DOWNTOWN —The Chicago Bears unveiled designs for a $4.6 billion lakefront stadium proposal, which includes a $3.2 billion facility plus another $1.4 billion in infrastructure improvements.
And Chicagoans had thoughts.
Under the plan, Soldier Field would be demolished and replaced with sports fields and gardens, team leaders said. The stadium’s historic colonnades would be preserved.
While Mayor Brandon Johnson has supported it, Gov. JB Pritzker, park advocates and other local officials slammed the idea of building a facility on public parkland and using taxpayer dollars for the project.
We asked you what you thought. Here’s what you said. Some responses have been edited for clarity.
“Love the new stadium proposal! While I prefer an open air stadium, they need this for hosting big events and the city can’t lose the bears and opportunity to host events Downtown.” -Dan, West Town
“I do love the idea of a Downtown domed stadium, mostly because of the opportunity to host the Super Bowl or Final Four. Wish it was retractable because indoor football really sucks, especially when most of the fall weather is amazing. I question if they really will be able to make getting in and out better. Parking is not going to be sufficient nor the space to tailgate. Why not build this sucker where the Sox want to move? The synergy of what they have in Baltimore is amazing with the Ravens and the O’s parks right near each other. In general, I think the lakefront location is really dumb. There’s so many other spaces in proximity to Downtown that are not as difficult to get in and out of.” -Paul Moretta
“My thoughts. NO, JUST NO. The Chicago Bears can afford to build somewhere else, not on the lakefront and without using any public/government money. Arlington Heights would be fine, they already have the land and a Metra station. Also, they should be required to return Soldier Field to its landmark status.” –Michael, Logan Square
“The upgrade to Museum Campus, from the green space to the new dome, looks wonderful. But I think the administration is being disingenuous about funding.
“It’s the same with changes to school funding. We can’t spend more money without either cutting elsewhere or raising funds (or both).
“The playbook seems to be: 1. Announce something new that will undoubtedly cost extra funds. 2. Hand wave concerns about where the money will come from.
“TBD how successful this approach will be.” -Walter, University Village
“It is well documented that the financial returns on large stadiums is poor.
“When you have a city like Chicago, the returns will likely cost several generations of taxpayers. City officials stated how many jobs and all the benefits of the 2002 Soldier Field renovation. In the name of the taxpayers, they borrowed $398 million. Twenty-two years later, we now owe $640 million, and by the time it is supposed to be paid off in about 10 years it will have cost taxpayers $1.1 billion. (Editor note: The outstanding tab was $640 million as of 2022. It is around $589 million now, according to NBC Chicago).
“Mayor Brandon has already proven himself to be fiscally irresponsible with the deals and borrowing he’s done already.
“This should be put up to a referendum on this November’s ballot. The taxpayers should decide if we want to saddle ourselves with billlions more in debt.” -Leon Greenberg, Lakeview East
“If they are going to spend all that money why can’t it be a retractable roof?” -Travis Schulz, Old Town
“As a Chicago taxpayer, I’m totally opposed to any public funding of a new Bears stadium. This is their stadium that they will profit from. They should pay for it, like the Cubs paid for their Wrigley renovations. Period.
“I’m also opposed to demolishing Soldier Field. I consider it an iconic Chicago landmark.” -Dennis Davis, Jefferson Park
“Possibly the most vulgar plan to reach into taxpayers’ pockets I can imagine. And that’s before we get to the premise of grabbing public parkland that even they acknowledge to be the most attractive in the world.” -Wayne Hoppe, Gold Coast
“Seems to have missed the mark aesthetically and only 65,000 seats? The green space is too busy … jumbled … the museum campus is classical and symmetrical and widely spaced.
“Why not make the Soldier Field space also suitable for concerts in 20,000 range so Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island could be returned to green space? Also major festivals could move here from neighborhood parks. Also can’t hotel and sports museum go west of Lake Shore Drive on land at 16th Street? There is already an underpass, with another underpass at 13th Street. Current plan needs major re-work.” -George Spalek, Lakeview
“Before the McCaskeys/Bears get one penny from the city, the existing bonds should be paid off, with significant assistance from the Bears. Unlikely, I realize. I don’t like the idea of millionaires/billionaires getting money from the taxpayers in sweetheart deals. Studies have shown the benefits to the hosting city usually are not as substantial as promised.
Let the Bears put more skin in the game. The city gets a significant percentage of all net profits (with agreed upon accounting principals) until the bonds are paid off. The city profits if the Bears profit. We share the risk in getting those bonds paid off; we should be sharing the profits until the debt/bonds are paid off.” -Irene R., the Loop
Support Local News!
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription, or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
