Soldier Field pillars remain in Bears’ new lakefront stadium design originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Bears announced plans at a press conference Wednesday to build a new stadium along Chicago’s lakefront. We also released renderings showing the physical expenditures for the museum/lakeside campus.
Soldier Field is not visible in renderings, even though it has been standing for nearly 100 years since it was built. The historic columns, part of the architecture that “honors the men and women who bravely served our country,” remain in the rendering, according to Illinois Landmarks.
“The field and gardens will replace the current stadium, and Soldier Field’s historic colonnades will be preserved as a tribute to Chicago’s veterans,” the team said in a release. “An enclosed stadium is essential for Chicago to attract annual events such as the Super Bowl and large-scale concerts and generate billions of dollars in tourism revenue.”
“As you can see here, the plan is to preserve the historic pillars of Soldier Field and include them as part of this development,” Bears CEO and President Kevin Warren said during a visual presentation of the renderings. It is planned to become a museum campus.” “What’s going to happen here is additional open, green space. We’ve got 14 acres of playgrounds and recreational parks here, and like I said, young people can come together and do things in a productive way.” You will be able to do this.”
Regarding the transition to a new stadium, Warren said the Bears will play at Soldier Field until construction of a new stadium is complete.
“What makes this project unique is that we can continue to play at Soldier Field during construction and move to the new stadium once construction is complete,” Warren said. “Yes, we can continue to play here and not have to move elsewhere.”
Soldier Field received historic landmark status in 1987, but lost that status in 2006 as a result of renovations made to the stadium in 2003. Check out the remains of Soldier Field in a new rendering.
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