History and Renovation of Soldier Field
Soldier Field is an attractive force for 1000s throughout the province of Illinois. Soldier Field was foremost built in 1924 as a multipurpose athletics sphere dedicated to war veterans. At the clip it was known as Municipal Grant Park Stadium. Municipal Grant Park Stadium was home to many events before the Chicago Bears came to play in 1971. A controversial redevelopment was proposed in 1986. The cost would be over 660 million dollars. If renovated, Soldier Field would be stripped of its National Landmark Status. There were many redevelopments and extensions added in 2001. Soldier Field, place to the famousChicago Bears, it has gone through many redevelopments but it still remains an attractive force for athleticss partisans.
Municipal Grant Park Stadium now known as Soldier Field was built in 1924 to give those who served in War World I. Municipal Grant Park Stadium was built as a multipurpose athleticss locale. It held many events such as ski-jumping competitions, Dempsey vs. Tunney, musical concerts, spiritual assemblages, and World Cup association football. The chief event for Municipal Grant Park Stadium was stock auto racing. It was non until the NFL ruled that bowls must sit over 50,000 people that the Chicago Bears began to play in Soldier Field.
In 1971, the Chicago Bears began to play in Soldier Field. The laminitis of the Chicago Bears, George Halas, ne’er thought Soldier Field would be the lasting field for the Bears. Later in the 1970 ‘s, George Halas announced the squad would look into constructing a bowl in Arlington Heights. In the late 1970 ‘s if the squad were to travel to the suburbs they were under duty to alter their name to ‘Arlington Heights Bears ‘ ( Roy Taylor ) . George Halas was a concern adult male and if the Chicago Bears were so moved to Arlington Heights net income would be lost and the name “Chicago Bears” could non be taken when moved to the suburbs. After the treatment with Mayor Richard Daley, George Halas decided on remaining in Chicago. A 20 twelvemonth rental was signed and in 1982 there was talk about a new bowl which sparked the 13 old ages of bowl talk in Chicago.
In 1995, the Chicago Bears Organization planned on playing in a new bowl by 2000 no affair what cost. On November 22, 2000, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Bears officially unveiled their program for the new bowl at Soldier Field. It was said that the program would be over 660 million dollars. Approximately 200 million dollars would be funded through public support. Some money would besides be provided through the NFL. The remainder of the money would hold to be raised by the Chicago Bears Organization themselves. The overall cost of the redevelopment is about 700 million dollars.
The bowl itself cost over 300 million dollars entirely. Add all the extensions built during the redevelopment and now Soldier Field is deserving over 700 million dollars. The Chicago Bears had a tough clip raising money to reconstruct Soldier Field. After all the money was raised the Bears were still short a million dollars. They so applied for a loan which was accepted. While all this was go oning the Chicago Bears were issued many warnings and menaces that Soldier Field ‘s National Landmark Status would be obliterated if Soldier Field was renovated.
Before the redevelopment of Soldier Field, the Chicago Park District warned multiple times that if renovated, Soldier Field would lose its National Landmark Status. Other landmarks that have National Landmark Status include the White House, Monticello, and the Empire State Building. The Chicago Bears ignored all these menaces and warnings. The Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois sued to barricade the redevelopment. The case went all the manner to the Illinois Supreme Court and so lost. The redevelopment procedure started.
Soldier Field reopened on September 29, 2003. On September 23, 2009 Soldier Field was taken off the National Landmark List. “Jonathan Fine, president of Preservation Chicago, a historic saving protagonism group, praised the recommendation. ‘It ‘s about clip, ‘ Fine said. ‘If you destroy the landmark, you should be punished for it ” ( Dardick and Mendel ) . Many historic characteristics were obliterated during the redevelopment. Merely the exterior walls and a little seating part at the south terminal of the field are historic balances. Many new and modern extensions were added to the field.
Soldier Field was dropped 18 pess deeper to let more seating on the out of boundss. The capacity of Soldier Field is good over 100,000 fans. During the redevelopment 133 luxury suites and 8,600 nine seats were added. There are over 60,000 seats. Four new parking composites were built. Exclusive, luxury skyboxes were besides added in the redevelopment.
In decision, Soldier Field no long retains its historic unity. It has been renovated many times. The most recent in 2001, even though it was rid of its National Landmark Status, the extensions gave Soldier Field more popularity. Yet through its long history of events it still and ever will stay a public beginning of attractive force.
