Here are the released renderings of a proposed "Dome" renovation of Soldier Field released by the Mayor's office today. 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. 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. On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. Rendering of a proposal to renovate Soldier Field with a dome and thousands of new seats. Landing spots for top undrafted free agents: Who signed after Round 7? During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. 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 three potential renovation plans for the iconic stadium, including expanded seat options and the possible addition of a dome. Plan to keep the Bears in Chicago complicated by 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 dome would also turn the stadium into an enclosed, climate-controlled facility for conventions and other events, such as college basketballs Final Four tournament. The mayor also added that she wanted the Bears to focus on more important things, like beating the Packers. 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." 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. Discover another part of the world. 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. Jason S. Parini can be followed on Twitter: @JasonPariniBR, off of the National Register of Historic Places. Host a student! Once a classical Romanesque structure, the stadium now looks as if a giant spaceship landed right in the middle of the playing surface. Smith was fined $5,000 for a hit on Kansas City running back Greg Hill on Aug. 22. Any time you lose money, its disappointing. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at 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. 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. At the center of the proposal is the construction of a domed stadium, which could cost anywhere from $900 million to $2.2 billion. 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. We expect that the City will find that it is infeasible, whether because of public pushback or potential litigation by us or others.. "Our goal is to chart a path forward that allows our team to thrive on the field, Chicagoland to prosper from this endeavor, and the Bears organization to be ensured a strong future.". 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. I am excited to share these proposals for Soldier Field, said Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman of Mesirow. Jim Edgar and Bear President Michael McCaskey only hours before presenting it publicly. 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. Landmark Development released a Soldier Field renovation proposal video, showcasing a new dome. "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. These proposals stem from considerations and recommendations made by the Mayors Museum Campus Working Group. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Soldier Field remains an incredible asset for City residents and visitors. According to a statement released by the team earlier this month, the Arlington Park site is the only site the team is considering for a new stadium. The approval involves financing for the 2015 scoreboard installation and the 2019 videoboard installation near the Walter Payton and George Halas statues. 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 | Plenty of cities have two NFL teams, she said. They also had two sideboards posted along the outside of the stadium by the statues of Halas and Payton. Consider a teacher-led homestay + excursions when planning future trips. Last year he was fined $12,000 for a hit on St. Louis quarterback Chris Miller. Soldier Field renovation Quadruple the food and beverage square footage from 50,000 sq ft to 200,000 sq ft. Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. 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. Each year, Soldier Field hosts football games, soccer matches, major concerts, international sporting events, and dozens of other events. As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or site.. But oddly, it calls for adding only seven new suites, a big money-maker at other sports arenas around the country. One of the subareas of the Working Group was Athletic Facilities, led by Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital, which included focusing on the vision for Soldier Field. 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. 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. 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. 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 renovations It hurts.. Sure, the stadium is a historic landmark. amilies can welcome a foreign student in their home for 2-4 weeks in the summer or 2 weeks during fall, winter, or spring vacations. 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 The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park, that statement said. 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. Dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights. 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. This is clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before," Lightfoot said at the time. / CBS Chicago. 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. Suite 3200 By anchoring a dome on four super columns at the fields endzones, The answer is very clear. 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. Learn more atLearn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. First published on July 25, 2022 / 2:37 PM. 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.". Make international friendships? $50 to park? 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. Single-game tickets then went on sale two weeks ago following the schedule release. Move back to Wrigley Field? 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. Any of the renovations proposed will enhance Soldier Fields ability to generate hundreds of millions of dollars of economic activity for Chicago and be a world-class destination for years to come. In February, Edgar proposed a $465-million project that would add a 72,000-seat domed stadium and expand McCormick Place. 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. Team president Ted Phillips said the move was all about ensuring a strong future for the Bears. You'll now receive the top Bears Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. Dont miss the opportunity. Taxpayers Can't Afford a New Bears Stadium The Illinoize Soldier Field after renovation Soldier Field rehab can proceed despite benefits to the team. 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. Soldier Field 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. Under the first option, the stadium would be enclosed by rebuilding both ends of the stadium with columns that can support a dome. Add six new major club and experiential areas, none of which exist in Soldier Field as it stands today. But even after the renovation, Soldier Field remained the smallest capacity stadium in the NFL an issue Bears leadership has said hamstrings the team. Ticket sales and other revenue from Bears games would pay off the bonds and the Bears portion of the funding. Three concepts for Soldier Field renovations. The Bears will be given time to kick the tires on the citys proposal, but there is no deadline, she said. One of the key elements of the bill is a $3 per person admission tax on all entertainment and sporting events within what the bill calls the Arlington Megaproject to help pay down debt related to the renovation of Soldier Field. However, the math simply doesn't add up. NFL owners approve two Soldier Field renovation projects 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.". 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. Give your students the gift of international friendships. The second would require both end zones to be rebuilt with columns to make the stadium dome-ready. "All options include major programmatic changes and concourse space improvements and, most importantly, preserve historical components of Soldier Field including the colonnades," the city said. The mayor's office estimated the costs of the three options would range from $900 million to $2.2 billion. Frankly speaking, the current Soldier Field is an architectural mistake. PHOTOS: Soldier Field through the years - WGN-TV 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Everything else is noise.". Quadruple the food and beverage square footage from 50,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. The proposal includes the idea of building a dome over Soldier Field so it could be used year-round, along with removing Burnham Harbor and replacing it with parking floating pavilions. Giving the Bears the opportunity to possibly sell naming rights to the stadium was also floated. All Rights Reserved. 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 approval involves financing 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. Option 2: Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. on This Day - Soldier Field | History, Events, Renovation, & Facts | Britan In anticipation of the Bears buying the property, the Arlington Heights village boardapproved a zoning change in June that will allow a football stadium to be built on the land, which is currently occupied by a horse racing track.

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