Wilmette announced its formal objection to the Chicago Stars FC obtaining a five-year unique use permit from Evanston that would allow the club to host professional soccer games at Northwestern’s newly renovated Ryan Field.
During the Wilmette Village Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, Senta Plunkett, the village president, delivered a letter to city officials that said the village will remain “steadfast in its opposition” to the increase in permitted events at the new stadium.
“To now add more uncertainty and potential impact to the already impacted area is imprudent at best, and unneighborly at worst,” the letter, addressed to Mayor Daniel Biss, City Council and the Evanston Land Use Commission, read.
The letter requested Evanston either deny the unique-use application or amend zoning laws to reduce the number of similarly sized events if the city approves the permit.
In January, the Chicago Stars filed an application requesting permission to host 15 home games at the stadium starting in 2027. The team has indicated that they intend to play at Ryan Field temporarily while they build another stadium elsewhere.
According to the Chicago Stars’ website, the club will have a “positive economic, cultural and social impact on Evanston” through “tax revenue from ticket sales” and “increased foot traffic for local businesses.”
Ryan Field is scheduled to open its doors in October and host NU football as well as up to six concerts a year, following a controversial rezoning ordinance of the area.
Wilmette previously expressed its opposition to the zoning change for concerts, which Plunkett noted in the letter.
“Northwestern has asked a lot from its neighbors in Wilmette and Evanston, and to ask for more while the extent of the adverse impacts of the already approved events remains unknown, is unfortunate timing,” the letter read.
The Chicago Stars’ proposal to move to the 7th Ward has also received pushback from the Evanston community. On Feb. 9, Ald. Parielle Davis (7th) announced in a newsletter that she would not be supporting the Stars’ request, and many 7th Ward community members shared her sentiment at a 7th Ward meeting.
The Land Use Commission has not announced when hearings for the unique use permit will begin.
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Related Stories:
— Community members scrutinize potential Chicago Stars relocation to Ryan Field at 7th Ward meeting
— Chicago Stars indicate plans to file for unique-use permit at Ryan Field
— Chicago Stars to play 15 games at NU’s Medicine Field at Martin Stadium
