For those wondering what might become of Soldier Field if the Bears follow through on plans to move to Arlington Heights or an adjacent domed stadium, circle Nov. 1 on your calendar.
That’s when rugby powers Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks are set to return to Chicago to face off in a much-anticipated rematch of a seminal 2016 contest between two heated rivals in front of a stadium likely to be packed with international fans.
Who needs the Packers?
“This match showcases our city’s ability to host premier global sporting events, drawing fans from around the world, boosting tourism, and reinforcing Chicago’s reputation as a top destination for sports, culture, and entertainment,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a news release Tuesday.
The teams both have a storied history, with the New Zealand All Blacks, one of the oldest and most successful in the sport, holding three World Cup championships and a dominant record over the years.
For many, the All Blacks are well-known for performing an intimidating pregame haka dance, a Maori ritual used to fire up the players and fans before a match.
While the Ireland national rugby team has a 150-year history, it had never beaten New Zealand until the inaugural meeting in Chicago on Nov. 5, 2016, when it pulled off a stunning 40 to 29 upset in front of 64,000 fans at Soldier Field. It was Ireland’s first victory over New Zealand after 29 losses spanning more than a century.
Since then, Ireland has split 10 games with New Zealand, establishing one of the biggest rivalries in modern rugby.
“The 2016 encounter at Soldier Field is one of the greatest moments in Irish Rugby history, and the rivalry that has grown between our two teams since then is a testament to the quality, passion, and the respect that Ireland and New Zealand have for each other,” Kevin Potts, CEO of the Irish Rugby Football Union, said in the release.
From the Premier League soccer fan fest in September, which drew a record 15,646 English soccer fans to Lincoln Park for a weekend TV watch party, to the NASCAR Chicago Street Race during July Fourth weekend, the city is hosting major sporting events for an increasingly diverse fan base.
The city is expecting the high-profile rugby rematch in November to boost tourism by attracting many out-of-town fans – both domestically and internationally.
“We’re excited to be taking the All Blacks back to Chicago, and for it to be against Ireland is especially fitting,” New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said in the news release. “Both teams have passionate fans who will be keen to make an occasion of travelling to the game at such an iconic venue.”
Born from soccer and the father of American football, rugby – a 200-year-old sport – is a fast-paced game where players run, lateral, tackle and emerge from scrums trying to move an oval ball over the opponent’s goal line. There are no pads and no forward passes – kicking is the only way to advance the ball through the air.
Rugby is gaining traction in the U.S., with USA Rugby reporting there are 110,000 members playing in more than 2,500 clubs nationwide. Colorado-based USA Rugby, founded 50 years ago in Chicago, is the national governing body of the sport.
As a sign and perhaps a catalyst of its growing interest, the U.S. will host the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments for the first time in the sport’s history.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com