Soldier Field

Soldier Field
	Soldier Field in 2022
	Soldier Field Location in Chicago Soldier Field Location in Illinois Soldier Field Location in the United States
Former names	Municipal Grant Park Stadium (1924–1925)
Address	1410 Special Olympics Drive
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41.8623°N 87.6167°W
Public transit	Metra: 18th Street; Roosevelt; Red Orange Green;
Owner	Chicago Park District
Operator	SMG
Executive suites	133
Capacity	66,944 (1994); 61,500 (2003);
Acreage	7 acres (2.8 ha)
Surface	Bermuda grass (2022–present); Kentucky Bluegrass (1924–1970, 1988–2022); AstroTurf (1971–1987);
Construction
Broke ground	August 11, 1922
Built	1922–1924
Opened	October 9, 1924
Renovated	2002–2003
Closed	January 19, 2002–September 26, 2003 (renovations)
Reopened	September 29, 2003 (renovations)
Construction cost	US$13 million (original; $222 million in 2015 dollars); US$632 million (renovations; $1.01 billion in 2015 dollars)
Architect	Holabird & Roche (original); Wood + Zapata, Inc.; Lohan Caprile Goettsch Architects (renovations);
Project manager	Hoffman Associates (renovations)
Structural engineer	Thornton Tomasetti (renovations)
Services engineer	Ellerbe Becket (renovations)
General contractor	Turner/Barton Malow/Kenny (renovations)
Tenants
	List Notre Dame Fighting Irish football (NCAA) (1929); Chicago Rockets/Hornets (AAFC) (1946–1949); Chicago Cardinals (NFL) (1959); Chicago Circle Chikas football (NCAA) (1966–1973); Chicago Spurs (NPSL) (1967); Chicago Owls (CFL) (1968–1969); Chicago Bears (NFL) (1971–2001, 2003-present); Chicago Sting (NASL) (1975–1976); Chicago Fire (WFL) (1974); Chicago Winds (WFL) (1975); Chicago Fire (AFA) (1981); Chicago Blitz (USFL) (1983–1984); Chicago Fire FC (MLS) (1998–2005, 2020–present); Chicago Enforcers (XFL) (2001); ;
Website
	soldierfield.com
Former U.S. National Historic Landmark
Designated	February 27, 1987
Delisted	February 17, 2006

Soldier Field is a multi-purpose stadium on the Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1924 and reconstructed in 2003, the stadium has served as the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) since 1971, as well as Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) from 1998 to 2005 and since 2020. The stadium has a football capacity of 61,500, making it the second-smallest stadium in the NFL. Soldier Field is also the oldest stadium in both the NFL and MLS.

The stadium's interior was rebuilt as part of a major renovation project in 2002, which modernized the facility but lowered its seating capacity, eventually causing it to be delisted as a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Soldier Field has served as the home venue for a number of other sports teams in its history, including the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL and University of Notre Dame football. It hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, and multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup championships. In 1968, it hosted the inaugural World Games of the Special Olympics, as well as its second World Games in 1970. Other historic events have included large rallies with speeches, including by Amelia Earhart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr..

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