The Chicago Bears has revealed its vision for a brand new fixed-roof stadium on Chicargo’s iconic lakefront. The Burnham Park Project will incorporate a state-of-the-art, multipurpose stadium within a year-round hub centred on park-based culture and recreation.
Key features of the project include 14 acres of fields for public and youth sports programmes, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, and a three-acre promenade and plaza area, which could include food and beverage outlets, shops and a cultural attraction focused on sports and Soldier Field history.
The new stadium would continue the tradition on a site that has hosted Chicago’s major civic, entertainment, sports and cultural events for 100 years.
“This is an incredibly, incredibly special day for the Chicago Bears, for the City of Chicago, for the state of Illinois, for our ownership, for our players, for our coaches, for our staff members, for the alumni and for our incredible Chicago Bear fans,” said Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, when plans were announced on 24 April. “Today is about progress, and one of the things that I am most excited about today is the fact that this shows that in this city we have the intellectual capabilities, we have the heart, we have the passion, we have the foresight, we have the wisdom, we have the vision to do big things.”
The new stadium would be capable of hosting large-scale sporting events all year round, including Super Bowls and NCAA Final Fours as well as prominent entertainment acts. It is thought that these spectacles would unlock economic benefits for a variety of sectors within Chicago and the region.
“This is going to reinvigorate the entire City of Chicago,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “With this new project we are showing the world what Chicago is capable of.”
In addition to its cultural and economic benefits, the Burnham Park Project prioritises Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Bears have pledged to collaborate with community organisations to ensure equitable access and opportunities for all.
The Bears have pledged to contribute more than US$2 billion to the project—over 70% of the total stadium cost. The remaining funds are proposed to come from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA), a government entity that was created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1987 for the purpose of constructing and renovating sports stadiums for professional teams in the state of Illinois. The Bears’ proposal can be accomplished with the existing 2% hotel tax used to back ISFA bonds.
The Bears are aiming to break ground in the summer of 2025, with a planned grand opening in the summer of 2028.
Images and video courtesy of the Chicargo Bears.
