A $4.7 billion project put forward by the Chicago Bears will see the NFL’s oldest stadium torn down. The football team is looking to relocate from Chicago’s iconic Solider Field to a new state-of-the-art stadium by the 2028 season. Soldier Field is currently the NFL’s smallest stadium with a capacity of 62,500, down from the 74,280 seats it accommodated when it was built in 1923.
One of the nation’s oldest and most famous venues, Soldier Field has hosted speeches from everyone from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Martin Luther King Jr. over the years. It became the home of the Chicago Bears in 1971, and was listed on the National Historic Landmark list until 2006 due to renovations it underwent in 2002. While iconic, the stadium has been a sore spot for Bears fans due to allegations of subpar turf quality and the franchise’s lackluster record.
The project that would oversee Soldier Field’s replacement was unveiled last year. Called the Burnham Park Project, the plan was announced by Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren. The multi-billion-dollar proposal would include a promenade and plaza area, as well as a retail and hospitality area, all located south of the Bears’ current home turf. The plan would see Soldier Field’s famous Doric columns remain in a public area. The new stadium is planned to accommodate 65,000 guests when opened, with the option to expand to seat 77,000. The Burnham Park Project is tentatively scheduled to commence as early as this summer, with the goal to have the new stadium up and running by summer of 2028.
