CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday announced three proposals for Soldier Field renovations.
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 three proposals range in cost from $900 million to $2.2 billion. The proposals could save the Chicago Bears between $1 billion and $1.5 billion when compared to building a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Lightfoot's office said. The Bears are currently exploring a move to that northwest suburb after signing a purchase and sale agreement with Churchill Downs Incorporated last fall for the 326-acre Arlington Park.
The first option for Soldier Field is to fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both end zones with columns that can support a dome structure.
The second option is to rebuild both end zones 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 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 a press conference Monday.
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 indicated she talked with Bears chairman George McCaskey two weeks ago.
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, Lightfoot said, as that decision will impact which proposal moves forward.
The Bears' lease at Soldier Field expires in 2033, but they could break the lease for $84 million as early as 2026, the Tribune has previously reported.
The Bears' full focus continues to be on moving forward with developing plans for a stadium at Arlington Park, the team told 670 The Score recently.
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