Ticket sales and other revenue from Bears games would pay off the bonds and the Bears portion of the funding. New Bill Aims to Jump-Start Bears Stadium Negotiations Increase the number of traditional suites from 133 to 140. The 2002 renovation of Soldier Field cost $660 million, $432 million of which was funded by the city's hotel tax, and the bonds issued to finance that project are still being paid off. The Chicago Bears have been playing at Soldier Field since 1971, but they might not be playing there much longer. "Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction," Phillips said in a statement. Yes, it can.. The cost benefit to the Bears of improving Soldier Field versus developing a new stadium on an alternate site is anticipated to be at least $1B to 1.5B or more. However, given the fact that the stadium has little space to expand or change, it's unlikely to find a simple and cost-effective solution to the dilemma at hand. Arlington Park owner expects 'world-class' Bears stadium, Mayor Lightfoot explores a stunning change to Soldier Field, At Harley-Davidson, a repo shortage is hitting the bottom line, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson names more appointees to transition subcommittees, Booth, Kellogg top the U.S. News ranking of best MBA programs, Big Fulton Market apartment project moves forward with $125 million loan, New lawsuit over 'brazen' moves in Maple & Ash restaurant feud. Plummer suffered the wrist fracture in the exhibition opener against Denver, and the injury brought an end to his playing streak of 133 consecutive regular-season games dating to 1987, when he was with San Diego. Believe it or not, the stadium actually lost 5,000 seats when the Bears and Chicago renovated the landmark in 2003. The mayor emphasized that options one and two "make Soldier Field a top tier NFL stadium with tremendous opportunity for the Bears to fulfill their vision.". Three concepts for Soldier Field renovations. Plan to keep the Bears in Chicago complicated by https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/27/chicago-bears-soldier-field-renovation-projects-approved/, 2023 NFL draft: Experts hand out grades for Bears, Bears' updated roster following 2023 NFL draft, Grading every Bears pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Bears 2023 NFL draft tracker: Pick-by-pick analysis, Bears assign jersey numbers for their 2023 draft class, Twitter reacts to the Bears' selection of WR Tyler Scott, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. News. Add six new major club and experiential areas. Click below to see everything we have to offer. Advertisement Initial reaction to the Want to discover the world? Although the Bears have been looking into making renovations at Soldier Field, they likely came to the conclusion that it was cost prohibitive unless the city contributed a major amount of money. Quadruple the food and beverage square footage from 50,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. Anyone planning on commuting to the stadium for a Bears game is in for a stressful experience. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! The third option calls for modifications to make Soldier Field a multipurpose stadium suited to host soccer games while also making it a viable location to accommodate major concerts and a range of events. Chicago Bears Soldier Field dome: Landmark Development But oddly, it calls for adding only seven new suites, a big money-maker at other sports arenas around the country. One potential wrench that stands in the way of a move to Arlington Heights for the Bears is the fact that the team has a lease at Soldier Field that runs through the 2033 season. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and are an important tool for ending the global pandemic. The city will launch a feasibility study to evaluate financing options, but Lightfoot wouldnt commit to any artificial timeline on when that study would conclude. Here are the released renderings of a proposed "Dome" renovation of Soldier Field released by the Mayor's office today. WebSoldier Field is located in the Near South Side of Chicago. (Didn't realize the stadium thing was so sensitive there! 1-877-812-1590, Opinion: Expand the budget office to give the City Council meaningful input on spending plans, NASCAR may force Taste of Chicago from its longtime Grant Park home, Sponsored Content: Shifting into action: How CFOs can play a larger role with ESG, Outcome Health execs convicted in federal fraud case, The Most Powerful Women In Chicago Business. Soldier Field makeover plans are out. Will the Bears care? Missing Crain's in print? renovations The Bears lease at Soldier Field expires after the 1999 season, and McCaskey has threatened to leave Chicago after that if the aging stadium isnt replaced. "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. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley unveiled a surprise plan for a $395-million conversion of Soldier Field that would add a retractable dome over the stadium where the Chicago Bears play. E-mail oureditor Please enter valid email address to continue. Background papers distributed by the mayors press office indicate the stadium would be expanded to up to 70,000 seats, from 61,500 now. Smith was fined $5,000 for a hit on Kansas City running back Greg Hill on Aug. 22. Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. Daley and construction officials said there is no other retractable roof like it in sports stadiums. Soldier will never be what it once was thanks to the flying saucer permanently residing in the middle of the classic building. Soldier Field If the Bears started the process of planning a new stadium at some point next year and the stadium took four years to complete -- from the design stage to the final day of construction -- they could cut an $84 million check to the city of Chicago in 2026 and start playing at their new stadium then. The structure itself isn't the only problem with the current state of Soldier Field. This plan is essentially the same, with a few major additions. The mayor's office estimated the costs of the three options would range from $900 million to $2.2 billion. Option 1: Fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure. Irrelevant' pick on Toledo's Johnson, Chargers go all-in on TCU with Duggan pick in 7th, NFL Nation sizes up all 259 draft selections. CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced proposals for renovations of Soldier Field, a crown jewel of both Chicago and our celebrated lakefront Museum The 2002 renovation of Soldier Field