The Chicago Bears embarked on a new era in February 2023 with the purchase of a site in Arlington Heights where the team hopes to build a new enclosed stadium with a massive entertainment and residential development.
In April 2024, the team laid out elaborate plans for a new publicly owned domed stadium, but now, the storied NFL franchise’s sights are focused on the northwest suburbs.
Here’s what to know about the long road to a new stadium.
The latest news
Fans cheer during the first half of the Bears season opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Most Chicagoans want the Bears to stay in their city — but don’t want to spend public money to keep them, a new survey has found.
More than two-thirds of those surveyed, 68%, said it was important to keep the team in Chicago, but an almost equal number, 65%, said the local government should spend no money to keep the team in the city. Another 28% supported a moderate level of public funding. Only 7% said the city should spend significant amounts on the effort.
News from Arlington Heights
The Bears released an economic impact report that included architectural renderings of the proposed stadium in Arlington Heights on Sept. 30, 2025. (MANICA Architecture)
Construction of a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights would generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, but would also require substantial taxpayer support for infrastructure, according to team projections released on Sept. 30.
Infrastructure such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metra train line would cost $855 million in public funds, the team’s consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HR&A Advisors, Inc.
Kevin Warren all but shuts the door on the Bears staying in Chicago
Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren looks around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London before the start of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 13, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears all but slammed the door on building an enclosed stadium in the city, with team president Kevin Warren writing in a letter to fans on Sept. 8 that the team’s “future home” is in Arlington Heights.
“Moving outside of the city of Chicago is not a decision we reached easily,” Warren said. “This project does not represent us leaving, it represents us expanding. The Bears draw fans from all over Illinois, and over 50 percent of our season-ticket holders live within 25 miles of the Arlington Heights site.”
Warren made it clear the team is committed to building a stadium, saying “this is the year” to finalize plans so the team could bid to host a Super Bowl “as soon as 2031.” He said the stadium would “require zero state money for construction,” but the team would need the legislature to pass a bill in October to start construction this year.
Arlington Park’s rebirth
The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen at sunrise on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
A Chicago Bears digital billboard glows at sunrise just off of Route 53 at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Rows of trees on the southern edge of the former Arlington International Racecourse are lit by the sunrise on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The former paddock is marked by a circle and cross at the former Arlington International Racecourse on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The former Arlington International Racecourse, facing east at sunrise, on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
An aerial photo shows the former Arlington International Racecourse on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen on May 19, 2025, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears own the property and may build a new stadium and entertainment district there. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The view from the neighborhood northeast of the former Arlington International Racecourse on Dec. 30, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears own the property and could potentially build a stadium there. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
A digital billboard advertising the Chicago Bears sits near the practice track of the former Arlington International Racecourse near Route 53 and Northwest Highway on June 25, 2024, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The Bears purchased the Arlington Heights property last year. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
The grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse is dismantled on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
The shell of the grandstand remains at the former Arlington International Racecourse as crews continue to demolish it on Aug. 31, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune
Riders wait for a Metra train at the station in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021.
Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune
People wait for a Metra train in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021.
Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune
Downtown Arlington Heights features a small park, condos, retail shopping and dining on Sept. 29, 2021.
Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune
People walk through the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021.
Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune
Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on May 1, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Workers gather in a parking lot outside of the former Arlington Park to begin demolition on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition continues on the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on July 11, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
The grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse is razed on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune
Selso Nuñez, of Palatine, dressed in Bears garb, peeks over the gate of Arlington International Racecourse as he looks for a spot to watch the fireworks following a day of races on Sept. 25, 2021.
Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune
The former Arlington International Racecourse is shown behind the Arlington Park Metra train station on Oct. 28, 2021.
After buying the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in 2023, the Chicago Bears proposed building a $2 billion stadium there as part of a 326-acre development including entertainment and residential uses. (Chicago Bears)
Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune
Clouds pass over the now-closed Arlington International Racecourse on Sept. 6, 2022, in Arlington Heights.
Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune
A rendering of the plan is shown as representatives from the Chicago Bears present their concept for building a new stadium and entertainment district on the site of Arlington International Racecourse during a public meeting at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on Sept. 8, 2022.
Hart Howerton/Chicago Bears
A rendering released by the Chicago Bears shows the view from the proposed stadium of the Arlington Park entertainment district.
E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune
The synthetic racing surface is being removed from the track at the Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb. 8, 2023.
Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune
The Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on May 1, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Construction equipment stands ready for expected demolition at the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition continues on the grounds of the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 13, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition crews hired by the Chicago Bears begin knocking down the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 16, 2023, in Arlington Heights. The Bears are looking at the site to build a possible new stadium for the team.
Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune
Demolition continues of the main grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights on Aug. 1, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
Demolition continues on the grandstand and surrounding structures at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune
Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on Feb. 8, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
A Metra train passes the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights.
Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune
Arlington Park International Racecourse in Arlington Heights is seen on Sept. 29, 2021. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race last Saturday.
Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune
Arlington Park International Racecourse is seen on Oct. 6, 2021, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race.
E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune
A view of the former grandstand of Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights is seen on Feb. 8, 2023.
Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune
The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Demolition is expected to begin soon.
Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune
Crews demolish the main grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, July 14, 2023. The site may become the future home of the Chicago Bears.
Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune
Main grandstand demolition continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Aug. 1, 2023.
Show Caption
1 of 43
The former Arlington International Racecourse is seen at sunrise on May 23, 2025, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
One week before his inauguration as the new mayor of Arlington Heights, Jim Tinaglia walked through the downtown streets he’s called home for more than 50 years. What was once a “sleepy little town,” as he described it, has become a bustling community, a place Tinaglia has had a hand in building, himself, through his work as an architect.
He’d built “at least a dozen” places here over the past 35 years.
If there’d been a constant amid all the growth in one of Chicago’s largest suburbs it was probably the horse racing track a little ways northwest of downtown, the one now locked away and waiting for new life. For decades, Arlington Park had been a deeply-ingrained part of the culture here, and a source of pride.
Incoming mayor Jim Tinaglia in downtown Arlington Heights on April 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
“Our identity,” Tinaglia said of the track. “For 100 years.”
Now it will be his mission to lead Arlington Park’s rebirth — to complete the long, winding journey of bringing the Bears to Arlington Heights. It’s a large part of why he ran for mayor, and also why he believes he was elected: to finish a deal that has proven elusive since a rush of early momentum, and to help convince Bears leadership, once and for all, that they should move from Chicago to the northwest suburbs.
A domed stadium on the Chicago lakefront?
An artist’s rendering of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront was released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
A rendering shows a new enclosed stadium plan with open space access to the lakefront. (Manica)
Renderings of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront were released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
An artist’s rendering that shows a plan for an enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront was released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Show Caption
1 of 12
An artist’s rendering of a new state-of-the-art enclosed stadium with open space access to the lakefront was released by the Chicago Bears on April 24, 2024. (Manica)
Warren envisions a stadium just south of the Bears’ current home at Soldier Field, on the site of what is now a parking lot. The facility would seat about 65,000 for football, with standing room up to 70,000, and a capacity of 77,000 for basketball.
Unlike Soldier Field, it could hold events year-round, including concerts, soccer, college basketball playoffs, or, once in a great while, the Super Bowl.
Soldier Field would be torn down, but its colonnades would be saved and 14 acres of athletic fields and open space added in between and to the north of the colonnades, for use by local sports teams, graduations and other events. If approved this year, the stadium would open in 2028.
The Bears say they would pay $2 billion, a huge private investment, plus $300 million requested from the NFL. The rest of the $3.2 billion cost of the stadium alone would be paid with $900 million from the state. The team said another $325 million would be needed for infrastructure, including improved road access and utilities as part of up to $1.5 billion for full build-out with extras like a hotel.
