They might be closer than ever. 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. The three options were recommended by a working group the mayor put together to come up with plans for the future of the Museum Campus on the lakefront, after the Bears last year signed a purchase agreement for the former Arlington International Racecourse site in Arlington Heights. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Please check your email for a confirmation. This is clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before," Lightfoot said at the time. Im more than willing to take a look at his proposal and see if its doable and hes indicated hes willing to take a look at other options too, Edgar said. Once a classical Romanesque structure, the stadium now looks as if a giant spaceship landed right in the middle of the playing surface. But the stadium must be a year-round destination.. By anchoring a dome on four super columns at the fields endzones, The answer is very clear. Create more flexible event space and multi-purpose venues including up to 4 venues with capacity ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 or more. July 25, 2022 / 9:15 PM The dome would also turn the stadium into an enclosed, climate-controlled facility for conventions and other events, such as college basketballs Final Four tournament. Option two calls for rebuilding both ends of the stadiums with columns that could support a dome, but not actually constructing it. Rendering of a proposal to renovate Soldier Field with a dome and thousands of new seats. The Working Group was chaired by Richard Price, Executive Chairman of Mesirow. While clearly some members of (Lightfoots) Reimagining the Lakefront Working Group worked closely with the mayor to devise this plan, Friends of the Parks was not invited to be part of any vetting of actual plans for a dome at any time, even though it was a member of the group, Juanita Irizarry said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The stadium, which was built in 1924, only seats 61,500 and due to spacial constraints, it's unlikely that number could ever be expanded by much. 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Chicago, IL 60601 Sure, the stadium is a historic landmark. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In an email, team Executive Vice President Scott Hagel said the team would stand by its statement of July 7, when Lightfoots lakefront panel first urged that she consider a dome. In the event that 10,000 cars parked at the game, the Bears would make a whopping half a million dollars off of parking alone for one game. The Bears had seven digital video screens installed inside the stadium, including high-definition scoreboards in each end zone, in 2015. "What we are doing is making a compelling case for the Bears to stay in Chicago.". He said it was aimed at resolving the often bitter differences the three men have had on a new stadium. As Chicago looks to keep the Bears playing at Soldier Field, with the team currently considering a new stadium outside the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has unveiled Lightfoot also announced the launch of a website that features more details and photos of the proposed changes. Landmark Development released a video on Sunday providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete remodel. Based on that, Soldier Field can transition to becoming a dome, Dunn said. 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. By choosing the option of a retractable roof and thus an indoor/outdoor facility, the city would possibly be in a better position to host events such as the Super Bowl, college bowl games and even events such as the NCAA Final Four while keeping their home field advantage in the cold weather. Seriously? May 27, 2021 7:20 am CT On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park, that statement said. It would be foolish not to," she said. 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 | She didnt mention that the Bears would own an Arlington Heights facility but would be a tenant of the Chicago Park District at Soldier Field. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Building their own stadium also would give them full control over their home arena, rather than having to rely on a lease with the Park District for Soldier Field. Last year, Edgar and McCaskey rejected Daleys proposal to renovate the stadium. All three options would preserve the stadium's iconic colonnades, while expanding capacity from 61,500 seats to 70,000 seats. Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. Just ten years removed from the extensive $660 million renovations of the historic stadium, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has already begun to explore the option of altering Soldier Field once again. The centerpiece is a dome, made of steel and translucent plastic, that would slide over the top of the grass playing field in bad weather. Any time you lose money, its disappointing. Of course, that's not exactly true. Who would pay for it? However, none of the options seem likely to convince the Bears to stay in Soldier Field. A renovation of Soldier Field in 2004 cost $690 million,according to theChicago Tribune, and a renovation now would likely cost even more. Originally constructed in 1924, Soldier Field has been home to the Bears since 1971. As part of a nearly $400 million reconstruction project, the majority of Soldier Field was demolished with the exception of the exterior. The new Soldier Field broke ground on January 19, 2002. In just 20 months, the shortest construction time for a modern day stadium on record, the Project was completed. Soldier Field was built in 1924, and was originally named Municipal Grant Park Stadium. WebSoldier Field is located in the Near South Side of Chicago. LIghtfoot was asked about the lease back in May and she seemed pretty