In an email, team Executive Vice President Scott Hagel said the team would stand by its statement of July 7, when Lightfoots lakefront panel first urged that she consider a dome. section: | slug: bears-one-step-closer-to-ditching-downtown-chicago-after-making-major-land-purchase-35-miles-outside-of-city | sport: football | route: article_single.us | "This announcement from the Bears comes in the midst of negotiations for improvements at Soldier Field. 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. 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. Single-game tickets then went on sale two weeks ago following the schedule release. The mayor's office estimated the costs of the three options would range from $900 million to $2.2 billion. Any of these options has enormous potential to spur economic growth for Chicago and contribute to making the Museum Campus a global, year-round destination.. If you're going to do something, do it right the first time. Phase two: Decide to bid for a Super Bowl in five years, while adding only half of the seats needed to reach the minimum requirements. Option 2: Create more flexible event space and multi-purpose venues including up to 4 venues with capacity ranging from 5,000 to 60,000 or more. Soldier will never be what it once was thanks to the flying saucer permanently residing in the middle of the classic building. Option 1: Fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure. 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. Landing spots for top undrafted free agents: Who signed after Round 7? Were counting on his playing in this game, Coach George Seifert said. Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. 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. However, given the fact that the stadium has little space to expand or change, it's unlikely to find a simple and cost-effective solution to the dilemma at hand. Give your students the gift of international friendships. 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. An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience, said Mayor Lightfoot. 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. Yet another reason why the original plan wasn't so great. According to a statement released by the team earlier this month, the Arlington Park site is the only site the team is considering for a new stadium. Just ten years removed from the extensive $660 million renovations of the historic stadium, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has already begun to explore the option of altering Soldier Field once again. Landmark Development released a video on Sunday providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete remodel. We expect that the City will find that it is infeasible, whether because of public pushback or potential litigation by us or others.. Any time you lose money, its disappointing. 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. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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.. She didnt mention that the Bears would own an Arlington Heights facility but would be a tenant of the Chicago Park District at Soldier Field. In the meantime, we remain committed to fulfilling our Permit Operating Agreement (POA) at Soldier Field.". "Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction," Phillips said in a statement. If youve ever dreamed of living and studying abroad or hosting a student, dont let anything stand in your way. 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. Lightfoot laid out three options for construction of a dome: The first would fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both end zones with columns that can support a dome structure. Who would pay for it? 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. 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. Add six new major club and experiential areas. Jets' Aaron Rodgers expects a 'heaven' and 'hell' relationship with Zach Wilson, Top picks Christian Gonzalez, Keion White reflect Patriots' ideal identity, Big takeaways from the NFL draft: A historic QB class, the rebuilt AFC South and new GMs thriving, XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades, Bijan Robinson shares that this is his second stint with the Falcons. One potential wrench that stands in the way of a move to Arlington Heights for the Bears is the fact that the team has a lease at Soldier Field that runs through the 2033 season. Here are the released renderings of a proposed "Dome" renovation of Soldier Field released by the Mayor's office today. 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.. 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. On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. 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 | In 1994, Smith was fined $8,000 for fighting with Tampa Bays Tyji Armstrong. Advertisement Initial reaction to the Each year, Soldier Field hosts football games, soccer matches, major concerts, international sporting events, and dozens of other events. 130 E. Randolph St. However, it makes no sense to spend the money to "improve" the building if the changes won't meet the requirements that the structure needs. Believe it or not, the stadium actually lost 5,000 seats when the Bears and Chicago renovated the landmark in 2003. 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. Perhaps a retractable roof would have even been a better solution. Plenty of cities have two NFL teams, she said. Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. 'Soldier Field must be a year-round destination,' Mayor Lightfoot says. In Chicago, meanwhile, two architects who worked on Soldier Fields $660 million renovation bankrolled by bonds that wont be fully repaid until 2032 said only modest expansion is possible at the 61,500-seat stadium, the NFLs smallest. Daley previewed his plan for Gov. Suite 3200 Jim Edgar and Bear President Michael McCaskey only hours before presenting it publicly. 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. Perhaps the Bears should have followed through with their plan to leave the lakefront. Team president Ted Phillips said the move was all about ensuring a strong future for the Bears. 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 The Bears wouldn't have bid on the property in Arlington Heights if they weren't serious about moving and now that they have the land, it won't be surprising if they're playing there before the end of the decade. "I don't want to speculate and get ahead of ourselves, but we believe in collaboration and shared value and investment," she said. Immersion Homestays and Study Abroad programs Summer, Semester, or School Year. Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. Greg Abbott to Stop Bussing Migrants to Chicago. 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. 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. 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. 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! / CBS Chicago. 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. 