Soldier Field is in for a massive overhaul to address complaints the Bears have logged against the stadium. These proposed enhancements include a translucent glass dome, and a full redesign, expanded seating options, and a bustling entertainment center per designer Bob Dunn and the Landmark Chicago team.
The iconic row of columns would now include food and beverage booths along with glass walls to showcase the field and city skyline. Plans for the new stadium would also increase capacity to 70,000 seats from the previous 61,500, along with expanding private suites and ramping up food and beverage options to cover 200,000 square feet from its current 50,000.
Outside of the stadium, developers plan to fill the surrounding South Loop area with restaurants and entertainment along with adding a transportation hub for CTA, Metra, and Amtrak. The Reimagine Soldier Field Coalition has proposed a transit hub with a $3.8-billion-dollar ONE Central Station, which would include CTA, Metra and Amtrak access along with a people mover Chi-Line. By adding spaces like a food hall, museums and music venues to the area along with the increased capacity, it would potentially draw crowds to the area not only on game day.
It seems likely that the Bears are still planning to move to Arlington Heights as the team looks to complete a purchase-and-sale agreement they signed in September 2021. In buying Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs for $197 million, the team officials want to move ahead with developing the 326-acres into a bustling entertainment district, and a state of the art domed stadium in a $5 billion project– which would require taxpayer funding.
Keep scrolling for a look at additional renderings below.
