425 E. McFetridge Drive
847- 615-2327

Soldier Field. Named for the fallen of World War I in 1925, this classical pile decorates the lakefront just south of the "museum campus" which includes the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. Designed in 1922-1926 by Holabird and Roche, the monumental qualities of this stadium give a sense of permanence and gravity to a game that often recalls such early contests as Christians v. Lions. Whether your happy memories of the Chicago Bears date from the days of Bronko Nagurski, Dick Butkus, or Jim McMahon, you’ll relive great games in this historic stadium. All Chicago mourned the recent loss of former Chicago Bear Walter Payton, known as "Sweetness," who represented the best of professional sports players for many fans.

Associated in Chicagoans’ minds almost exclusively as the background for the Chicago Bears’ cycles of triumph and tragedy, Soldier Field has also been used for such various convocations as religious revival meetings and downhill skiing events in the 1930s, for which massive ramps were constructed and dusted with (artificial?) snow. The Chicago Fire soccer team also plays here. The parking lot has been home to a dedicated and hardy band of tailgaters, but the city is encouraging people to take public transportation to the field to relieve some of its legendary game-day congestion.

Rock concerts are held here, too, notably the Rolling Stones’ semi-regular appearances on tour.

The 66,950-seat stadium is 1375 feet long and 375 feet wide, and the original U-shaped structure once offered views of the nearby Field Museum. That vista was closed with the addition of the Chicago Park District Administration building in 1939. In the 1980s, 116 skyboxes and press boxes intruded on the interior, obstructing views of the classical colonnades. But looking on the brighter side, the Bears get to play on real turf, not Astroturf, although the field did suffer an artificial grass episode in the 1970s and 80s. On more than one occasion, the action on the field has been completely obscured by fog or snow. Most of the time, though, it’s just plain bone-chilling cold. Forget the stadium blanket for Soldier Field games: you’ll need thermal underwear, Thinsulate boots, a down jacket, and the silliest hat you can lay your hands on.

Plans to renovate and improve Soldier Field seem to be always on a back burner, due at least in part to Bears owner Mike McCaskey, who has repeatedly threatened to move his team to the suburbs. When the Bears are winning, this amounts to high treason; when they’re losing, people offer to help them move. Tickets to Bears games are available at (847) 615-2327.