One day before the NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears made another kind of splash as they revealed an inside look for the first time at their proposal to build a new stadium in Chicago.
Details from location to the roof to traffic to financing to what will become of Soldier Field and more were revealed during the team’s big press conference.
But for fans trying to grasp what exactly happened, here are some of the biggest takeaways:
1. What it will look like
The team released renderings of the new, covered stadium Wednesday, showing plans for both inside and outside.
(See the full renderings here)
In addition to the renderings, the team also released a “hype video” showcasing the new plans.
WATCH: Here’s the compelling stadium hype video the Bears played at their press conference
2. What happens to Soldier Field?
Soldier Field, which has been constructed and standing for nearly 100 years, is absent from the renderings. The historic columns, which are part of the architecture that “pays homage to the men and women who valiantly served the country,” according to Landmarks Illinois, remain in the renderings.
“Sports fields and gardens will replace the current stadium, with Soldier Field’s historic colonnades preserved as a tribute to Chicago’s military veterans,” the team said in a release. “An enclosed stadium is essential for Chicago to attract year-round events like the Super Bowl and major concerts—unlocking billions in tourism revenue.”
“As you noticed here, the plan is to keep the historical columns from Soldier Field to make that part of this development to make it one museum campus,” Bears CEO/President Kevin Warren said during a visual presentation of the renderings. “What happens here is the additional open and green space. This will have 14 acres of athletic fields, a recreational park to allow, as I mentioned earlier, for youth to be able to come together and do things in a productive manner.”
As for the transition to the new stadium, Warren said the Bears will play at Soldier Field until the construction of the new stadium is complete for them to play in.
“One of the things that makes the project unique is that we would be able to continue to play at Soldier Field during the construction and then to be able to move into the new stadium once the construction is finalized,” Warren said. “So yes, we would be able to continue to play here and not have to move to a different location.”
3. What will the roof be like?
The Bears revealed plans for a “state-of-the-art” fixed, not a retractable roof on the stadium. Warren said while the team considered a retractable roof, it would have added “another couple hundred million dollars.”
“When we talked to organizations who had retractable roofs, they said they used it maybe three or four times a year,” he said.
Warren said the roof will be similar to ones seen at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota or Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas or SoFi Stadium in California.
“You’ll be indoors, you’ll get all the benefits of being indoors, but you’ll feel like you’re outdoors. You may have to wear sunglasses,” he said.
4. What about traffic and parking?
With the increased capacity and usage, as opposed to Soldier Field, the Bears and the city of Chicago will surely run into traffic problems. Already, traffic problems exist with entering and exiting the lakefront campus; whether on foot or behind a wheel.
Bears newly appointed Chief Operating Officer Karen Murphy laid out the plan for traffic to the proposed stadium.
The first phase of the plan includes creating an “improved interchange” at 18th Street, which would become 19th Street on Lakeshore Drive. They’re also looking at an entrance to the campus from the South to tie into their South parking lot.
Double-decking the South parking lot is also in the realm of possibilities.
On the North side, the Bears are looking to remove the light on Lakeshore Drive and McFetridge. They…
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