Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot made three proposals to renovate Soldier Field to keep the Bears at the historic stadium.
“An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “Furthermore, any of these proposed renovations will allow Soldier Field to retain its role as an economic engine for Chicago for years to come, as these changes will allow us to keep bringing sports, music and other exciting events to our city.”
The most ambitious project would turn Soldier Field from an open-air to a domed stadium. The options — which run from $900 million to $2.2 billion — made public include:
- Fully enclosing the stadium with result end zone columns to support the roof.
- Rebuilding the end zone columns so Soldier Field could be upgraded to a dome at a later time.
- Creating a multi-purpose stadium that is “better suited for soccer” and other events like concerts.
The proposals include increasing the seating capacity of Soldier Field from 61,500 seats up to 70,000, bumping up the suites from 133 to 140, adding six major club/experiential areas, and quadrupling the food and beverage square footage.
The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field expires in 2033, although there’s an $84 million buyout that can be exercised if they decide to break the lease as early as 2026.
Read more about the story HERE
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
