The Chicago Bears have experienced multiple changes during this offseason.
Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy were initially dismissed, and Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus were subsequently appointed to assume their positions.
The Los Angeles Chargers acquired Khalil Mack from the Bears in a trade.
The City of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot are working hard to maintain Soldier Field as the home of the Bears, a tradition that has been upheld since 1971.
The city has just revealed information and mock-up images of possible upgrades to the iconic stadium.
The primary decision-makers at Soldier Field are the Chicago Fire, who will remain there regardless of the Bears’ choices. This is important to note, as the Bears recently signed a purchase agreement for the Arlington Park Racecourse.
The team invested $197.2 million in purchasing this 326-acre racecourse, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field.
An Illinois sportsbook at Soldier Field should’ve been proposed
The popularity of sports betting is quickly growing in the United States, with Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, experiencing a significant surge in interest.
In March of the previous year, sports betting in Illinois hit an all-time high with a total of $971 million in bets placed.
The partnership aspect of the situation has been settled, as the Bears have already teamed up with BetRivers Sportsbook.
Furthermore, it is completely legal to build a retail sportsbook outside of a stadium, as shown by the Chicago Cubs and DraftKings. They have started building a sportsbook outside of Wrigley Field that can hold up to 1,000 bettors. This venue will offer a walk-up counter and kiosks for placing bets, making it the first sportsbook to be constructed outside a sports venue in Chicago.
Whether the Bears choose to move to Arlington Heights or stay on the lakefront, implementing this plan would result in a sportsbook being located outside the stadium.
Rivers would be in favor of this plan, especially since its recent bid to construct a casino in Chicago was passed over in favor of Bally’s casino.
3 options for Soldier Field renovations
- Revamp both end zones by installing pillars that can support a dome, creating a fully enclosed stadium.
- Update both end zones by adding pillars in order to get the stadium ready for a dome.
- Revamp Soldier Field to function as a versatile stadium suitable for soccer, while also enhancing its flexibility to host large concerts and a variety of events.
The city is optimistic that the Bears will opt to renovate Soldier Field and remain in Chicago instead of relocating to Arlington Heights. A lease agreement is in place between the city and the team, which is valid until 2033. In the event of a breach of the agreement by either party, a penalty of $84 million will be incurred.
Proposed renovations to Soldier Field for the Bears
The city presented a list of potential renovations that could be made if the Bears decided to stay.
- Fully enclosed dome
- The seating capacity will be raised to 70,000, up from the current 61,000, making it the lowest total of any NFL stadium.
- Add seven more suites, making the total number of suites 140.
- Soldier Field currently lacks major club and experiential areas. Let’s build six new spaces to enhance the fan experience.
- Expand the food and beverage area from 50,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet.
- Increase opportunities for sponsorship and naming rights.
- Construct up to four versatile venues that can accommodate crowds of 5,000 to more than 60,000 for various events.
The Bears may find it more cost-effective to renovate Soldier Field in Chicago rather than build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, as estimates suggest the renovation costs could range from $900 million to $2.2 billion.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas were both completed in 2020. The construction of SoFi Stadium cost $4.9 billion, while Allegiant Stadium was built for $1.9 billion.
