Chicago Unveils $2.2B Domed Soldier Field Plan to Keep Bears

The fight to keep the Chicago Bears in the Windy City continues.

Landmark Development, the developer advising mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration on how to upgrade Soldier Field, released a six-minute virtual tour of a revamped stadium.

On top of a new glass dome to protect the inside of the venue from weather, the $2.2 billion renovation proposal includes club lounges, food halls, an entertainment district, and a transit hub.

• Seating at the updated stadium would expand to 70,000, with more private suites.
• The transit hub would include access to CTA, Metro, and Amtrak rail lines, as well as a new “CHI-Line” downtown circulator system for rideshares.
• Soldier Field would also include a veteran’s memorial.

“Chicago deserves an extraordinary vision to take this iconic public asset into the next hundred years and beyond,” said Bob Dunn, president of Landmark Development.

There will be even more buzz surrounding the Bears in the coming months after the team secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Sunday. The draft is scheduled to be held in Kansas City for the first time on April 27-29.

With no financial plan presented, it’s unclear how much the stadium would cost taxpayers.

Another Hail Mary

Sportscorp Limited president Marc Gain said the proposal is likely too late.

Last year, the Bears entered an agreement to purchase a 326-acre property for $197.2 million in Arlington Heights, where the team wants to build a $5 billion stadium.

After the team closes on the purchase, it will also need to submit plans and studies on traffic, transportation, parking, economic feasibility, and economic impact.