CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced three proposals for Soldier Field renovations on Monday.
The three proposals range in cost from $900 million to $2.2 billion. Lightfoot’s office said the proposals could save the Chicago Bears between $1 billion – $1.5 billion when compared to building a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
Renderings of the proposed renovations showed plans to rebuild both end zones with massive columns to support construction of a dome over Soldier Field, as well as modifying the facility to be better suited for soccer and major concerts.
The first option is to fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure.
Option two is to rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome-ready, though it does include actually constructing the dome.
The third alternative outlined Monday is to modify Soldier Field to be a multi-purpose stadium, which Lightfoot’s office said would focus on hosting soccer matches, major concerts, and a range of other events.
Earlier this year, Lightfoot put a group together to brainstorm how the 57-acre Museum Campus could look — regardless of whether the Chicago Bears continue to call Soldier Field home.
"We're going to continue discussions with the Bears and will do everything we can to get them to stay," Lightfoot said at Monday's press conference.
In a press release, Lightfoot's office wrote that the proposals would expand seating capacity at Soldier Field from 61,500 to as much as 70,000.
Lightfoot said she was talking with Bears Chairman George McCaskey two weeks ago.
The mayor said that the amount of money that taxpayers will need to pay for the new stadium will depend on whether the Bears choose to stay at Soldier Field, as that decision will impact which proposal moves forward.
The Bears' lease at Soldier Field expires in 2033. The team signed a deal in the fall of 2021 to purchase the old Arlington International Racecourse, and the organization has announced that they are drawing up plans to build a new stadium on the site.
Earlier today, the Bears told the Daily Herald that "the only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park."
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