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. Phase one: Reduce the overall capacity of Soldier Field while destroying its historic image and forcing it off of the National Register of Historic Places. WebIn 2000, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that Soldier Field would be completely renovated and expanded as part of Chicagos Lakefront Improvement Plan. Quadruple the food and beverage square footage from 50,000 sq ft to 200,000 sq ft. Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. Option two calls for rebuilding both ends of the stadiums with columns that could support a dome, but not actually constructing it. 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. Lightfoot did not say much about how the cost of the workestimated at $900 million to $2.2 billionwould be funded, though stadium naming rights and 22 other This expert team has done an impressive job bringing these three options to life, said Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital. The proposal includes the idea of building a dome over Soldier Field so it could be used year-round, along with removing Burnham Harbor and replacing it with parking floating pavilions. Giving the Bears the opportunity to possibly sell naming rights to the stadium was also floated. New proposals for Soldier Field's potential renovations have been released. Friends of the Parks perspective on a possible dome remains the same. Expand seating from 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats including additional fan activation areas. In May, construction will finish on another building and allow the number of soldiers living doubled up to drop to about 50. Click here to get the full experience on your screen. Proponents of the idea boasted that the renovations would add 19 acres of park space along the lake. "Soldier Field must be a year-round destination. They also had two sideboards posted along the outside of the stadium by the statues of Halas and Payton. Lightfoot declined to say how much of the potential $2.2 billion tab the city is prepared to pay for. Unfortunately for the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bears, no one ever told them that. "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. In the afternoon, there will be activities and excursions to practice language skills. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I cant let it affect the way I play, Smith said. 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. $50 to park? Each of the proposals would create not only an exceptional experience for fans and concertgoers but would also enhance the public amenities for the entire Museum Campus.. "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.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Enclosed walkways would connect the stadium with the McCormick Place convention center on the Lake Michigan waterfront. Chicago mayor proposes dome for Soldier Field, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Teams set NFL record with 43 trades during draft, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. One of the subareas of the Working Group was Athletic Facilities, led by Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital, which included focusing on the vision for Soldier Field. Seriously? Ideally, the Bears and Chicago will find a way to expand the stadium without making it even more of an eyesore than it already is. 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. ), 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. Aside from whether or not the proposed dome would be enough to convince the Bears to say, the mayor's proposal does not answer another important question. The Bears had seven digital video screens installed inside the stadium, including high-definition scoreboards in each end zone, in 2015. Soldier Field was built in 1924, and was originally named Municipal Grant Park Stadium. 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. Missing Crain's in print? "It's important to note that each of these scenarios will allow us to continue benefitting from Soldier Field regardless of whether or not the Bears choose to stay or go - and of course we hope that they choose to stay. According to the Chicago Sun Times, they received a spreadsheet from the working group on the ideas they have for renovations to the field. Click below to see everything we have to offer. But should Bears choose to stay in our city, Soldier Field will be a top 10 tier stadium with a number of new features. Expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights. "Not surprisingly, we are doing what we believe is making a compelling case for the Chicago Bears to stay in Chicago. With the team's purchase agreement now in place, Lightfoot might start taking the Bears' threat to leave more seriously, but in reality, it's probably too late for that. Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. May 27, 2021 7:20 am CT On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. As part of a Plummer suffered the wrist fracture in the exhibition opener against Denver, and the injury brought an end to his playing streak of 133 consecutive regular-season games dating to 1987, when he was with San Diego. Consider a teacher-led homestay + excursions when planning future trips. Expand seating from 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats including additional fan activation areas. 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. "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. Heres What A Soldier Field Dome Could Look Like Under Mayo Arlington Heights has an entire city budget of under $200 million with sky high property taxes to begin with. But the stadium must be a year-round destination.. All rights reserved, Pat McAfee Against City Putting a Dome Over Soldier Field, Former Bears Kicker Robbie Gould Supports Bears' Departing Soldier Field, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? It would be foolish not to," she said. Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. The company that previously owned the property, Churchill Downs,announced on Wednesday that the $197.2 million sale isn't expected to be finalized until late 2022 or early 2023. "As a season-ticket holder and longtime Bears fan, I am committed to keeping the 'Chicago' name in our football team," Lightfoot said. But oddly, it calls for adding only seven new suites, a big money-maker at other sports arenas around the country. on This Day - Soldier Field | History, Events, Renovation, & Facts | Britan 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. And now, as Chicagoans may be coming to realize, it can also happen when your mayor signs off on a massive public subsidy to rebuild a stadium on the Rehab foes win court round; city warns of delays. Lightfoot did not say much about how the cost of the workestimated at $900 million to $2.2 billionwould be funded, though stadium naming rights and 22 other corporate sponsorships are on the table. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 Earlier this month, the Bears confirmed they would be welcoming fans back to Soldier Field, but they had not issued any limits on capacity at that time. An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience, said Mayor Lightfoot. 