September 2003 Volume 1, Issue 1 Your Newsletter Thanks for subscribing to the “New” Soldier Field-from Frustration to Reality Chicago Bears History Newsletter! This is the premiere issue with many On September 29, 2003, the more to come. much maligned "new stadium PLEASE...print the newslet- at" Soldier Field will open with ter, share it with someone, fanfare when the Chicago Bears e-mail it to fellow Bear fans host the Green Bay Packers on and encourage others to sign up. This publication will Monday Night Football. Love remain free with no advertis- the new stadium or hate it-and ing, just help us out by there are plenty of denizens in spreading the word. each of those camps-Chicago will have its first new football venue in its history. Those that feel the stadium looks strange should know the story behind its creation is equally eccentric. Soldier Field was built in “New” Soldier Field on July 14, 2003. Inside this issue: 1924 as a public, multipurpose sports venue, and was originally named Municipal Grant Park on September 19, 1971. During the 1970s, after Stadium. Soon thereafter, its To Bears' owner George Halas announced the team name was changed to honor Halas, Soldier Field was never would look into building a sta- Soldier Field 1 American military personnel intended to be a permanent dium in suburban Arlington that fought in World War I. The home. 47 years had taken its toll Heights, Chicago Mayor Rich- building played host to a wide on the structure, and no signifi- ard Daley stated the team would variety of sporting events from cant renovations were done for need to change their name to the Stadium Facts 3 its construction until 2001. the team before it moved in. "Arlington Heights Bears," Those events included the 1927 Additionally, the stadium was should they move to the suburbs. Dempsey -Tunney boxing match, designed for a plethora of differ- In his book Chicago's Cubs, ski-jump competitions, religious ent events but was not perfect author Jonathan Alter captured 2003 Preview 4 festivals, concerts, world cup for professional football. the discussion: soccer, and 41 college football Though it was not lamented all-star games. during the era of aging and mul- "I think that's fine, George. You're a businessman. Do what Ditka vs. Ryan 5 The Chicago Bears began tipurpose baseball/football stadi- you have to do. By the way, our playing their games full-time at ums, Soldier Field's "sightlines" lawyers say you can't take the Wrigley Field (then known as were poor. Because the sta- name Chicago with you out Cubs Park) in 1921, and contin- dium's seating areas rose at a there. We'd have to take you to ued to play there for 49 years. low pitch, fans were taken far- 2003 Draft Class 6 court. That could take years. I In 1970, the National Football ther away from the action as the wonder how many people will League ruled that all teams must seats rose. This configuration come out to see The Arlington play in stadiums that seated also contributed to crowd noise Heights Bears? I wonder how more than 50,000 fans, and the leaving the stadium. These Bears Trivia 6 excited the network people will Bears were forced to find a new problems would linger through- be about broadcasting The Ar- home. After losing a bid to out the organization's search for lington Heights Bears? move to Northwestern Univer- a new home. 2003 Tailgating 8 sity's Dyche Stadium, the Bears' Continued on next page new den became Soldier Field September 2003 Page 2 Soldier Field, continued You're a fine businessman, zations proposed building a dent didn't wait long to make George. You make the call." new Bears stadium south of his first announcement. Early Soldier Field, and in late 1989, that year, the Bears purchased In 1978, the team and the Chicago heard its first utterance options on land in suburban Chicago Park District, which of the word "McDome." Hoffman Estates and Aurora, owned and operated Soldier and proposed that a $285 mil- Field, reached an agreement. In McDome was a proposal lion open-air stadium be con- exchange for a 20-year lease for a new domed Bears sta- structed. That figure would from the Bears, Soldier Field dium, similar in style to those require $185 million in public would be renovated over the built in Indianapolis, Minnesota funds; the issue would never be Soldier Field’s course of the following three and Detroit. (One of these sta- brought to the legislature for a original seasons. Individual seats re- diums is now vacant, the other vote. configuration. placed benches, the stadium two have very unhappy tenants was reconfigured into a bowl and visitors). The dome was In a more striking develop- from a horseshoe, and