Lightfoot declined to say how much of the potential $2.2 billion tab the city is prepared to pay for. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Dodgers dont need the long ball to finish sweep of Cardinals, Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, School is in session as Sparks begin training camp, The Times final regular-season top 25 baseball rankings. But should they choose to leave, Soldier Field will continue to be a premier multipurpose venue that is able to host an array of important and exciting events.". One of the key elements of the bill is a $3 per person admission tax on all entertainment and sporting events within what the bill calls the Arlington Megaproject to help pay down debt related to the renovation of Soldier Field. She asserts that the team would be at least $1 billion to $1.5 billion better off if it stayed at Soldier Field rather than building a new facility. Anyone planning on commuting to the stadium for a Bears game is in for a stressful experience. Now, whether hes able to play the whole game or not remains to be seen.. Phase two: Decide to bid for a Super Bowl in five years, while adding only half of the seats needed to reach the minimum requirements. Soldier Field, part of Chicago's 57-acre iconic Museum Campus that's also home to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, is one of the smallest National Football League stadiums in the country. Proceeds from the $3 admission tax would go to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. "Soldier Field must be a year-round destination. CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced proposals for renovations of Soldier Field, a crown jewel of both Chicago and our celebrated lakefront Museum Campus. Discover another part of the world. Plummer worked with the first-team defense at practice this week, and will be back in action Sept. 22 against Carolina after San Franciscos bye week. Option 2: The third option calls for modifications to make Soldier Field a multipurpose stadium suited to host soccer games while also making it a viable location to accommodate major concerts and a range of events. Over several months, the Athletic Facilities subgroup met with experts to understand the current market, national and international competition from other event venues, and what Soldier Field needs to become a best-in-class visitor experience. Ticket sales and other revenue from Bears games would pay off the bonds and the Bears portion of the funding. While the cost of each option must be refined based on a finalized scope, it is anticipated they will range from $900M to $2.2B - significantly less costly than building a new stadium. Daley and construction officials said there is no other retractable roof like it in sports stadiums. The state is swimming in debt and may be helping the Sports Facilities Authority dig out of its Soldier Field hole for some time. During the reconstruction of Soldier Field, preparations in Champaign and Bourbonnais continue as they get ready to play host to the Bears. You'll now receive the top Bears Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. "I think that there's no possibility they're not gonna consider this plan. As early as 1987, Chicago officials as well as the Bears front office agreed that the lakefront would not be the best place for the Bears to play in the future. The 2002 renovation of Soldier Field cost $660 million, $432 million of which was funded by the city's hotel tax, and the bonds issued to finance that project are still being paid off. The mayor emphasized that options one and two "make Soldier Field a top tier NFL stadium with tremendous opportunity for the Bears to fulfill their vision.". Soldier will never be what it once was thanks to the flying saucer permanently residing in the middle of the classic building. Dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights. In February, Edgar proposed a $465-million project that would add a 72,000-seat domed stadium and expand McCormick Place. They also had two sideboards posted along the outside of the stadium by the statues of Halas and Payton. An official website of the City of Chicago, City Council Office of Financial Analysis, Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Mayor Lightfoot Announces Three Options for Proposed Renovations to Soldier Field. "I've seen a couple of reports [of a possible move] but a couple of data points that I think you should be aware of are the Bears have a lease with Soldier Field until 2033 and the NFL doesn't let any teams break their leases," Lightfoot said at the time. However, given the fact that the stadium has little space to expand or change, it's unlikely to find a simple and cost-effective solution to the dilemma at hand. 'Soldier Field must be a year-round destination,' Mayor Lightfoot says. Irrelevant' pick on Toledo's Johnson, Chargers go all-in on TCU with Duggan pick in 7th, NFL Nation sizes up all 259 draft selections. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? The cost benefit to the Bears of improving Soldier Field versus developing a new stadium on an alternate site is anticipated to be at least $1B to 1.5B or more. Smith was fined $5,000 for a hit on Kansas City running back Greg Hill on Aug. 22. It sounds like the Bears will be welcoming fans back at Soldier Field in full capacity for the 2021 season, as theyre already one of 30 teams thathave approval for full capacity stadiums to begin the preseason. Improve your language skills? Any of the renovations proposed will enhance Soldier Fields ability to generate hundreds of millions of dollars of economic activity for Chicago and be a world-class destination for years to come. Three concepts for Soldier Field renovations. But the Bears have a lease at Soldier Field through 2033. The Bears said Monday that they stood by their previous statement in response to Lightfoot's proposal. The base has 38 barracks buildings with six under renovation, Gardner said. The time to travel and study abroad is now! July 25, 2022 / 9:15 PM "What's also important Soldier Field remains a highly desired venue by many other sports activities, music and more," she said. Make international friendships? If you're going to do something, do it right the first time. The proposal includes the idea of building a dome over Soldier Field so it could be used year-round, along with removing Burnham Harbor and replacing it with parking floating pavilions. Giving the Bears the opportunity to possibly sell naming rights to the stadium was also floated. The hosting of any of those events would be a great boost to the economy, and the process of making the stadium capable of hosting those would also be a boost to Chicago's job market. Chicago, IL 60601 Friends of the Parks perspective on a possible dome remains the same. Under the first option, the stadium would be enclosed by rebuilding both ends of the stadium with columns that can support a dome. Team president Ted Phillips said the move was all about ensuring a strong future for the Bears. Plummer suffered the wrist fracture in the exhibition opener against Denver, and the injury brought an end to his playing streak of 133 consecutive regular-season games dating to 1987, when he was with San Diego. Once a classical Romanesque structure, the stadium now looks as if a giant spaceship landed right in the middle of the playing surface. Give your students the gift of international friendships. Were counting on his playing in this game, Coach George Seifert said. In 1994, Smith was fined $8,000 for fighting with Tampa Bays Tyji Armstrong. For gosh sakes, what is phase three going to be? Heres What A Soldier Field Dome Could Look Like Under Mayo "This announcement from the Bears comes in the midst of negotiations for improvements at Soldier Field. LIghtfoot has spent the past several months downplaying the possibility of the Bears leaving downtown Chicago. An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience, said Mayor Lightfoot. Bleachers set up for close look at construction. Frankly speaking, the current Soldier Field is an architectural mistake. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. However, none of the options seem likely to convince the Bears to stay in Soldier Field. CHICAGO (CBS) -- As the Chicago Bears consider leaving the city for a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Park District officials on Monday unveiled three options for renovating Soldier Field, including a possible dome over the lakefront arena. / by Ryan Taylor Bears The fight to keep the Chicago Bears in the city continues. Building their own stadium also would give them full control over their home arena, rather than having to rely on a lease with the Park District for Soldier Field. As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or site.. However, the math simply doesn't add up. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Arlington Heights has an entire city budget of under $200 million with sky high property taxes to begin with. Greg Abbott to Stop Bussing Migrants to Chicago. These proposals stem from considerations and recommendations made by the Mayors Museum Campus Working Group. Although the Bears have been looking into making renovations at Soldier Field, they likely came to the conclusion that it was cost prohibitive unless the city contributed a major amount of money. Vaccines protect you and the people around you, reducing the spread of COVID-19. The statement also said the proposal would "dramatically expand the opportunity for major sponsorships and naming rights.". "We have informed the City of Chicago that we intend to honor our contractual commitments as we continue our due diligence and predevelopment activities on the Arlington Heights property. amilies can welcome a foreign student in their home for 2-4 weeks in the summer or 2 weeks during fall, winter, or spring vacations. Add secondary club and activation areas to as many as 20. Please check your email for a confirmation. But the stadium must be a year-round destination.. Im more than willing to take a look at his proposal and see if its doable and hes indicated hes willing to take a look at other options too, Edgar said. E-mail oureditor
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