convinced that the Bears wouldn't be able to get out of it. In September, the Bears took a step toward leaving historic Soldier Field when they signed a $197.2 million purchase and sale agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. for the 326-acre Arlington Park property in suburban Arlington Heights after the track, which has hosted thoroughbred racing since 1927, was put up for sale. Linebacker Gary Plummer is ready to return to the San Francisco 49ers after sitting out the first two games while recovering from a broken left wrist. But should they choose to leave, Soldier Field will continue to be a premier multipurpose venue that is able to host an array of important and exciting events.". "We have informed the City of Chicago that we intend to honor our contractual commitments as we continue our due diligence and predevelopment activities on the Arlington Heights property. 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. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. But should Bears choose to stay in our city, Soldier Field will be a top 10 tier stadium with a number of new features. Proceeds from the $3 admission tax would go to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. "I don't want to speculate and get ahead of ourselves, but we believe in collaboration and shared value and investment," she said. Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. WebIn 2000, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that Soldier Field would be completely renovated and expanded as part of Chicagos Lakefront Improvement Plan. According to the mayor's office, the plans also would increase the number of luxury suites from 133 to 140; add six new club areas; quadruple concessions areas from 50,000 to 200,000 square feet; expand the opportunity for stadium naming rights and other sponsorships, and create more flexible event space, with up to 4 separate venues, with capacity ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 seats. For gosh sakes, what is phase three going to be? 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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. The second would require both end zones to be rebuilt with columns to make the stadium dome-ready. Phase one: Reduce the overall capacity of Soldier Field while destroying its historic image and forcing it off of the National Register of Historic Places. Under the first option, the stadium would be enclosed by rebuilding both ends of the stadium with columns that can support a dome. 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. Dont miss the opportunity. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed three proposals on Monday for renovations to Soldier Field to entice the Bears to remain at their home stadium of the past 50 years. "It's important to note that each of these scenarios will allow us to continue benefitting from Soldier Field regardless of whether or not the Bears choose to stay or go - and of course we hope that they choose to stay. Gene Washington, the NFLs director of football development, ruled the play by Smith unnecessary roughness, although no penalty was called and Hill was not hurt. However, other analyses of the plan point out that the actual park space is only half of that. It might happen at a used car lot. "And like most Bears fans, we want the organization to focus on putting a winning team on the field, beating the Packers finally and being relevant past October. News. / CBS Chicago. Immersion Homestays and Study Abroad programs Summer, Semester, or School Year. Daley and construction officials said there is no other retractable roof like it in sports stadiums. 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. 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.". Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. Our $3 head tax would go strictly to the city of Chicago, said Moylan. 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. Click below to see everything we have to offer. The Chicago Bears have been trying to leave Soldier Field for 50 years. 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. The Bears said Monday that they stood by their previous statement in response to Lightfoot's proposal. Its the oldest stadium in both the NFL and MLS.Known as the Stadium in a Park, Soldier Field is a 17-acre site Increase the number of traditional suites from 133 to 140. Just ten years removed from the extensive $660 million renovations of the Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002. Expand seating from 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats including additional fan activation areas. "What's also important Soldier Field remains a highly desired venue by many other sports activities, music and more," she said. Friends of the Parks perspective on a possible dome remains the same. Perhaps a retractable roof would have even been a better solution. CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced proposals for renovations of Soldier Field, a crown jewel of both Chicago and our celebrated lakefront Museum Campus. Soldier Field, part of Chicago's 57-acre iconic Museum Campus that's also home to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, is one of the smallest National Football League stadiums in the country. 