Draft:Chicago Bears and Soldier Field

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The Chicago Bears of the NFL have played as tenants Soldier Field since 1971 (with the exception of their 2003 season, due to renovations at Soldier Field). Prior to 1971, the Bears had long been tenants of Wrigley Field. After an NFL rule-change on minimum stadium capacity made Wrigley Field an unsuitable venue, the Bears initially intended to play indefinitely at Northwestern University's Dyche Stadium (later renamed Ryan Field). However, the city of Evanston, Illinois blocked this from happening, and the Bears and the city of Chicago reached an agreement for the Bears to begin playing at Soldier Field in their 1971 season. Soldier Field had been constructed in the 1920s, and had previously hosted occasional Bears games. The Bears ownership originally intended for their tenancy at Soldier Field to be a temporary juncture, eying the construction of a new purpose-built in the suburbs. The future of the Bears at the stadium became a point of discussion for decades, with many proposals made for new Bears stadiums or renovations to Soldier Field. In the late-1990s, an agreement was struck that resulted in the renovation of Soldier Field in the early 2000s and a long-term tenancy agreement. In the 2020s, the future of the team and the stadium became uncertain again when the Bears began pursuing the construction of a new home stadium.

Prior to 1971, while the Bears were tenants of Wrigley Field, they played occasional games at Soldier Field.^[1]

The first game that the Bears played at Soldier Field was contested on November 11, 1926 (Armistice Day). It was also on this day that the stadium was renamed "Soldier Field"^[2] The Bears faced their crosstown rivals, the Chicago Cardinals, in what was the professional American football game held at the stadium.^[1] The game was attended by a crowd of 10,000 spectators, and was held to benefit the construction of Rosary College, which today is known as Dominican University The Bears defeated the injury-ridden Cardinals. During the game, Cardinals halfback Red Dunn broke his leg above the ankle. The first Bears touchdown in Soldier Field History occurred in the second quarter when quarterback Paddy Driscoll (who incidentally had previously played for the Cardinals) threw a forty-yard pass to Duke Hanny. This was the game's sole touchdown. Driscoll also kicked for the extra point, and scored a field goal later in the second period.^[3][4][5]

The next Bears game at Soldier Field came the following month on December 19, 1926, when 10,000 spectators saw the Bears and Green Bay Packers play to a 3–3 tie.^[6] Proceeds of this game benefited the P.J. Carr Christmas Fund. The game had held the potential of determining the champion of the 1926 NFL season. If the Frankford Yellow Jackets (from Philadelphia) had lost their final game of the season, it would have determined the champion. However, the Yellow Jackets won their last game and were named the season's champions.^[3]

On October 1, 1933, 8,000 spectators saw the Bears defeat the Boston Redskins 7-0 at Soldier Field.^[7] On September 15, 1939, 13,254 spectators saw the Chicago Bears defeat the Cleveland Rams 30-21.^[8] On September 11, 1938, 20,000 spectators saw the Bears defeat the Chicago Cardinals 16-13.^[9]

The Bears played a number of exhibition games at Soldier Field prior to becoming tenants at the stadium.

In 1945, the Chicago Bears held their first Armed Forces Game, an exhibition game series for charity that would be played by the Bears at Soldier Field for many years.^[3] The Armed Forces Game raised proceeds for the relief funds of the four branches of the US Armed Services, and was held annually from 1943 through 1970. While often held at Soldier Field, it was instead held at Wrigley Field in select years.

In years that they were the NFL Champions, the Bears played against a college all-star team in the Chicago College All-Star Game held at Soldier Field. On August 31, 1934, a crowd of 79,432 saw the Bears and college all-star team play to a scoreless tie in the inaugural Chicago College All-Star Game. Noble Kizer of Purdue had been selected by a fan vote to be the coach of the College All-Star team. Players selected by vote for the team included, quarterbacks Bernie Masterson Nebraska, Homer Griffith of USC, Joe Laws of Iowa; tackle Moose Krause; halfbacks Nick Lukats, George Sauer of Nebraska, Beattie Feathers of Tennessee; guards Tom Hupke of Alabama, Bobby Jones of Indiana, and Aaron Rosenberg of USC; ends Joe Skladany of Pittsburgh, Bill Smith of Washington and Sid Gillman of Ohio State. Other players included end Edgar Manske of Northwestern and halfback Herman Everhardus of Michigan. Both Sauer and Krause were the co-captains of the college all-star team. In addition to Kizer the all-stars' coaching staff included Mai Edwards of Purdue and Jim Crowley of Fordham (who would go on to coach the Chicago Rockets at Soldier Field). The entire game was covered in radio play-by-play, and over 120 newspapers from 22 states requested press credentials for the event.^{[3][10][11][12][13][14][15]}

