For the second time in three years, the Chicago Bears have presented plans for a new stadium to replace Soldier Field. Unlike their previous proposal to move to Arlington Heights, this plan calls for a move just across the parking lot. Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren unveiled designs for a 77,000-seat, fully enclosed stadium on the site of the current South parking lot. The project also includes 14 acres of sports fields and park spaces, new bike lanes, and pedestrian paths. The estimated cost of the stadium alone is $3.2B, with the entire project costing $4.6B. The Bears have pledged $2B toward the project, with the remaining $2.6B coming from an existing hotel tax and public funding. The Chicago Park District would own the new stadium, as they do with Soldier Field.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed support for the new plan, but Governor J.B. Pritzker remains skeptical. The Bears will need approval from the Illinois General Assembly to authorize increased borrowing and extend repayment over 40 years to secure public funding. The ISFA currently has $629M in debt from the 2003 Soldier Field renovation, making the request for additional funding a potential challenge.
If approved, the Bears hope to break ground in the summer of 2025 and have the stadium ready by 2028. The team is eager to host a Super Bowl in Chicago shortly after the stadium’s completion.