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. The time to travel and study abroad is now! There are three possible renovations for the If you're going to do something, do it right the first time. All rights reserved, Pat McAfee Against City Putting a Dome Over Soldier Field, Former Bears Kicker Robbie Gould Supports Bears' Departing Soldier Field, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? It also would allow them to reap the full benefits of stadium naming rights, as well as any other events held at a team-owned arena, such as concerts. Lightfooot said she hopes the Bears will stay. "I think that there's no possibility they're not gonna consider this plan. Earlier this month, the Museum Campus Working Group published its report, Where Worlds Connect, detailing key analysis and recommendations to enhance the Museum Campus. Option 2: At a news conference, Lightfoot, as Crains previously reported, laid out three options: Add the dome; do extensive rehab work that would make the facility dome ready; and repurpose the field with the expectation that the Chicago Bears are leaving for a new stadium in Arlington Heights. It sounds like the Bears will be welcoming fans back at Soldier Field in full capacity for the 2021 season, as theyre already one of 30 teams thathave approval for full capacity stadiums to begin the preseason. 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. And now, as Chicagoans may be coming to realize, it can also happen when your mayor signs off on a massive public subsidy to rebuild a stadium on the Rehab foes win court round; city warns of delays. Heres What A Soldier Field Dome Could Look Like Under Mayo Perhaps the Bears should have followed through with their plan to leave the lakefront. Students live with a host family and attend classes on a daily basis. However, the math simply doesn't add up. But the Bears have a lease at Soldier Field through 2033. Plummer worked with the first-team defense at practice this week, and will be back in action Sept. 22 against Carolina after San Franciscos bye week. Earlier this month, the Bears confirmed they would be welcoming fans back to Soldier Field, but they had not issued any limits on capacity at that time. 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 corporate sponsorships are on the table. 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. SoldierFieldParking.com advertises that parking is available at Burnham Harbor and the Adler Planetarium for $50, though prices are subject to change without notice. Click here to get the full experience on your screen. The Chicago Tribune did some digging back in July and found that the Bears would be able to get out of the lease in 2026 by paying a penaltyof $84 million. In February, Edgar proposed a $465-million project that would add a 72,000-seat domed stadium and expand McCormick Place. Enclosed walkways would connect the stadium with the McCormick Place convention center on the Lake Michigan waterfront. Discover another part of the world. https://t.co/7pm7mLtCOc. Many options were explored for the Bears, including a brand new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights as well as a new stadium just to the south side of Chicago Stadium on the city's West Side. 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. "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. Both Edgar and McCaskey said they needed to examine the plan more closely, but their responses suggested that for the first time the three men have found some common ground. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It also discusses the possibility of quadrupling the amount of food and beverage space in the field to 200,000 square feet. I cant let it affect the way I play, Smith said. Landmark Development released a Soldier Field renovation proposal video, showcasing a new dome. This plan is essentially the same, with a few major additions. Expand seating from 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats including additional fan activation areas. CHICAGO (WLS) -- As section: | slug: bears-one-step-closer-to-ditching-downtown-chicago-after-making-major-land-purchase-35-miles-outside-of-city | sport: football | route: article_single.us | The state is swimming in debt and may be helping the Sports Facilities Authority dig out of its Soldier Field hole for some time. Three concepts for Soldier Field renovations. I am excited to share these proposals for Soldier Field, said Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman of Mesirow. This expert team has done an impressive job bringing these three options to life, said Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital. "Soldier Field must be a year-round destination. 130 E. Randolph St. Option 1: Fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure. Jim Edgar and Bear President Michael McCaskey only hours before presenting it publicly. 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. In 1994, Smith was fined $8,000 for fighting with Tampa Bays Tyji Armstrong. Want to discover the world? Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed three proposals on Monday for renovations to Soldier Field to entice the Bears to remain at their home stadium of the last 50 years. Dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights. Background papers distributed by the mayors press office indicate the stadium would be expanded to up to 70,000 seats, from 61,500 now. First published on July 25, 2022 / 2:37 PM. 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. All options include major programmatic changes and concourse space improvements and, most importantly, preserve historical components of Soldier Field including the colonnades. 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Price, executive chairman of Mesirow who chaired the Working Group that generated the analysis and recommendations for Museum Campus unveiled by the city earlier this year, said in a statement. As I have said numerous times, our door in City Hall remains open. No timetable was set for the plan; construction would take three years during off-seasons. Under the first option, the stadium would be enclosed by rebuilding both ends of the stadium with columns that can support a dome. Over several months, the Athletic Facilities subgroup met with experts to understand the current market, national and international competition from other event venues, and what Soldier Field needs to become a best-in-class visitor experience.