On August 29, 1935, 77,450 saw the Chicago Bears defeat the College All-Stars 5–0. Fans voted Frank Thomas of Alabama the collegiate all-stars' head coach. Over seven million votes were placed in the race for the position head coach. The vote became political, with numerous state governors publicly endorsing coaches. Other members of the coaching staff were Charles Bachman of Michigan State, Slip Madigan of St. Mary's, and Dr. C.W. Spears of Wisconsin. Amongst the alumni of the 1935 College All-Star team best known for their achievements outside of sports Irv Kupcinet of North Dakota (who would become a notable journalist and media personality) and Gerald Ford of Michigan (who would later serve as the President of the United States).^[3][16][10]

On August 28, 1941, 98,203 saw the Bears defeat the College All-Stars 37–13. The MVP was Minnesota running back George Franck.

On August 28, 1942, 101,103 saw Bears defeat the College All-Stars 21–0 . The MVP was Minnesota running back Bruce Smith. Other collegiate participants included Urban Odson

On August 22, 1946, 105,840 spectators saw the Chicago Bears lose to the College All-Stars 0–16.^[3][14]

On August 7, 1964, 65,000 saw the Bears defeat the College All-Stars 28–17. The MVP was Arizona State guard Chuck Taylor.

There had been proposals for new stadiums that would house https://www.dailyherald.com/20230312/other-sports/on-the-wrong-track-a-stadium-proposal-that-went-nowhere/

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bears-proposal-move-to-arlington-heights-repeated-over-and-over/

Ryan Field

• September 12, 1971 the Chicago Bears faced the Denver Broncos in their first preseason home game as tenants of Soldier Field.^[17]

• September 19, 1971 55,701 spectators saw the Chicago Bears defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-15 in their first regular-season game as tenants at Soldier Field.^{[3][17][18][19][20]}

File:Fog Bowl 1988.jpg

• November 20, 1977, despite playing with flu symptoms, Bears running back Walter Payton managed to rush for 275 yards in forty carries, beating a single-game record that O. J. Simpson had set the previous year. More than 49,000 fans attended the game, which saw the Bears defeat the Minnesota Vikings 10-7.^[3]

• 1985 NFC Divisional Playoff: Bears 21, New York Giants 0.^[21]

• 1985 NFC Championship Game took place in Soldier Field, where the Bears defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24–0.^[21]

• November 23, 1986 Jerry Markbreit began what would be a 23-season career as an NFL referee (during which he would become one of the league's most recognizable referees) when he refereed a game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. In the second quarter of the game, Bears quarterback Jim McMahon was intercepted, and as he watched the proceedings downfield, Packers defensive end Charles Martin picked up McMahon and bodyslammed him shoulder-first into the AstroTurf. Martin remained hovered over an injured McMahon on one knee and taunted him until Bears offensive tackle Jimbo Covert barreled full-speed into Martin. Despite strenuous protests from Packers coach Forrest Gregg, Markbreit ejected Martin, Markbreit's first ejection as an NFL official. When describing the penalty, Markbreit stated that Martin "stuffed" McMahon into the ground. Martin was suspended for two games by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, the longest suspension for an on-field incident until Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games by commissioner Roger Goodell for stomping on the face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode during an October 1, 2006 game During the game, Martin wore a "hit list" towel with the numbers of several Bears listed, including those of McMahon, running back Walter Payton, wide receiver Willie Gault, and center Jay Hilgenberg. The call was largely credited by the media and NFL executives in helping Markbreit land the assignment as the referee of Super Bowl XXI two months later.^[22]

• 1986 NFC Divisional Playoff: Washington Redskins 27, Bears 13.^[21]

• 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff: Washington 21, Bears 17.^[21]

• 1988 NFC Divisional Playoff: Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12 (this game is best remembered as the Fog Bowl, where a dense fog covered the stadium, reducing visibility to 15–20 yards.)^[21]

