Chicago Fire teams up with SIS Pitches on new hybrid training fields

Although hybrid fields have long been a staple in European sports, they have yet to achieve the same level of popularity and impact in the United States.

European football has embraced the use of hybrid technology, which produces a 95% natural grass field, stitched with synthetic fibers to offer a greater level of durability and consistency. Nearly all teams in the English Premier League use hybrid pitches, compared to just a handful in the MLS (four as of the 2024 season).

However, the winds of change may soon sweep through the league, particularly through the Windy City and Chicago Fire Football Club.

Increased Attention

Few North American leagues have truly embraced the technology, party down to a lack of awareness combined with a more binary approach to sports surfaces across the Atlantic – artificial versus natural grass. The high-profile arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami in 2023 cast a spotlight on the league’s use of artificial turf, a concept quite foreign to Messi, who had spent nearly his entire career playing on natural or hybrid surfaces in Europe and South America.

This heightened scrutiny on the league prompted MLS commissioner Don Garber to acknowledge that clubs might need to transition away from artificial turf and explore hybrid and natural options to align more closely with the European game – especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The latest club to embrace this technology is Chicago Fire. The Fire are a mainstay of Major League Soccer, being founded in 1998 as one of the MLS’ first expansion teams, winning MLS Cup in their inaugural season, alongside three U.S. Open Cups.

Fired up

The Fire were looking at installing hybrid soccer fields at their new training facility, located in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood on Chicago’s Near West Side. The Endeavor Health Performance Center, which opened in January 2025, is a state-of the art facility, which will host all of Chicago Fire’s teams, alongside providing green spaces for the local youth and community.

Among their key requirements were superior surface stability and durability, with the aim of allowing more training sessions or competitive matches to take place on the surface. “We experienced significant wear and tear with our previous natural pitches, particularly around the center circle and goal areas,” Seay explains. “This was a major concern for us, and we were keen to find a solution that would enhance pitch quality without adding to our existing maintenance workload”.

Best in the world

SCG Fields played a crucial role in creating the foundation of the Chicago Fire’s new hybrid surface. Their expertise in constructing elite sports fields ensured a top-quality profile for the innovative SIS Grass Hybrid system to be stitched into.

With this brief in hand, SIS Pitches delivered a solution that exceeded the Fire’s expectations. Drawing on their extensive experience with top European clubs, SIS Pitches provided a SIS Grass hybrid surface designed for exceptional durability, making the playing surface over three times more resilient than a fully natural grass pitch.

The SIS Grass Hybrid system offers a host of additional benefits, including installation in as little as seven days, plus achieving up to three times more play than a natural grass field.

Two factors drew the Fire to SIS Pitches, Seay explained. “SIS Grass is a tried and tested solution, which we knew was used by elite European clubs, such as Manchester City and Newcastle United. This level of expertise, of understanding the pressures that comes with competing at the highest possible level, alongside SIS Pitches’ ability to deliver a project from start to finish, really sealed the deal for us.”

Work began in early October, and SIS Pitches completed the installation of the pitch before the end of the month, well ahead of the facilities opening in early 2025. Seay added: “We were particularly impressed with the quality of soil when it arrived on-site, alongside the support provided by SIS throughout the whole process.“

Profound effects

The installation of the hybrid surfaces is expected to make an immediate, positive impact on both the players and the grounds crew.

Seay explained: “Having hybrid grass installed will affect our roles in a pretty profound way. The surface can withstand three times more play, and with the extra reinforcement we’re going to be spending less time repairing divots and problem areas and more time focusing on play and health.

The new fields are set to be tested rigorously when the Chicago Fire facility opens in time for the new MLS season in 2025.

New markets

Supplying the new pitches for Chicago Fire marks a significant entry for SIS Pitches into the North American market, as USA Sales Manager Alan Thomson added: “MLS teams are spearheading the shift towards hybrid pitches, which is a trend we could see extend to other major sports across the country.”