new proposed to the Illinois Legisla- ment, McCaskey announced in skyboxes, press boxes, conces- ture as a part of the McCormick September of that year that he sion areas and restrooms were Place expansion plan. Bears and a group of Northwest Indi- constructed. These renovations President Michael McCaskey ana developers had come to an were completed prior to the aligned with Governor Jim agreement to build an entertain- 1982 season. Although the Edgar on the proposal, but the ment complex called "Planet stadium was much more func- plan was rejected by the Illinois Park," which would include a “By the way, tional than it was prior to these Legislature in late 1990. Al- new Bears stadium, in Gary, upgrades, terms of the lease though it's safe to say the vast IN. A month later, Daley re- our lawyers tell agreement would haunt the majority of Bears fans were sponded to the Bears with an team and drive it along its path relieved to learn the team would offer to spend $156 million to us you can’t to finding an alternative to the not be playing indoors, completely renovate Soldier then-55 year old building. McCaskey was disappointed, Field. The construction would take the name and for the first time indicated be completed during the offsea- Stadium peace lasted from that the organization would son in 1998, would drop the Chicago with the completion of Soldier Field consider all alternatives, includ- field 18 feet and create an upper renovations through the Bears' ing relocation, to acquire a new deck, add skyboxes, a score- you out there. I remarkable 1985 Super Bowl stadium. board and an exclusive restau- run. Just a few years after the rant. While McCaskey called wonder how new lease was signed, however, 1991-1994 was quiet on the proposal a "more thorough a new motivator for a redes- the new stadium/relocation plan than we expected," he also many people igned Bears stadium came into front, although Daley did pro- stated that he "didn't think reno- play. That force was the al- pose further renovations, in- vating Soldier Field will be the will come out to mighty dollar. During the late cluding installation of a jumbo answer." 1980's, teams that built sky- video scoreboard, in 1992. In see the boxes and negotiated leases exchange, the team would need McCaskey missed his self- which allowed them to share to sign a lease extension. The imposed deadline at the end of Arlington concession, parking and adver- proposed renovations were 1995 for having a new stadium tising revenues found financial pulled off the table by Daley plan in place. In December he Heights Bears.” windfalls, while teams that did after the firing of Mike Ditka dismissed Daley's stadium pro- not fell short. The Bears' lease on January 5, 1993. posal, asked Edgar to recon- -Chicago Mayor with the Chicago Park District sider the McDome plan, and In 1995, the Bears organi- gave them only a portion of the kept the Gary site as his trump Richard Daley revenues from concessions, and zation, led by McCaskey, came card. Speaking of the Gary out firing. McCaskey an- none from parking or signage plan, the developers had asked to George within the stadium. As other nounced that the team planned the team to sign a letter of in- on beginning the 2000 season in teams maximized these revenue tent on the deal by mid- Halas streams, those without begged a new stadium at any cost. "If February 1996 prior to them for renegotiations of leases or time slips away on this, we'll placing a Lake County, IN tax for new stadiums. have to consider other alterna- increase on that year's ballot. tives," McCaskey said as he Thus began a full 13 years imposed a deadline at the end On February 2, 1996, the of stadium talk in Chicago. In of 1995 to come to resolution Lake County Council rejected 1986, Chicago business organi- on the issue. The team presi- Continued on next page September 2003 Page 3 Soldier Field, conclusion the plan, and “Planet Park” was dismissed on December 28th, $587 million plan would build dead. and a flurry of new coaching the new 61,500 seat stadium prospects visited Halas Hall within the shell of the old Perhaps the most grandi- during the first three weeks of venue, preserving the historic The destruction of ose plan for a Bears stadium January. On the 22nd, colonnades and exterior walls. “old” Soldier Field was proposed in September, McCaskey called a news con- Included in the plan were the began immediately 1996, when Daley unveiled a ference to announce former creation of parkland surround- after the Bears’ playoff $395 million proposal to refur- loss to Philadelphia on Bear LB coach Dave McGinnis ing the stadium, a new parking January 19, 2002.