The Chicago Stars, a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, will continue playing at Northwestern University’s 12,000-seat Martin Stadium for the 2027 season. The team initially moved to Martin Stadium in 2025 after playing since 2016 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Despite the stadium being a temporary setup while Northwestern builds a new $875 million football stadium nearby, the Stars have decided to stay at Martin Stadium, partly due to community resistance to relocating to the new Ryan Field football venue.

Northwestern upgraded Martin Stadium in 2024 and will keep the facility intact since the Stars will be the primary tenant starting next year, after Northwestern’s football team switches to its new stadium. The Stars are expected to pay higher fees for using Northwestern's facilities in 2027 compared to 2026. While the move brought the Stars closer to their fan base with better accessibility, attendance has not significantly improved this year amid a challenging season, with the team currently holding the league's lowest average attendance at 4,316 per game.

Earlier in 2026, the Stars abandoned plans to move to the new Ryan Field due to opposition from Evanston residents concerned about increased private events and their impact on local neighborhoods. The team has committed to ongoing community engagement and more dialogue with local stakeholders. Although the Stars aim to eventually play at Ryan Field in the future, their current priority is maintaining their presence at Martin Stadium for 2027 under the city’s approval process, which was smoother than the permitting for Ryan Field.

Beyond their stadium situation, the Chicago Stars have also invested in team infrastructure, including a new training facility opening next year in Bannockburn, Illinois. They have expressed ambitions to eventually develop their own stadium. Currently, only one other NWSL team, Kansas City, owns a dedicated stadium, with expansion teams like Denver working on facilities for future use. The Stars’ move to Northwestern’s lakeside stadium symbolizes ongoing growth and community negotiation challenges within the women’s professional soccer landscape.