Anyone planning on commuting to the stadium for a Bears game is in for a stressful experience. Friends of the Parks perspective on a possible dome remains the same. 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. 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 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. The approval involves financing for the 2015 scoreboard installation and the 2019 videoboard installation near the Walter Payton and George Halas statues. By anchoring a dome on four super columns at the fields endzones, The answer is very clear. Daley said the renovation would be financed with $175 million from the Bears, $160 million in taxes on hotel stays and restaurant meals in Chicago, and $60 million from Soldier Field revenue bonds. 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. 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." Option 2: Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. Lightfoot said that while the renovations will benefit the historic venue, regardless of the team's decision to stay or go, it could save the team more than $1 billion when compared to the cost of building a new stadium. E-mail oureditor 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. Led by Landmark Development and its president, Bob Dunn, this team of stadium engineers, designers, and financial experts with deep NFL experience has not only developed options which maximize the existing footprint of Soldier Field but also debunked the previously-held assumption that Soldier Field cannot be domed. In 1994, Smith was fined $8,000 for fighting with Tampa Bays Tyji Armstrong. 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. Students live with a host family and attend classes on a daily basis. With the purchase agreement now in place, the Bears will now soon be the proud owners of a 326-acre piece of land that will easily fit any new stadium design they might have in mind. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. "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. The Arlington Park site, which is 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, could be the site of a new stadium for the Bears in the future. 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. 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. The state is swimming in debt and may be helping the Sports Facilities Authority dig out of its Soldier Field hole for some time. But oddly, it calls for adding only seven new suites, a big money-maker at other sports arenas around the country. 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. It also discusses the possibility of quadrupling the amount of food and beverage space in the field to 200,000 square feet. Melissa Isaacson. Host a student! Here's What We Know So Far, This 28-Year-Old Pays $62 a Month to Live in a Dumpster He Built for $5,000Take a Look Inside, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', Mayor Lori Lightfoot Asks Texas Gov. As part of a It hurts.. In the afternoon, there will be activities and excursions to practice language skills. 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. Last year he was fined $12,000 for a hit on St. Louis quarterback Chris Miller. Just ten years removed from the extensive $660 million renovations of the CHICAGO (WLS) -- As 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. Three concepts for Soldier Field renovations. Soldier Field was built in 1924, and was originally named Municipal Grant Park Stadium. "An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience," Lightfoot said in a statement. The estimated costs for each option have not been finalized yet, but the city said they are expected to range between $900 million and $2.2 billion. Each year, Soldier Field hosts football games, soccer matches, major concerts, international sporting events, and dozens of other events. "I think that there's no possibility they're not gonna consider this plan. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Greg Abbott to Stop Bussing Migrants to Chicago. 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. WebIn 2000, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that Soldier Field would be completely renovated and expanded as part of Chicagos Lakefront Improvement Plan. On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. 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. Despite the fact that the Bears have one foot out the door at Soldier Field, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote on Tuesday night that she is committed to keeping the Bears in her city. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! Seriously? 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. 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. 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. As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or site.. The base has 38 barracks buildings with six under renovation, Gardner 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. New proposals for Soldier Field's potential renovations have been released. Yet another reason why the original plan wasn't so great. Add six new major club and experiential areas. Quadruple the food and beverage square footage from 50,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. Landmark Development released a Soldier Field renovation proposal video, showcasing a new dome. The second would require both end zones to be rebuilt with columns to make the stadium dome-ready. In a statement on Monday, a Bears spokesman said the only option the franchise is interested in exploring for a new stadium is the Arlington Park site. But should Bears choose to stay in our city, Soldier Field will be a top 10 tier stadium with a number of new features. The Bears Create more flexible event space and multi-purpose venues including up to four venues with capacity ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 or more. 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. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and are an important tool for ending the global pandemic. Once a classical Romanesque structure, the stadium now looks as if a giant spaceship landed right in the middle of the playing surface. "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. If you're going to do something, do it right the first time. During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. Chicago, IL 60601 Last year, Edgar and McCaskey rejected Daleys proposal to renovate the stadium. 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. 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. As I have said numerous times, our door in City Hall remains open. 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 structure itself isn't the only problem with the current state of Soldier Field. Make international friendships? The Bears said in June that they made a bid for the land because they wanted to explore the possibility of building a new stadium there. Perhaps a retractable roof would have even been a better solution. However, other analyses of the plan point out that the actual park space is only half of that. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. $50 to park? "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. Of course, that's not exactly true. 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. 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. Even before Lightfoot spoke, however, there were signs of how difficult pulling off a major stadium renovation on the lakefront will be. "This announcement from the Bears comes in the midst of negotiations for improvements at Soldier Field. 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. However, the math simply doesn't add up. 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. Option three calls for modifying the field to be a multi-purpose stadium better suited for soccer while improving its flexibility to accommodate major concerts and a range of events., Standing between two screens with blurry images of the three stadium options, Lightfoot said they want a tier one stadium environment to maximize revenues and we agree.. / CBS Chicago. 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. Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. "Not surprisingly, we are doing what we believe is making a compelling case for the Chicago Bears to stay in Chicago. The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick, From trade request to 5-year extension: Answering the biggest questions about Lamar Jackson's new deal, Bears put in bid to buy Arlington Int'l Racecourse, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. Team president Ted Phillips said the move was all about ensuring a strong future for the Bears. "I don't want to speculate and get ahead of ourselves, but we believe in collaboration and shared value and investment," she said. Soldier will never be what it once was thanks to the flying saucer permanently residing in the middle of the classic building. Please enter valid email address to continue. Who would pay for it? 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. Believe it or not, the stadium actually lost 5,000 seats when the Bears and Chicago renovated the landmark in 2003. 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. "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.". Increase the number of traditional suites from 133 to 140. Enclosed walkways would connect the stadium with the McCormick Place convention center on the Lake Michigan waterfront. Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. All Rights Reserved. Suite 3200 These proposals stem from considerations and recommendations made by the Mayors Museum Campus Working Group. He said it was aimed at resolving the often bitter differences the three men have had on a new stadium. 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. Landmark Development released a video on Sunday providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete remodel. It would be foolish not to," she said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies: How to watch, start times and betting odds, Elliott: Pissed off Kings must improve in key areas to break Oilers playoff stranglehold, Shohei Ohtanis seventh home run of the season helps Angels avoid sweep, Florida Panthers upset record-setting Boston Bruins in Game 7 OT thriller. However, none of the options seem likely to convince the Bears to stay in Soldier Field. ), 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. Rendering of a proposal to renovate Soldier Field with a dome and thousands of new seats. It might happen at a used car lot. Dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights. Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. If youve ever dreamed of living and studying abroad or hosting a student, dont let anything stand in your way. Even with the addition of 5,000 new seats, the capacity would still be under the NFL's minimum capacity of 70,000 required to host a Super Bowl. "As a season-ticket holder and longtime Bears fan, I am committed to keeping the 'Chicago' name in our football team," Lightfoot said. For gosh sakes, what is phase three going to be? Soldier Field remains an incredible asset for City residents and visitors. 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. Proceeds from the $3 admission tax would go to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. This plan is essentially the same, with a few major additions. Jason S. Parini can be followed on Twitter: @JasonPariniBR, off of the National Register of Historic Places. 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. 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 | "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. Its the oldest stadium in both the NFL and MLS.Known as the Stadium in a Park, Soldier Field is a 17-acre site Missing Crain's in print? 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. Improve your language skills? 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. 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. Spend a semester or a school year abroad with a host family and attend high school classes. ", The proposal also would expand seating at Soldier Field from 61,500 seats to 70,000, increase the number of suites from 133 to 140 and quadruple the food and beverage space from 50,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. Despite the lack of details on the deal and whether it would be palatable to taxpayers, Lightfoot said the Bears would be foolish not to consider the offer and hinted the same deal is on the table for any other team looking to move. 'Soldier Field must be a year-round destination,' Mayor Lightfoot says. Heres What A Soldier Field Dome Could Look Like Under Mayo In February, Edgar proposed a $465-million project that would add a 72,000-seat domed stadium and expand McCormick Place. 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. Option 2: The Bears announced on Wednesday that they have entered a purchase agreement to buy the Arlington International Racecourse property, which is located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb that sits roughly 35 miles outside of downtown Chicago. Smith was fined $5,000 for a hit on Kansas City running back Greg Hill on Aug. 22. LIghtfoot has spent the past several months downplaying the possibility of the Bears leaving downtown Chicago. 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. Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. The initial announcement regarding a Chicago stadium project had many fans wondering if a potential move to Arlington Heights an always popular rumor given Arlington International Racecourse is for sale was about to ramp up. 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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