• The 1988 NFC Championship Game took place here, where the Bears lost to eventual Super Bowl XXIII champions San Francisco 49ers 28–3.^[21]

• 1990 NFC Wild Card: Bears 16, New Orleans Saints 6^[21]

• 1991 NFC Wild Card: Dallas Cowboys 17, Bears 13.^[21]

• 2001 NFC Divisional Playoff: Philadelphia 33, Bears 19. This was also the last home game before the renovations took place.^[3]

• 2005 NFC Divisional Playoff: Carolina Panthers 29, Bears 21

• 2006 NFC Divisional Playoff: Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)

• January 21 the 2006–2007 NFC Championship Game granted the Bears their second trip to the Super Bowl, the first in 21 years, with a 39–14 victory over the New Orleans Saints.^[17]

• 2010 NFC Divisional Playoff: Bears 35, Seattle Seahawks 24.

• 2010 NFC Championship Game matched the Bears against the Green Bay Packers, where the Bears were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl XLV champions, 21–14.

• January 6: 2018 NFC Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles 16, Chicago Bears 15

With Bears owner Halas talking about his desire for a new stadium, Mayor Richard J. Daley formed a special committee to assess the possibility of the city constructing a new stadium for the Bears. In May 1971, the committee proposed five possible locations. These included Solider Field’s location and Illinois Central Railroad-owned to the immediate west of Soldier Field. Two months later, Daley announced that the city planned to demolish Soldier Field and build an entirely new stadium just to its south. The proposed new stadium was to be a 75,000-seat $55 million venue. It had what was advertised as an "open dome" design, featuring a roof that covered the entirety of the stands but not the field itself.^[23]

The proposed stadium ran into opposition from several groups. The Metropolitan Housing and Planning Council believed that the lakefront location was unsuitable for a venue dedicated to a privately-owned sports franchise. Marshall Field V, who had been on the committee tasked with assessing possible stadium sites, also came out publicly against the stadium. Newspapers which Field held ownership (the Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Daily News ran opinion pieces opposing it as well. Some pieces in the Daily News featured sharp criticism by columnist Mike Royko. Other Chicago newspapers drew public attention to the taxpayer funding that would be needed to build the stadium, noting that since it was not a multipurpose stadium that could accommodate baseball, the stadium would only generate revenue from a single sports team.^[24]

Soon after the announcement of the stadium plan, motivated by public criticism, Mayor Daley empanelled a five-member architectural committee tasked with assessing the possibility of renovating Soldier Field to more modern specifications. Daley expressed public reservations about tearing down the stadium. Some lakefront preservation advocates also expressed disapproval at the retention of the existing venue, criticizing the venue for generating traffic and seas of parking during game days.^[25]

Despite talk of ultimately replacing the venue with a new stadium, soon ahead of the Bears' 1971 move into the stadium, the city began minor renovations to better accommodate the team. The stadium's plank bench seating began to be replaced, with 34,000 seats being installed with backrests. In addition, temporary box seats were installed atop the stadium's track in order to bring the first rows of spectators closer to the football field. The presence of these seats blocked any return of auto racing to the venue. In addition, the natural grass field of the venue was replaced with a $206,000 Astrotuf playing surface. The total cost of these changes was $700,000. This was paid for initially by bonds which were backed by tax revenue. The cost was recouped by the city government over the next three seasons through their share of Bears ticket revenue.^[26]

In July 1971, the architectural committee tasked by Mayor Daley to assess possible renovations reported its preliminary findings that the stadium could be viable as a long-term venue for the Bears if new seating was constructed in the north end zone that would increase the capacity for Bears games. This would cut-off a portion of the original stadium structure’s sideline stands, creating a larger south arena of the stadium where the Bears' field would be located, as well as a smaller north arena on the end closest to the Field Museum that could be used to host other events. The committee's full findings would be released in a report later that year.^[27]

In response to the news that Soldier Field would be able to be renovated to serve as a longer-term home to the team, Halas remarked that he was happy that the venue could be made more suitable for the Bears, but that he still desired to build a new home for his team. Halas remarked, "I am very happy with the arrangement, which means that if we have to play in Soldier Field longer than our three-year lease, I will be willing to do so." The Bears signed a final lease agreement for its initial three-year commitment to play at the venue, which saw the Bears provide the Bears 12% of their ticket revenue, with a minimum payment of $788,827. ^[27]

