With the Chicago Bears trimming their choices for a future stadium home to a plot of land across state lines in Hammond, Ind., and the Arlington Park property in Chicago’s northern suburbs, the future of Soldier Field is up in the air. It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — Soldier Field still has tremendous potential despite the fact that football team that has made the lakefront stadium its home since 1971 has one foot out the door.
In an exclusive at FOX-32, Paris Schutz has details of the Chicago Park District’s pitch for what to do with Soldier Field after the Bears leave. The $630 million plan to turn the stadium into a major venue for concerts and other events is an eye-opening one. And it serves as a reminder of how valuable that bit of property in the heart of Museum Campus. Hey, just because the NFL won’t have 8-14 events there every year doesn’t mean Soldier Field can’t still be a money-making venue.
Bears QB Caleb Williams runs onto Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesWhat Soldier FIeld’s Future Might Look Like Once the Bears Leave
Some highlights from Schutz’s reporting:
FOLLOW THE MONEY, PART I: The $630 million number is eye-catching, but the breakdown of the potential cash spending is certainly intriguing. It includes $130 million in stadium renovations that would include a new sound system and dressing rooms. But it would also feature nearly half a billion dollars worth of investments to improve surrounding infrastructure, traffic management, and parking. Along those lines, the Chicago Park District sounds prepared to pitch Illinois lawmarkers on a package that would feature money from the state’s road fund (which is paid for by fuel taxes). FOLLOW THE MONEY, PART II: Schutz cites Park District officials, who note that a chunk of the costs for this Soldier Field project could be covered by the Bears, who owe a reported $90 million if the team breaks its lease. Back in 2021, it was reported that the estimated cost to the Bears for breaking their lease in 2026 was $84 million. Now that we’re in 2026, I’m curious to see how this portion of things shakes out. THE QUOTE: “The future of Soldier Field is very bright, with or without the Bears,” said former Chicago Park District CEO David Doig, who negotiated the current Bears lease with the district and now runs the non-profit Center for Neighborhood Initiatives. “There’s an opportunity for more concerts, special events, and the additional concerts will more than cover that revenue loss.”A COLLECTION OF BEARS STADIUM THOUGHTS
It feels worth noting here that there are limitations to how many concerts Soldier Field can host because of how the Park District’s contract with the team prohibits stadium use for non-Bears events within five days of scheduled home games. On the surface, the Bears leaving town could open the stadium site to be used more often throughout the year.
Plus, it is also possible that the downtown location could be seen as an advantage in the quest to attract high-profile concerts. A big, shiny new dome will have its set of perks. But a centralized location that artists and promoters are already familiar with has its own.
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In the end, I look forward to seeing what happens with Soldier Field in the future. There was a time when I thought that lakefront property would be a perfect spot for a future home of the Chicago White Sox if they were ever to leave Comiskey Park U.S. Cellular Field their current stadium. And maybe it could still be one day. But I do like the idea of a souped-up downtown concert and events center that Chicagoans can enjoy.
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