The time-honoured Soldier Field in Chicago is to be modernised, that has been clear for some time. Now the mayor of Chicago is bringing up a complete roof for the Bears’ home stadium.

Munich/Chicago – Soldier Field in Chicago has been the home of the Chicago Bears in the NFL for over 50 years.

The stadium is located in the middle of downtown Chicago, directly on Lake Michigan.

Now the arena is to be modernised. Not only is a complete move to the outskirts of the city on the cards, but also the conversion into a dome, i.e. a completely covered stadium. At least if Mayor Lori Lightfoot has her way. This is to keep the Bears within the city limits.

Soldier Field would need a makeover

“We want to at least discuss the possibility,” Lightfoot told “Chicago Business.” The three recent stadium rebuilds in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles all feature a roof

To convert the stadium, built in 1924, into a Dome would cost between $500 million and $1.5 billion, according to initial estimates. “Taxpayers would have to contribute to that as well,” Lightfoot admitted.

Roof or no roof, the Bears still have a lease at their current home stadium through 2026. Last fall, the Bears already secured a 326-acre tract of land, about 25 miles northwest of the current home venue, where construction of a new stadium could begin.

At least if the Bears don’t come to an agreement with the city of Chicago to continue the lease. All that is certain so far is that the Bears’ stadium will change in the coming years.