In October 1971, structural tests of the stands determined that they could be repaired. Later that same month, the architectural committee estimated that the cost of a more extensive renovation would be between $12 million and 22.3 million. The committee also provided cost estimates for options to make even further changes, such as a second-deck or a canopy over the seating bowl. The architectural committee's final report discovered that the venue’s original construction had been built on caissons made of low-quality concrete. This discovery demonstrated that the stadium’s original construction had suffered likely due to political corruption by politically-connected contractors. The stadium had long required frequent repair work.^[27]

During the Bears first season at Soldier Field, temporary bleachers that the Bears had previously used as sideline seating at Wrigley Field were placed in the north endzone. After the 1973 season, permanent stands were constructed in the north end zone at a cost of approximately $600,000. Further expense was spent on repair work in the southeast stands. ^[28]

The Bears were promised by the Chicago Park District Board President Patrick L. O'Malley a more extensive renovation costing between $15 million and $20 million, though this was soon pushed-off to the future.^[28]

The future of Soldier Field was unclear in the years that followed. Proposals were floated both for renovation and replacement of Soldier Field as the Bears' home stadium.^[29]

In January 1975, the Public Building Comission's executive director argued that the city should give the stadium a $35 million overhaul. However, Mayor Daley was again interested in the idea of demolishing it and building a new stadium. Daley faced criticism from his 1975 Chicago mayoral election opponent John J. Hoellen Jr. over the prospect of spending taxpayer money on a new stadium. Daley ultimately claimed that he preferred renovation over the more expensive construction cost of a new stadium. Halas, however, was adamant that he unsatisfied with the sightlines, pitch, and far distance of the seating at Soldier Field.^[30]

At this time, Halas was flirting with the prospect of building a new stadium in the suburb of Arlington Heights.^[31]

https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2023/6/11/23754606/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-naperville-chicago-odds

https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/chicago-bears-arlington-racecourse-offer-new-stadium-soldier-field-nfl/?zephr_sso_ott=odMZgO

^[32]

Halas made clear his desire that a stadium project be government-funded. The government, however, usually only would express willingness to provide bonds that would be paid-back by the Bears through ticket sales.^[31]

Residents of Arlington Heights asked for a referendum to be held. By October 1976, Halas had agreed to play the Bears' 1976 and 1977 seasons at Soldier Field. A minor $1.3 improvement project was completed at the stadium in 1976.^[31]

By 1977, Mayor Daley's administration was advancing plans that would have seen a second-deck of seating added to the stadium along with roughly 100 luxury boxes at an estimated cost of between $35 million and $50 million. The prospect of renovating the existing stadium was heavily backed by Chicago Park District Superintendent Ed Kelley. However, Daley died in office before these plans could come to fruition.^[31]

Daley’s successor Michael Bilandic established a panel to assess the stadium situation, with former governor Richard Ogilvie at its head. Ogilvie was quick to dismiss the prospect of renovating the existing stadium. Park District Superintendent Ed Kelley, however, advocated for a renovation, and proposed two options. One would cost approximately $25 million and another would cost approximately $51 million. Mayor Bilandic immediately publicly dismissed that latter option due to its requirement that the stadium be closed for at least 21 months of construction.^[33]

As a precursor to the 2003 renovation, in 1978, Parks Board President O'Malley suggested to the Chicago City Council that one possibility that Chicago Park District and City Hall officials were heavily considering would be to build a new stadium structure inside of the exterior shell of the original stadium, as he believed that this would cost less than a new $200 million stadium.^[33]

While the city was figuring out the future of the stadium, a modest $3.5 million of renovation work was agreed to in December 1978.^[34] In this renovation, the temporary stands in the north end were replaced by a permanent grandstand. The stadium’s capacity was increased by 2,000 seats. The Astroturf was replaced. Work was also undertaken to begin replacing the plank seating of the stadium with individual seats that had backrests and armrests.^[35] Halas publicly expressed that he'd be fine with two further seasons at Soldier Field, and expressed hope that the team could find a way to make it their home for two more decades. Halas' autobiography, published in 1979, called the stadium an "architectural gem" that suffered "vast" problems as a football venue.<ref">Ford 2009, pp.287–288</ref>

