Landmark Development recently released a video providing a virtual tour of what Soldier Field could look like after a complete redevelopment. The reimagined stadium would leverage under-utilized spaces within the stadium’s current footprint to build new, immersive fan experiences, premium club lounges, and signature food halls, while improving access with a multi-modal transit hub and a dynamic entertainment destination district across the street. By rebuilding the endzones with columns engineered to support a dome structure, the stadium can be enclosed and activated year-round.
“Soldier Field is uniquely situated to anchor a truly world-class sports, retail, culinary, and entertainment district,” said Bob Dunn, president of Landmark Development. “There is no comparable location to take advantage of all key trends of the future – at the heart of one of the world’s most exciting cities. Chicago deserves an extraordinary vision to take this iconic public asset into the next hundred years and beyond.”
One of the most challenging aspects of Soldier Field today is transportation to and from the venue. A new multi-modal transit hub is proposed to be built across the street by Landmark and a team of local and national private investment partners, above Metra storage tracks and a rail yard. Visitors will arrive and depart safely, in a pedestrian-oriented transit hub protected from the elements on CTA, Metra, Amtrak, and a new “CHI-Line” downtown circulator system for sporting and other events, and convenient queueing for ride share drop-off and pick-up will offer another option to take traffic out of the existing neighborhood.
“This vision for Soldier Field could have enormous potential for the Museum Campus area,” said Martin Cabrera, who led efforts related to the stadium as part of the Museum Campus Working Group. “The improved access and experience for fans and visitors will enhance the area as a year-round destination, while maintaining the park and open spaces and providing even more public amenities for all to enjoy.”
An expanded entertainment district will offer an immersive fan environment and improved tailgating experience around the stadium and adjacent to McCormick Place. The redeveloped spaces inside Soldier Field increase seating capacity, but also add fan activation areas, club lounges, and themed restaurants offering a range of new offerings to suit every taste. The north concourse – or new “Skyline Club” – will offer food, beverage, and retail options open throughout the year with access to the Museum Campus – whether or not an event is happening in the stadium. Multi-story operable windows to the city skyline can be opened to view concerts on the lawn between the redesigned stadium and The Field Museum.
New amenities include:
- Expanded seating from approximately 61,500 seats up to 70,000 total seats, including numerous fan activation areas and a youth play zone.
- An expanded Veterans Memorial, bridging the past to the future and paying tribute to Illinois veterans and their families.
- Increasing the number of private suites from 133 to 140.
- Adding six new major club and experiential areas, none of which exist in Soldier Field today.
- Quadrupling the food and beverage amenities from 50,000 sq. ft. to 200,000 sq. ft.
“A modernized Soldier Field, a reinvigorated Museum Campus, and a world-class multi-modal transit hub will serve as one our city’s most important civic assets and support the entire Chicago economy,” said Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “This new, exciting vision is an opportunity to invest in our civic infrastructure – driving vital revenue, creating job opportunities, and increasing accessibility for all our businesses and residents, which is something that business and civic leaders can get behind.”
The redevelopment of Soldier Field will create venues within the venue offering diversified programming to activate the space all year with sports, concerts, family entertainment and community events. These include an adjacent live performance space, a ballroom suitable for corporate and community events, and multiple upscale lounges and gathering areas accessible to the vibrant Museum Campus and Chicago Cultural Mile attractions.
Each year, Soldier Field hosts football games, soccer matches, major concerts, sporting competitions, and other events. The proposed redevelopment will greatly enhance Soldier Field’s ability to generate new jobs and economic activity for Chicago – and enhance its stature as a world-class destination for generations to come.
Landmark Background:
Landmark Development is a private real estate development and investment organization with a long-standing track record for transforming communities through successful execution of major economic development initiatives. Working in partnership with community leaders and some of the most respected names in sports, business and industry, Landmark has led ambitious urban developments across the United States and abroad. Landmark’s portfolio of sports and entertainment projects includes NFL football and multi-purpose venues such as U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN; Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI; Ford Field in Detroit, MI; and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Watch the video at: www.reimaginesoldierfield.com/video.
