Chicago is getting ready for a weekend of rugby and music as Major League Rugby hosts its championship match between the San Diego Legion and the New England Free Jacks. The match will take place at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview on Saturday at 2 p.m. central time. This is the first time the championship match is being held at a predetermined site, thanks to the efforts of the Chicago Hounds, the newest team in Chicago's MLR. In addition to the rugby match, there will be a concert by Shaquille O'Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel, and a postgame show by Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys, as well as a "Dawg Town Block Party" with food and beverage vendors and youth tournaments.

The event aims to attract both rugby fans and non-rugby fans, with ticket sales already reaching nearly 10,000 as of Thursday. Rugby is growing in popularity in the US, and the Chicago Hounds hope to capitalize on this trend by hosting a successful championship match and building a strong foundation of rugby fans in the city. With the addition of music and a festival atmosphere, the Hounds are hoping to draw in a wider audience and make Chicago a rugby town.