In the 1979 Chicago mayoral election, Bilandic's opponent for the Democratic Party nomination, Jane Byrne, criticized the idea of building a new stadium to replace Soldier Field, and criticized the Ogilvie-led panel as having accomplished very little. Byrne voiced opposition for publicly funding a stadium, calling a stadium, "a low priority." Byrne won the mayoral election. After taking office, Byrne advanced the less expensive of the two proposals that Ed Kelley had earlier made to renovate the stadium.^[36] While Bears management was unsatisfied by this plan, they expressed a willingness to accept it. Advocates of Chicago parkland, however, opposed keeping the stadium, preferring it be torn down in favor of new parkland. One such advocate, Pat Ryan, proposed in a letter to the Chicago Tribune that instead a new stadium should be built over railroad tracks in the South Loop.^[37]

Notre Dame 1980^[32]

Mayor Byrne and others worked out agreements with the Bears that resulted in renovation work in the early 1980s at a cost of roughly $32 million, largely funded by the public through real estate taxes.^[38]

The renovations saw the faults of the underground support of the stadium, which had been built poorly in the 1920s, remedied.^[39] The renovations saw the earlier elimination of the stadium's track made permanent with the lower rows of now-permanent seating covering where the track once was.^[26] New permanent box seats saw the removal of the original wall that had, since the 1920s, separated the grandstands from the field, which had featured a decorative molding pattern at their top as well as rings from which bunting could be hung.^[39] The renovations coincided with the addition of 55 luxury boxes at the top of the grandstand, which were funded for by the Bears separately from the other renovation work at a cost of $3 million.^[38]

In 1982, a new press box, as well as 60 skyboxes, were added to the stadium, boosting its capacity to 66,030..^[35] The renovation work was completed in time for the 1982 season.^[40]

Later, in 1988, 56 more skyboxes were added, increasing capacity to 66,946. Capacity was slightly increased to 66,950 in 1992. By 1994, however, capacity was slightly reduced to 66,944. During the renovation, seating capacity was reduced to 55,701 by building a grandstand in the open end of the U shape. This moved the field closer to both ends in order to move the fans closer to the field, at the expense of seating capacity.^[35]

The early-1980s renovation did not put to rest uncertainty over the Bears' future at the venue. Despite its renovation, it still lagged behind other NFL venues in amenities, a problem which worsened over the years as amenities at other stadiums further outpaced Soldier Field.^[41] As these years wore on, however, many Bears fans grew sentimental of the venue.^[37] As did football fans in general, who had grown accustomed to seeing the stadium's distinctive colonnades on television broadcasts.^[42]

Soon after the early 1980s renovation work, the Bears saw new success under coach Mike Ditka. Chicago Park Districts president Ed Kelley proposed the addition of a $20 million dome atop of the stadium. Upset by the prospect of such a change, in 1983 architect and preservationist Harry Weese nominated Soldier Field to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. While Kelly came out in opposition to it, the stadium was approved to be a National Historic Landmark.^[43]

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/7/11/22572562/chicago-bears-a-journey-home-interest-arlington-heights-soldier-field-nfl-offseason-2021-nfl

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-06-sp-5929-story.html

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/09/30/Domed-Chicago-sports-stadium-announced/2623496900800/

https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/g22699516/best-baseball-stadiums-never-built/

In 1986, powerful Chicago U.S. Congressman Dan Rostenkowski secured in a tax reform package the inclusion of federal authorization for tax-exempt bonds that could be issued to fund a new stadium in Chicago. ^[44]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-21-8503280564-story.html

http://www.connectingthewindycity.com/2018/12/december-20-1985-white-sox-get-word-of.html

In 1989, a proposal was made to build a domed stadium adjacent to the McCormick Place convention center. The proposal originated under Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority head John Schmidt. The proposal was tied to a planned expansion of McCormick Place. This proposal progressed far enough for the Bears to sign a lease.^[45] McCaskey urged the approval of a new stadium, warning that the 1986 federal authorization for the issuing of tax-exempt bonds had an impending expiration date.^[46]

"McDome". https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-09-20-9003180912-story.html

Rejected by Illinois General Assembly https://www.lib.niu.edu/1990/ii900847.html

The domed stadium was to cost an estimated $465 million.^[47]

With Jim Edgar soon after succeeding James R. Thompson as governor of Illinois, the prospects of the stadium took a final hit as Edgar was less receptive to funding the stadium proposal.^[48] The stadium suffered from political fatigue with public stadium funding in the aftermath of the 1988 deal for the state to fund the construction New Comiskey Park.^[45]