The public money would be borrowed through bonds issued by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, or ISFA, which previously financed construction of Guaranteed Rate Field, where the White Sox play, and the 2003 renovation of Soldier Field. The bonds are to be repaid over 40 years by the city’s 2% hotel tax.
“I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it’s a good deal for the taxpayers,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. “There are a lot of priorities that the state has, and I’m not sure that this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers.”
Friends of the Parks, a not-for-profit group that advocates for the city’s Lakefront Protection ordinance, which limits the lakefront to public use, criticized the stadium plan as rushed and not transparent, comparing it in a statement to other faltering mega-developments like The 78 and Lincoln Yards.
Could Indiana be an option?
The Indiana legislature moved a bill aimed at attracting the Bears to Northwest Indiana just yards from the end zone, with final approval by the Senate on April 9.
House Bill 1292, authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, would establish a Northwest Indiana professional development commission and a professional sports development fund. The commission would be tasked with exploring and implementing strategies to attract one or more sports franchises to Northwest Indiana, Harris said.
The bill passed the Senate 46-2.
“The Bears are the big boy, so that has received the most attention,” Harris said. “Honestly, I would love it if the Bears moved their location over to Northwest Indiana, but we are open to any sport.”
What about another site in Chicago?
The former Michael Reese Hospital site, between a truck marshaling yard and Prairie Shores apartments on April 26, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears are reconsidering the former Michael Reese Hospital site as a potential location for a new stadium, a source said, but the team remains focused on the lakefront.
The team is open to any alternative that would work, but officials have said previously that the former hospital site was unworkable because it’s next to Metra train tracks that pose a security risk. The 49-acre site is limited because it’s long and skinny, sandwiched between the tracks and DuSable Lake Shore Drive on the east, apartments on the west, 31st Street on the south and the Stevenson Expressway to the north.
The advantage of the site is that it’s mostly open land, not far from the Loop and the lake, and next to McCormick Place Convention Center. It would also avoid a legal fight over the Bears’ proposal to build a $3.2 billion roofed stadium on the lake to replace the team’s current home in Soldier Field.
Other options in Illinois
Other cities and municipalities around Illinois have previously expressed interest in talking to the Bears about a future stadium.
Naperville
Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli wants to develop underused properties along the Interstate 88 tollway, where the former BP Amoco site would be more than big enough at 187 acres.
Waukegan
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said several locations have the space for a stadium and entertainment area with access to Interstate 94, U.S. Route 41 and public transportation. The Bears already train in Lake Forest, nine miles south of Waukegan.
Aurora
In a letter from Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin to the Bears, he touts Aurora’s history, location and track record of getting developments done. The letter comes on the heels of President/CEO Kevin Warren saying recently that the Bears are “in a position to start exploring other places and opportunities and no longer considers Arlington Heights as a singular focus.”
Rockford
State Rep. Dave Vella, a Democrat from Rockford, told the Tribune he’d like his city to have a chance at bringing the Bears there. While acknowledging that Rockford is 90 miles from Chicago, he touted Rockford’s transportation development and how that could be used at Bears fans’ convenience.
Richton Park
Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold touted large expanses of available land and the south suburb’s proximity to highways and the Metra Electric Line: “Allow me to interest you in greenfield opportunities awaiting the Bears in Richton Park!”
Country Club Hills
Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon is encouraging the football team to consider Country Club Hills, throwing what her office described as a “Hail Mary pass” to encourage the team to consider the south suburb. “We’re taking our shot in the dark here,” Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford said.
What would happen to Soldier Field without the Bears?
Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024. where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans wait for the start of the Bears first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on Sept. 17, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Fans walk outside the stadium before the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive on Jan. 6, 2019, for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the south parking areas on Dec. 5, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive on Jan. 6, 2019, for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field on Dec. 15, 2023. To optimize the conditions, ultraviolet lights have been part of the regular treatment plan at the stadium to lengthen the growing season. Grow covers plus the field’s heating system contribute to keep the lawn as healthy as possible. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive Jan. 6, 2019 for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune
Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs in the end zone for a touchdown against the Lions at Soldier Field on Nov. 13, 2022.
