Breaking down each Soldier Field renovation proposal

As the Chicago Bears prepare for the start of the 2022 Training Camp this week, a large topic of discussion amongst Bears fans has been not only the on-field play in the near future but also the field of play for the next era of Chicago Bears football.

After renovating Soldier Field for the start of the 2003 season, the updated stadium has failed to live up to its purpose. Its poor aesthetic design, small capacity and logistical nightmare of getting fans to the stadium make the venue one of the most inconvenient and hindering in all of the NFL.

At just 62,500 seating capacity, Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL despite the Bears having one of the largest fanbases in the third-largest city in the United States. It’s too small for a Super Bowl, can’t be used in the winter thanks to an open-air concept and limited options for public transportation access for game days.

As a result, the Chicago Bears began exploring options for a new stadium, ultimately signing a purchase agreement for the now-defunct Arlington Racecourse in the northwest suburb of Arlington Heights.

In an effort to keep the Chicago Bears in the Windy City, Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed three options for stadium upgrades.

Shortly after, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot all but threatened the Bears to stay in the city. She has proposed renovations to Soldier Field, which were revealed on Monday during a press conference.

This summer, the city revealed a trove of proposed upgrades to the area around Soldier Field including a new entertainment venue on the north side of Soldier Field, a new hotel, and improved public transportation access to the lakefront and stadium.

All three of today’s proposed options would also see increased club areas, quadrupling the concessions availability and increasing revenue through sponsorships and naming rights. The capacity would also be increased to 70,000 in option 1 and 2.

Let’s break down the three options proposed by Mayor Lightfoot on Monday.