Sterling Bay has unveiled its partner in bringing a USL side to Chicago and the announcement makes the ambitious plans for the Lincoln Yards development even more viable. Cubs owner and chairman Tom Ricketts will take majority ownership of the unnamed USL franchise. As minority owner, Sterling Bay will develop and own the stadium and the site.



Ricketts’ involvement brings instant credibility to the project and provides Sterling Bay, a real estate developer with no experience running a professional sports franchise, with a partner familiar with the template it’s trying to emulate. The Lincoln Yards development has been described as a “Wrigleyville” for soccer and the attraction here is obvious.



Although the opening for the Lincoln Yards stadium has been pushed back from 2020 to 2021, one thing is certain. Sterling Bay is determined to move forward with a soccer-centric development highlighting the Lincoln Yards stadium as its centerpiece. The...