John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune
Fans walk past a sign during the Bears NFL draft party at Soldier Field on April 29, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A parking lot and Waldron Deck south of Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024, where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The eastern colonnade of Soldier Field is illuminated with the Chicago Bears team colors, Jan. 8, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Jamari Clay escorts his sister Jaylen Clay to the Noble Charter School Network prom at Soldier Field on May 14, 2021. The students attend The Noble Academy. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Fans make their way into Soldier Field before the Chicago Fire play the FC Cincinnati on June 23, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field sits empty before the Chicago Fire play the FC Cincinnati on June 23, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Fans walk through the concourse before the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Military helicopters fly overhead during pregame ceremonies between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field on Nov. 21, 2021. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A worker walks past the west colonnade before a game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Players begin to warm up before a game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Walter Payton statue on Dec. 18, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Gate 0 at the south entrance to Soldier Field on Dec. 19, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field on Dec. 18, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Chicago skyline on Feb. 12, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans watch as players take the field before the Chicago Bears play the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Soldier Field on Sept. 25, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and Museum Campus can be seen July 25, 2022, from the stadium in Chicago. In a news conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled plans for Soldier Field that could cost up to $2.2 billion as part of her ongoing campaign to keep the Bears from leaving town for Arlington Heights. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Fans arrive for Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 22, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Chicago skyline on April 26, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The grounds crew preps the grass on Sept. 5, 2023, at Soldier Field before the Bears season begins against the Green Bay Packers. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans tailgate before the Chicago Bears play the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on Oct. 1, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Fire and Inter Miami face off in the first half of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hailey Grabowski, right, poses for her mother, Anne Grabowski, outside of Soldier Field before the Chicago Bears game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Show Caption
1 of 31
Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024. where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The divorce is far from a foregone conclusion — the Bears have simply taken the next step, one they’ve been telegraphing for over a year.
If the team leaves Soldier Field, Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry said she hopes the stadium can host many more concerts each year, easing the increasingly controversial burden on neighborhood parks for big musical events such as Riot Fest in Douglass Park and the recently announced Re:SET festival in Riis Park.
What’s the history of the team in Chicago?
While the Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971, the team has discussed or proposed playing its games elsewhere throughout much of the last 50 years.
Wrigley Field served as the original home venue for the team when it moved to Chicago in 1921 and remained there through 1970. The team won nearly 70% of its home games during that span.
But the Bears were forced to find a new home after the American Football League merged with the National Football League and required stadiums to seat at least 50,000 fans. The team played its last game at Wrigley Field on Dec. 13, 1970, beating the Packers 35-17.
Why Arlington Heights?
Arlington Park International Racecourse on Oct. 6, 2021, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race.
If the Bears dare to dream big about a new stadium in Arlington Heights, they can find inspiration in SoFi Stadium, the new star attraction of the NFL.
The league’s largest and most expensive arena and the site of the Super Bowl, SoFi, just outside Los Angeles, is overwhelming fans with its sweeping curves and epic scale. The stadium and its development highlight certain parallels to the Bears’ proposal to buy and redevelop Arlington International Racecourse. Both reflect desires to leave century-old stadiums and home cities for vast sites that allow for planned enclaves of surrounding restaurants, hotels, offices, stores and homes.
What are fans saying?
Fans settle into their seats prior to the start of a game between the Bears and Lions at Soldier Field on Oct. 3, 2021.
Some fans expressed a draft day-like optimism that better days are ahead. They dreamed openly of shorter concessions, easier parking, better tailgating opportunities and a domed stadium that protected them from biting winter winds.
“I’ve been to multiple stadiums in the NFL and Soldier Field does not compete with any of them,” Bears season ticket holder Neal Shah of Wheaton said. “On game days, the television crews show an aerial view of the stadium, which is beautiful, but the logistics are terrible.”