By Lesley Ryder
On Wednesday the Chicago Stars announced they’ve withdrawn their application for a unique use permit at Northwestern’s Ryan Field next season after residents and local politicians voiced their opposition.
“After thoughtful consideration with Northwestern University and their desire to open the new Ryan Field in a phased approach out of consideration for its neighbors, at this time we will not be proceeding with our application for a unique use permit to play in Ryan Field.” The Stars FC statement read.
When the Stars introduced their request at January’s 7th Ward meeting, despite team-sponsored polling indicating over 80% of residents supported the Stars moving to Evanston, the team faced immediate opposition in the room. Alex Harrison of the Evanston Roundtable wrote
Descriptions of the team moving in included that the Stars are “invading” and that it would “destroy our neighborhood further,” and several connected it to the city’s historic conflict with NU over its full exemption from property taxes.
Stars President Karen Leetzow said she could not speak to the history of Northwestern’s property taxes, but hoped Ryan field could be bridge solution while the team finds a permanent home.
As a not-for-profit institution, Northwestern University is exempt from Evanston’s property taxes. Past calls from the Evanston community for payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT have failed. As part of the agreement for Ryan Field’s construction, Evanston will receive over $150 million in community benefits over the next 15 years.
But the longtime lack of property taxes paid by Northwestern continue to be a sticking point for residents and politicians alike as property taxes continue to rise in the city.
In a Seventh Ward meeting on February 16th, Alderwoman Parielle Davis explained the difference between Northwestern’s football team, and the Chicago Stars using the space as she voiced her opposition to the Stars move. “It is my belief that if you are going to engage in nonprofit activities, that’s fine,” Davis said. “But if you are going to be engaging in for-profit activities, you should be paying taxes.”
However, Alderwoman Davis said she would support the Stars’ continued play at Martin Field.
“Women’s professional sports are a public good, and the Chicago Stars deserve strong institutional support,” Davis wrote in her newsletter, but she remained opposed to “a tax-exempt educational institution engaging in for-profit activity.”
After the Stars withdrew their application for Ryan Field, they submitted a new request to continue playing at the temporary stadium, which was slated for dismantling at the end of this season.
A spokesperson for the Stars confirmed that the team submitted an application as the continue to weigh all available options. But nothing is set in stone for the Stars’ home field plans in 2027.
In February, Chicago Stars President Karen Leetzow attended a joint meeting of Evanston’s 2nd, 4th and 5th wards to encourage residents to voice their support for the Stars.
When asked why the Stars couldn’t stay at the lakefront stadium another year, Leetzow said the temporary stadium was already starting to deteriorate and the locker rooms were “not to professional standards.”
Another resident asked why The Stars couldn’t share use of the Chicago Fire’s new stadium opening in 2028. Leetzow said they reached out to the Fire, but the club had “no appetite” to share with the Stars, but publicly, the Chicago Fire has said the opposite.
When the Chicago Fire broke ground on their new stadium, President Dave Baldwin told media that the team is “always happy to have those discussions” about the Stars sharing their new stadium.
A source familiar with the conversation between both teams told Gal Pal Sports that the clubs had some initial discussions before the Stars announced their move to Evanston this year. “If down the road they’re interested in moving back into the city, we would be happy to have those discussions.”
As the 2026 season opens at home, the Stars are hopeful that they can continue to connect with the city and its residents. The club closed their official statement with an invitation.
We encourage the entire community to come out to our home opener on March 22 to see what we’re all about and experience firsthand the future we hope to build together.
In the meantime, while Stars might want to try learning more about Evanston’s property tax battle with Northwestern.