Soldier Field Renovation Timeline
Soldier Field Renovation Timeline
1971
1971
- Bears move from Wrigley Field and play first game at Soldier Field on September 19, 1971.
- Chicago defeats the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-15 before capacity crowd of 55,701.
1971
1978
1978
- Plank seating replaced by individual seats with backs and armrests.
1978
1979
4979
- New lighting, playing surface and locker rooms installed.
- Seating rebuilt including new chairbacks, armrests, seats and improvement of sightlines.
1979
1982
1982
- Additional rebuilding of seating areas completed as well as new concourses added with more restrooms and concession areas.
- New press box, 60 deluxe skyboxes and a new scoreboard also built. Capacity is increased to 66,030.
1982
1988
1988
- Surface changed from artificial turf to natural grass.
- 56 skyboxes added along south rim (increasing the total to 116). Capacity is increased to 66,946.
1988
1992
1992
- Four seats are added increasing capacity to 66,950.
1992
1994
1994
- The Park District spends millions to refurbish the stadium for the World Cup Soccer Tournament. Capacity is reduced by six to the current figure of 66,944
1994
2000
2000
- Mayor Daley announces Lakefront Redevelopment Project including the renovation and expansion of Soldier Field.
2000
2001
2001
- Project receives State and City approval.
2001
2002
2002
- Demolition begins on stadium immediately following playoff game on January 19, 2002.
- Existing colonnades and the shell of Soldier Field restored.
- 61,500 seat state-of-the-art facility constructed for athletic, artistic and cultural events.
- 133 Suites and approximately 8,600 Club Seats installed.
- Two 23 feet by 82 feet video boards located in the north and south end zones.
- 600 feet of ribbon panel LED signage, featuring game stats, advertising and other fan features installed.
- Hybrid sound system installed consisting of three large clusters of speakers and 162 individual speaker boxes.
- New 2,500 public space underground parking structure between Soldier Field and the Field Museum built.
- Two-story above-ground parking structure south of Soldier Field built.
- Reconstruction and landscaping of surface parking lot near McCormick Place completed.
- 17 new acres of public park facilities created and 1,400 new trees planted.
2002
2003
2003
- Soldier Field officially reopened for National Football League games on September 29, 2003.
- Chicago Bears play their first game on the new Soldier Field against the Green Bay Packers.
2003