SOLDIER FIELD — Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who's courted many major sporting events to Chicago, has another win: the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.
MLS officials confirmed Tuesday that Soldier Field will host the league's All-Star Game on Aug. 2, a day before Lollapalooza kicks off in Grant Park nearby.
The game was presented as another coup for Emanuel, who in years past has lobbied the NFL and NHL to host its drafts here. The America's Cup, a prestigious yacht race, and the Copa América soccer tournament also held unprecedented events in Chicago last year.
The game, which will pit the best MLS players against a "top five" team in the world, will be nationally telecast on ESPN to 170 countries.
"You can't get advertising like that," Emanuel said.
Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, said Emanuel suggested Chicago host the game while the two were taking in a Copa América game last summer at Soldier Field. This season also marks the 20th for the Chicago Fire MLS franchise, and the United States Soccer Federation is based in the South Loop.
"The game has enormous roots here," Garber said.
The MLS All-Stars played Arsenal F.C. last year in San Jose, Calif., and matched up against Bayern Munich in 2014 in Portland, Ore. The all-stars' opponent this year has yet to be announced.
Tickets will go on sale this spring. Sign up here for more updates.
