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. Still, Lightfoot said she's confident the Bears will give the city's proposal for a domed Soldier Field a chance. 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. Missing Crain's in print? Once a classical Romanesque structure, the stadium now looks as if a giant spaceship landed right in the middle of the playing surface. 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. Soldier Field Gets Glitzy Overhaul (And Much More Food) https://t.co/7pm7mLtCOc. That land acquisition could close by as soon as early 2023. 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! "I don't want to speculate and get ahead of ourselves, but we believe in collaboration and shared value and investment," she said. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Soldier Field remains an incredible asset for City residents and visitors. Soldier will never be what it once was thanks to the flying saucer permanently residing in the middle of the classic building. 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.". 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 | Originally constructed in 1924, Soldier Field has been home to the Bears since 1971. 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. "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. 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. on This Day - Soldier Field | History, Events, Renovation, & Facts | Britan 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. Landmark Development released a video on Sunday providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete remodel. 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. 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. Daley previewed his plan for Gov. 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. Enclosed walkways would connect the stadium with the McCormick Place convention center on the Lake Michigan waterfront. ", 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. 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. Make international friendships? 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Lightfoot also announced the launch of a website that features more details and photos of the proposed changes.