, noting its recommendation for reforming the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority into a development entity that leads planning instead of reacting to team proposals. As CAC President and CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski said, “We need to stop being defensive when we get these proposals. We need to think of ourselves as equal partners, and ask: ‘What do we want out of this?’”
With more than $14 billion in proposed developments on the table from five major sports franchises, the report emphasizes that the next 18 months represent a rare opportunity to guide urban growth, attract coordinated investment, and reinforce Chicago’s position as a city capable of delivering transformative civic projects.
Illustration by Phil Enquist