| Chicago
Bears - Soldier Field |
| Address: |
425 E. McFetridge Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605 |
|
| Name: |
Soldier Field II |
| Home Team:
|
Chicago Bears |
| Capacity:
|
61,500 |
| Playing
Surface: |
Grass |
| Year Opened:
|
2003 |
|
In September 2003, the NFL's
latest stadium debuted. The Chicago Bears began wanting a new
stadium in the late 1990's when other modern state of the art
stadiums were being built in other cities. The Bears had a rich
tradition of playing football at Soldier Field, the NFL's oldest
stadium. Several options on where a new stadium should be built
were discussed, but the Bears decided to move nowhere. The Bears
decided to build a new stadium on the same site of their current
home, Soldier Field. Because of its historical presence in Chicago,
the Bears decided to leave the historic colonnades for which
Soldier Field is best known. The rest of the stadium would be
completely demolished and a new stadium would be built inside
the exterior shell. In order
for a new stadium to be built, the Bears had to play the 2002
NFL season at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL. At the conclusion
of the 2001 season, demolition and construction on the new
stadium began. The Bears new stadium continues to carry the
name Soldier Field. The stadium has around 66,000 blue seats
in several tiers, improved seating, better sightlines, an
enlarged concourse, two 96-foot-by-23-foot video-boards, 8,000
club seats, and 133 luxury suites. To preserve Soldier Field,
the classic colonnades remain intact as a lasting monument
to Soldier Field’s glorious past, and a 250-foot granite-wall
sculpture still serves as a memorial to the men and women
who served in the armed forces. Fans also are able to walk
among the colonnades and the horseshoe promenade. The Chicago
Bears played their first game at Soldier Field II on September
29, 2003
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