While the stadium was not constructed, the related planned expansion of McCormick Place was.^[45]

______^[37]

In the years that followed, many plans for the stadium would surface only to falter.^[49]

In 1991, a renovation plan was floated which would have seen the stadium's original seating bowl demolished but its exterior retained. This plan would have seen a new seating bowl constructed within the original stadium's footprint, with the field rotated 90-degrees to a east-west orientation which would have placed the colonnades in its end zones.^[45]

___

One advantage of this would be decreasing the number of end zone seats while increasing the number of sideline seats. The concept of rotating the field was revisited again in 1995. ^[47]

The Bears purchased options for properties in Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village and Aurora.^[50] In 1995, the Bears floated the option of building an open-air stadium in either Hoffman Estates or Aurora at a cost of $285 million; $185 million of which they anticipated being state-funded.^[51]

^[32]

^[52]

Other suburbs

In 1995, McCaskey entered discussions with the Northwest Indiana developers behind a proposed entertainment complex to be dubbed "Planet Park" for a Bears stadium to constructed as part of the complex.^[50] Planet Park was proposed for construction in Gary, Indiana.^[53] The stadium was to have been an open-air venue, and was expected to cost $285 million.^[53] The venue was to be funded by developers,^[51] though specifics on the financing were a point of negotiation between the Bars and the developers.^[53] The entire Planet Park project (including the stadium) was budgeted to cost $482 million.^[54] In late 1995, McCaskey announced that he and Northwest Indiana the developers had tentatively agreed to the Planet Park stadium plans.^[50] The proposed funding of the project was to rely upon Lake County, Indiana adopting a tax increase and issuing tax-backed construction bonds. This proved controversial, and the proposed project began to fizzle. By November 1995, the Bears began casting doubt on the likely viability of the project, despite Scott L. King (Gary's new mayor-elect) supporting the passage a 0.5% county income tax to fund the project (expressing belief that the project would held stimulate economic development in Gary).^[54] Ultimately, the Lake County Council rejected the proposed tax increase.^[50] By early 1996, Bears the prospects of the Bears leaving Soldier Field for Gary had faltered.^[55]

^[52]

^[56]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-11-15-9511150191-story.html

In October 1995, Daley proposed a renovation that would lower the elevation of the playing field in order to improve the seating bowl’s sightlines, and which would rotate the field 90-degrees, placing the colonnades in the endzones.^[47] This proposed renovation would cost $156 million, and would see capacity expanded from 66,000 to 70,000. At the time this was proposed,, Planet Park and suburban sites were considered the main alternatives. The McDome proposal was described as being placed "on the back burner", but not dead.^[51] Governor Jim Edgar had refused to back a third attempt at funding a McDome project unless talks to renovate Soldier Field failed. The proposal was to have required the Bears play one or two seasons. The city pledged that if the renovation proceeded as they were proposing, the Bears would only have to play its 1997 season at a different venue (with Dyche Stadium, New Comiskey Park, or Wrigley Field being floated as options). The Bears, however, argued that they believed the construction would actually require two seasons to be played elsewhere.^[57]

In an effort to enhance sightlines

, the proposal included lowering the playing field by 21 feet (6.4 m).^[54]

The city proposed $56 million in funding coming from Park District property taxes, and the remaining $100 million being generated from team revenues and spectator spending. Bears vice president Ted Phillips noted that this was far less of an ideal funding burden for the team than was being floated for the Planet Park stadium proposal.^[54]

Ed Bedore served as the mayor's chief stadium advisor.^[57]

In November 1995, Phillips argued that, unlike in the renovation put forward by the city, the city should agree to a renovation of Soldier Field that would rotate the playing surface's orientation 90° (with the end zones in the east and west, as opposed to being in the north and south). Such a seating bowl (perpendicular in orientation from the extant stadium bowl) would allow new sideline grandstands to be built, or for the new seating bowl to feature a larger share of seats and skyboxes along its sidelines with improved sightlines. A key concern that the Bears had voiced about the extant seating bowl was that too many seats and skyboxes were located in the endzones, and too few were along the sidelines.^[57] The city estimated that the rotation of the field would add $70 million to the cost of renovation (increasing it to $171 million), while the Bears disagreed arguing that it would only ad $50 million and that the city was wrongly adding high-end scoreboards and technology to its price-increase estimate which they contended had already been agreed-on aspects for any renovation.^[57]

Phillips also questioned whether it might be possible for a renovation to lower the playing surface even lower than had been specified in the city's proposal, and also whether more could be done to expand the size of the stadium's public concourses (which he argued were still relatively small in the renovation plans offered by the city).^[54]

The field would be situated between the colonnades, with the endzones running parallel and the sidelines running perpendicular to them. New grandstands would be build.