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. Adding new amenities to Soldier Field for private events and public use will support the Museum Campus and the entire city of Chicago, and drive vital revenue and job growth for our citys small and mid-size business community.. Daley and construction officials said there is no other retractable roof like it in sports stadiums. Basically, the door is now completely open for the Bears to start the process of leaving downtown Chicago, although the process might not get started for another year or two. Mayor Lori Lightfoot today rolled out her vision for the future of Soldier Field and, as expected, constructing a dome over the historic arena is one of the options. "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. Proceeds from the $3 admission tax would go to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. Proceeds from the $3 admission tax would go to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. WebSoldier Field is located in the Near South Side of Chicago. 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 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. Still, Lightfoot said she's confident the Bears will give the city's proposal for a domed Soldier Field a chance. / by Ryan Taylor Bears The fight to keep the Chicago Bears in the city continues. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! The plan got a cold shoulder from McCaskey and Daley. If the Bears started the process of planning a new stadium at some point next year and the stadium took four years to complete -- from the design stage to the final day of construction -- they could cut an $84 million check to the city of Chicago in 2026 and start playing at their new stadium then. The Bears Of course, that's not exactly true. If the Bears aren't ready to buy the lease out in 2026, the fee would actually go down each year through 2033. Our $3 head tax would go strictly to the city of Chicago, said Moylan. The mayor emphasized that options one and two "make Soldier Field a top tier NFL stadium with tremendous opportunity for the Bears to fulfill their vision.". https://t.co/7pm7mLtCOc. During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. Option 2: Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready. Additional measures to provide new amenities include: Photo renderings of proposed options can be found here, These proposed renovations would vastly improve the visitor experience for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans and tourists alike, said Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and member of the Museum Campus Working Group. Background papers distributed by the mayors press office indicate the stadium would be expanded to up to 70,000 seats, from 61,500 now. Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. But the Bears have a lease at Soldier Field through 2033. 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. LIghtfoot was asked about the lease back in May and she seemed pretty convinced that the Bears wouldn't be able to get out of it. The Working Group was chaired by Richard Price, Executive Chairman of Mesirow. This is clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before," Lightfoot said at the time. Originally constructed in 1924, Soldier Field has been home to the Bears since 1971. CHICAGO (WLS) -- As The options include: Significantly, options 1 and 2 make Soldier Field a top tier NFL stadium with tremendous opportunity for the Bears to fulfill their vision. The cost benefit to the Bears of improving Soldier Field versus developing a new stadium on an alternate site is anticipated to be at least $1B to 1.5B or more. As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or site.. As Chicago looks to keep the Bears playing at Soldier Field, with the team currently considering a new stadium outside the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has unveiled three potential renovation plans for the iconic stadium, including expanded seat options and the possible addition of a dome. Full list of Mr. Irrelevants in NFL draft history: Is Brock Purdy already the best final pick? By anchoring a dome on four super columns at the fields endzones, The answer is very clear. Learn more atLearn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. A view inside Soldier Field before demolition began in 2002 But when it came time to remodel Soldier Field in the early 2000s, Bey said there was never a serious The statement also said the proposal would "dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights.". Increase the number of traditional suites from 133 to 140. A renovation of Soldier Field in 2004 cost $690 million,according to theChicago Tribune, and a renovation now would likely cost even more. "What's also important Soldier Field remains a highly desired venue by many other sports activities, music and more," she said. The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park, that statement said. 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. CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced proposals for renovations of Soldier Field, a crown jewel of both Chicago and our celebrated lakefront Museum The more things dribble out about the Soldier Field deal -- things the Chicago Bears and the Daley administration were careful to downplay or conceal when they began their hurry-up offense to pass the plan last fall -- the more it is apparent that what is driving this $580 million project are the Commentary: The fine print on Soldier Field, Soldier field plan: On further review, the play stinks. My statement still stands on the Bears: my admin remains committed to continuing the work to keep the team in Chicago. All options include major programmatic changes and concourse space improvements and, most importantly, preserve historical components of Soldier Field including the colonnades. "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. Under the first option, the stadium would be enclosed by rebuilding both ends of the stadium with columns that can support a dome. Last year he was fined $12,000 for a hit on St. Louis quarterback Chris Miller. An official website of the City of Chicago, City Council Office of Financial Analysis, Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Mayor Lightfoot Announces Three Options for Proposed Renovations to Soldier Field. Back in June, she said the bid for the Arlington land was just a negotiation tactic to get the city to help with the cost of any potential renovations at Soldier Field. 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 Bears will be given time to kick the tires on the citys proposal, but there is no deadline, she said. 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. As Chicago looks to keep the Bears playing at Soldier Field, with the team currently considering a new stadium outside the city, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has unveiled However, the math simply doesn't add up. "I think that there's no possibility they're not gonna consider this plan. At the center of the proposal is the construction of a domed stadium, which could cost anywhere from $900 million to $2.2 billion. SoldierFieldParking.com advertises that parking is available at Burnham Harbor and the Adler Planetarium for $50, though prices are subject to change without notice. During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. In February, Edgar proposed a $465-million project that would add a 72,000-seat domed stadium and expand McCormick Place.
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