Proposal includes Soldier Field dome but Bears focused elsewhere
Chicago Tribune • • sports
Key Points:
- Architect Edward Peck proposed adding a translucent roof and expanding Soldier Field with new suites and amenities to keep the Chicago Bears in their current downtown location, aiming to challenge perceptions that the stadium is no longer viable.
- The proposal, which includes building a deck over nearby rail lines and roads for an entertainment complex, is not affiliated with the Bears, city, or Park District, and lacks a funding plan; it echoes a previous $2 billion dome plan under former Mayor Lightfoot that failed.
- Illinois and Indiana lawmakers remain divided over the Bears' stadium location, with Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledging the team’s next stadium is unlikely to be built within Chicago city limits, while the Bears continue to pursue new stadium plans in Arlington Heights or Hammond.
