The last professional home team to win a game at Soldier Field? The Blackhawks in March. Yes, that's right.
But that could change Saturday, when the stadium hosts an international rugby match between the USA Eagles and the New Zealand All Blacks. The Eagles will take on the top-ranked team in the world in front of a sold-out crowd.
It's the All Blacks' first match on American soil since 1980.
"We haven't played a match like this one," USA veteran rugby player Louis Stanfill said. "The All Blacks are the best in the world. It's absolutely huge. It's monumental and rare to sell out a stadium, and never in a stadium that holds 50,000 plus. It's tremendous."
Need to brush up on rugby basics? Start here
According to organizers, the match is expected to set an attendance record for a rugby match in the U.S. at about 63,000 spectators. The previous mark for an international rugby union match in the U.S. (20,181) was recorded in June 2013 in Houston. The match marks only the fourth time the All Blacks and USA have faced one another in more than 100 years of organized rugby's history.
"I think that the All Blacks and United States have only played a handful of games in history I guess because of the levels that we play at, so it is pretty historic, especially to be playing in the States and not just playing at a World Cup or something like that," said Kieran Read, one of New Zealand's star players. "I think that makes it a bit more special and it's going to be a great occasion for the Eagles."
The Eagles face a tough opponent. The All Blacks are the winningest team in rugby history, winning 76 percent of its matches since the team's first players were selected in 1884. The All Blacks boast a winning percentage of 80 percent the past 20 years.
So how much pressure does that rich history put on the All Blacks on the field?
"The pressure of expectation has always been there, and the players and coaches talk about that as the opportunity to deepen the legacy that goes with the jersey," All Blacks CEO Steve Tew said. "You're in that jersey for a brief period of time, and I know all the players that pull that jersey off want to take it off and add some blood, sweat and tears to it and deepen their legacy by making it bigger than it was when they wore it, so that's the way we approach it."
Rugby is deeply ingrained in New Zealand's culture. Kids growing up there dream of playing for the All Blacks like Chicagoans might long to play for the Bears. U.S. fans will have the opportunity to gain perspective of New Zealand's history before the match. Traditionally, the All Blacks perform the ancient war dance known as the haka to challenge opponents.
"The All Blacks have taken on the haka every time we go out and play an opposition," Read said. "It's about connecting with everyone that came before us, but it's also a challenge to the opposition just to say, 'We're here and we want to take you on.' It's a good way of us connecting before the game."
Saturday's match also will air on NBC. The national coverage is expected to draw attention to a sport that doesn't receive much acclaim in the U.S. The Eagles already have qualified for the next rugby World Cup, set for 2015 in England.
"It's huge that the game is on [national] TV," Stanfill said. "The best team in the world is playing against the USA. A lot of people who usually tune in to basketball and baseball at that time will be introduced to the sport of rugby."
Emily Brown is a RedEye special contributor.
NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS VS. USA EAGLES
International rugby union match at Soldier Field
2 p.m. Saturday, NBC
Note: Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the match.