By January 1996, Daley had offered the Bears a "take it or leave it" ultimatum on his renovation proposal, and McCaskey opted to reject the offer and threatened to finalize an agreement to move to Gary.^[58]

Daley Jr. wanted the mayor's office to have control over any new or renovated stadium for Bears.^[59]

Discussions about the McDome project were revived in early January 1996. After Michael McCaskey rejected Daley Jr.'s offer and McCaskey threatened to finalize plans for a move to Gary, Governor Edgar began again promoting the idea of building a multipurpose domed venue as an expansion of McCormick Place, and urged state legislative leaders to support it. McPier executive Jim Reilly soon created a new McDome construction proposal at the behest the governor. Soon after, Reilly and Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra began lobbying the Chicago business community to support the proposal.^[58] Andy Foster, the deputy chief of staff to Governor Edgar, was made Edgar's "point man" for the stadium matter. The prospect of funding such a stadium received the support of the majority leaders in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly (who, like Edgar, were both Republicans). An agreement still needed to be reached with the McPier board before the project could proceed.^[55]

While Daley Jr. and his city administration continued to prefer a renovation pf Soldier Field over the McPier proposal, at the start of April 1996 he gave permission for McPier's board (on which a majority of members were his appointees) to hold discussions with the Bears about the McDome proposal. Philip noted, speaking on behalf of the Bears, that for the construction of a 72,000 domed McCormick Place stadium to occur though, the team would need to find $175 million in funding, in addition to the city providing funding through excess revenue generated by taxes that had originally been levied to fund McCormick Place's 1991 expansion.^[55]

By May 1996, the state legislative leaders and governor (while supportive of the project) were not interested in racing to pass funding.^[55]

In late-1996, Daley proposed a $400 million renovation that would add a plastic translucent roof that would retract by rolling back and forth in a manner in which no sports stadium roof had previously been built. The proposal was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It would elevate the skyboxes above the seating bowl, allowing nine more rows of sideline seating to be added underneath them. It would place 53% of the seating on the sidelines. The NFL average at the time was 55%. The roof was to use a truss design, supporting plastic panels with a steel frame. As Daley had proposed in an earlier plan, the seating bowl pitch would be altered by lowering the field 21 feet.^[47] On September 13, 1996, Daley Jr. met with Michael McCaskey and Governor Edgar and outlined this new proposal to renovate the stadium. Daley predicted the proposal would cost $375 million, and proposed for $175 million of the funding to be paid for by Bears revenue. The McCaskey family objected to the amount that the Bears were being asked to pay, and rejected the plan. Even though McCaskey and Edgar were disinterested, Daley pushed forward with publicizing it, holding a press conference later that month where the plan was announced. A model of the design was shown to reporters, Daley touted the plan, and architects detailed its design.^[56]

An engineering firm analysis would find that Daley was underestimating the expense of constructing the design, finding it could cost $45 to $140 million more than Daley the amount Daley had cited.^[60] Several other rejected renovation proposals were made by the city that year.^[61]

In 1998, Daley proposed that the Bears share Comiskey Park with the Chicago White Sox.^[50]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/csac-bt-030921soldierfieldreview-story.html

Arlington Heights https://news.wttw.com/2023/02/15/bears-move-closer-leaving-soldier-field-purchase-arlington-heights-land

Renovation proposal https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-chicago-bears-soldier-field-dome-lightfoot-pitch-20220725-dvxyufcsgzbctd4wzlbqy2xl6q-story.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2023/1/8/23543250/soldier-field-bob-dunn-bears-lightfoot-adviser-domed-stadium-arlington-park-landmark-development

Other options

Refocus on Arlington Heights

• Ford, Liam T. A. (2009) [2009]. Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City (1st ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Soldier Field Chicago Bears