If everything works out for the Bears to build their new domed stadium on the lakefront south of Soldier Field, they won’t need a temporary home venue. Team president Kevin Warren said Wednesday the construction plan, which would turn Soldier Field’s site into a park-like area that could host anything from graduations to farmers’ markets, is designed for Soldier Field to be usable throughout the process.
The Bears’ ideal timeline, pending approval from the state legislature on public financing, is to break ground on the stadium in 2025 and open it for the 2028 season.
A team spokesman said the new stadium will have roughly 65,000 seats, similar to Soldier Field, but hold a larger capacity because of increased standing-room-only areas. Warren said capacity would be 77,000 for a Final Four.
The spokesman also said the playing surface for football will be artificial turf, though the exact type hasn’t been selected yet.
Warren, chairman George McCaskey and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson spoke Wednesday at Soldier Field about the importance of the Bears staying in the city and released images of what the new domed stadium will look like.
“We’re investing in the greatest city in the world,” McCaskey said.
Bears COO Karen Murphy said the full project — the stadium and surrounding area — will cost $4.7 billion.
Johnson said the team is now “committed to staying in Chicago,” which certainly wasn’t the case a year ago.
The Bears still own a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, which they bought for $197.2 million. That was the original target for the new stadium, they said.
Warren was asked Wednesday if he has closed the door on Arlington Heights, but did not answer directly, saying only that the Bears are focused on the lakefront site in Chicago.