cost $660 million, $432 million of which was funded by the city's hotel tax, and the bonds issued to finance that project are still being paid off. Lightfoot did not say much about how the cost of the workestimated at $900 million to $2.2 billionwould be funded, though stadium naming rights and 22 other Aside from whether or not the proposed dome would be enough to convince the Bears to say, the mayor's proposal does not answer another important question. It hurts.. In Chicago, meanwhile, two architects who worked on Soldier Fields $660 million renovation bankrolled by bonds that wont be fully repaid until 2032 said only modest expansion is possible at the 61,500-seat stadium, the NFLs smallest. Based on that, Soldier Field can transition to becoming a dome, Dunn said. "As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or sites, including renovations to Soldier Field, while we are under contract," the Bears said in a statement. But should Bears choose to stay in our city, Soldier Field will be a top 10 tier stadium with a number of new features. However, other analyses of the plan point out that the actual park space is only half of that. The Bears wouldn't have bid on the property in Arlington Heights if they weren't serious about moving and now that they have the land, it won't be surprising if they're playing there before the end of the decade. They want a tier one stadium environment to maximize revenues, and we agree that we are going to keep making the case to the Bears, the NFL and public that a revitalized Soldier Field makes the most economic sense for that storied franchise," Lightfoot said during an address Monday. We must enhance the fan experience, and that's precisely what we aim to do," Lightfoot said at a news conference Monday afternoon at Soldier Field. Landmark Development released a video on Sunday providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete remodel. The mayor also added that she wanted the Bears to focus on more important things, like beating the Packers. Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002. Mayor Emanuel and the Bears need to work together to make Soldier the best possible stadium for both the fans and team as well as the city as a whole. Here's a look at the three proposals unveiled Monday in the city (see images below): Fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure. An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience, said Mayor Lightfoot. 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. Bleachers set up for close look at construction. They also had two sideboards posted along the outside of the stadium by the statues of Halas and Payton. In an email, the head of Friends of the Parks, a civic group that sued and ended up blocking the proposed Lucas Museum just south of Soldier Field, said legal action (again) by her organization again is on the table. 11:44 am ET, get out of the lease in 2026 by paying a penalty, Ranking teams likely to land Williams in 2024 NFL Draft, Prisco's 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams, Exploring Titans' options at wide receiver, Cowboys' 'ship has not sailed' on bringing back Zeke, Best post-draft fits for top-remaining NFL free agents, Bears one step closer to leaving Soldier Field, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Winners, losers from the draft: Crafty Colts, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, 10 veteran moves that should happen post-2023 draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Steelers' draft haul one the team hadn't seen in 38 years. Option 2: Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. Soldier Field Gets Glitzy Overhaul (And Much More Food) Basically, the door is now completely open for the Bears to start the process of leaving downtown Chicago, although the process might not get started for another year or two. The options include rebuilding both end zones and enclosing the stadium with a dome; renovating the stadium to make it dome ready; or modifying Soldier Filed into a multi-purpose stadium better suited for its other major sports tenant, the Chicago Fire FC, as well as concerts and other year-round events. Why the Soldier Field Renovations Were a Mistake for the One big downside to Soldier Field is that it's the smallest stadium in the NFL. Back in June, she said the bid for the Arlington land was just a negotiation tactic to get the city to help with the cost of any potential renovations at Soldier Field. The Bears Expand seating from 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats including additional fan activation areas. We expect that the City will find that it is infeasible, whether because of public pushback or potential litigation by us or others.. Mayor Lori Lightfoot today rolled out her vision for the future of Soldier Field and, as expected, constructing a dome over the historic arena is one of the options. She asserts that the team would be at least $1 billion to $1.5 billion better off if it stayed at Soldier Field rather than building a new facility. Still, Lightfoot said she's confident the Bears will give the city's proposal for a domed Soldier Field a chance. "I've seen a couple of reports [of a possible move] but a couple of data points that I think you should be aware of are the Bears have a lease with Soldier Field until 2033 and the NFL doesn't let any teams break their leases," Lightfoot said at the time. Any of these options has enormous potential to spur economic growth for Chicago and contribute to making the Museum Campus a global, year-round destination.. Give your students the gift of international friendships. As part of a The Bears had seven digital video screens installed inside the stadium, including high-definition scoreboards in each end zone, in 2015. I am excited to share these proposals for Soldier Field, said Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman of Mesirow. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | In the afternoon, there will be activities and excursions to practice language skills. Increase the number of traditional suites from 133 to 140. Lightfoot also announced the launch of a website that features more details and photos of the proposed changes. Since I guess I kicked a hornet's nest in Chicago some claritythe Bears' stadium project financing that was approved today by the owners relates back to video boards that went up in 2015, statues built in 2019. ), Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 26, 2021. Plenty of cities have two NFL teams, she said. But, the Chicago Bears aren't convinced. Team president Ted Phillips said the move was all about ensuring a strong future for the Bears. However, the math simply doesn't add up. Landmark Development released a Soldier Field renovation proposal video, showcasing a new dome. Suite 3200 Proponents of the idea boasted that the renovations would add 19 acres of park space along the lake. WebIn 2000, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that Soldier Field would be completely renovated and expanded as part of Chicagos Lakefront Improvement Plan. And a retractable roof would be architecturally challenging, if not impossible. A renovation of Soldier Field about 20 years ago essentially consisted of building a new seating bowl structure within the confines of the original 1924 stadiums outer walls. It reduced the stadiums capacity but gave the Bears many other things they wanted. Chicago, IL 60601 Originally constructed in 1924, Soldier Field has been home to the Bears since 1971. Rendering of a proposal to renovate Soldier Field with a dome and thousands of new seats. Each year, Soldier Field hosts football games, soccer matches, major concerts, international sporting events, and dozens of other events. Melissa Isaacson. As early as 1987, Chicago officials as well as the Bears front office agreed that the lakefront would not be the best place for the Bears to play in the future. "I don't want to speculate and get ahead of ourselves, but we believe in collaboration and shared value and investment," she said. The approval involves financing for the 2015 scoreboard installation and the 2019 videoboard installation near the Walter Payton and George Halas statues. With the team's purchase agreement now in place, Lightfoot might start taking the Bears' threat to leave more seriously, but in reality, it's probably too late for that. And while the city has said that it intends to fight to keep the Bears at Soldier Field, the Bears continue to moved forward in purchasing the site of the former Arlington Rack Track, telling the Daily Herald earlier this month that that "the only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park.". Any time you lose money, its disappointing. Discover another part of the world. During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. No timetable was set for the plan; construction would take three years during off-seasons. Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. However, it makes no sense to spend the money to "improve" the building if the changes won't meet the requirements that the structure needs. I cant let it affect the way I play, Smith said. According to published reports, the Bears' lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, but would require them to pay the city only $84 million in damages if they were to break their lease in 2026, which would likely be the earliest they could expect to build and move into a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Lightfoot said she last talked to Bears chairman George McCaskey two weeks ago and told him about these plans, though she did not say anything about his level of interest. Phase two: Decide to bid for a Super Bowl in five years, while adding only half of the seats needed to reach the minimum requirements. Though after the 2003 renovations were finished, the U.S. government thought the stadium had been changed so much that it was taken off of the National Register of Historic Places. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Dodgers dont need the long ball to finish sweep of Cardinals, Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, School is in session as Sparks begin training camp, The Times final regular-season top 25 baseball rankings. After the event, Lightfoot dodged questions from reporters seeking more details on how the three renovations would be financed and who would pay for them, and when the city would make a decision on which option would be selected. The Bears even went as far as selecting an architect to design a west-side stadium, which would have put three of Chicago's five main sports teams within a few hundred feet of each other. Now, whether hes able to play the whole game or not remains to be seen.. Soldier Field remains an incredible asset for City residents and visitors. If you're going to do something, do it right the first time. One of the largest selling points in the stadium's original renovation was the pitch that the facility will be a "stadium in a park." "Soldier Field must be a year-round destination. "I think that there's no possibility they're not gonna consider this plan. However, none of the options seem likely to convince the Bears to stay in Soldier Field. Lightfoot laid out three options for construction of a dome: The first would fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both end zones with columns that can support a dome structure. He said it was aimed at resolving the often bitter differences the three men have had on a new stadium. Chicago mayor proposes dome for Soldier Field, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Teams set NFL record with 43 trades during draft, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. "What we are doing is making a compelling case for the Bears to stay in Chicago.". But the stadium must be a year-round destination.. Additional measures to provide new amenities include: Photo renderings of proposed options can be found here, These proposed renovations would vastly improve the visitor experience for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans and tourists alike, said Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and member of the Museum Campus Working Group. PHOTOS: Soldier Field through the years - WGN-TV CHICAGO (CBS) -- As the Chicago Bears consider leaving the city for a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Park District officials on Monday unveiled three options for renovating Soldier Field, including a possible dome over the lakefront arena. While the cost of each option must be refined based on a finalized scope, it is anticipated they will range from $900M to $2.2B - significantly less costly than building a new stadium. Single-game tickets then went on sale two weeks ago following the schedule release. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Option 3: Modify Soldier Field to be a multi-purpose stadium better suited for soccer while improving its flexibility to accommodate major concerts and a range of events. Having opened in 1924, with renovations taking place in 2003, Soldier Field is the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer.
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