VenuesNow (01/12/23)

Landmark Development is presenting renderings and other visualizations of its plans to revamp Soldier Field in Chicago, including linkage to a proposed entertainment district and transit center. A narrated video accompanying renderings highlights a clear domed roof enclosure, six new clubs, approximately 10,000 more seats and a skybridge connecting to the entertainment district over Lake Shore Drive. "We felt it was important to put the vision out there to give the [Chicago] Bears an alternative to consider," noted Landmark Development President Bob Dunn. "We have not reviewed it with the Bears. They're under an exclusivity agreement and may very likely end up in Arlington Heights, but we wanted to prove that Soldier Field can become the No. 1 venue in sports in this country." In describing the stadium's proposed roof, Dunn said, "The idea of a dome is really a hybrid of Ford Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. The dome lives independent of the existing structure because you can't build it on top of what sits there today, because it's too heavy to support." Dunn suggested the Bears could save as much as $1.5 billion with the Soldier Field revamp compared to building the new Arlington Heights venue, by restructuring the lease agreement between the team, the Chicago Park District, their landlord and stadium operator ASM Global. He also said the removal of the stadium's historic status clears a path for future upgrades and applications for unused real estate in the building.

Read the full story from VenuesNow.