NFL: Bearing the Soldier Field Burden

By Noah Davis UsFANS.com Managing Editor

The Chicago Bears finally ended their often-contentious search for an upgrade of Soldier Field. The Bears will spend $365 million to completely renovate Soldier Field, as part of the city’s $586 million plan to improve the lakefront area.

The $365 million price tag easily dwarfs the renovations scheduled for Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, which is priced at $295 million. Soldier Field’s remodeling also comes close to what the Houston Texans are paying ($395 million) for a brand-new domed facility, which is scheduled to open for the 2002 season.

So where is the money coming from? I’m glad you asked.

As a former president would say, no new taxes. Instead, the city is diverting some funds from an already existing tourism tax and the Bears will contribute $200 million. The Bears are borrowing half of that sum from the NFL through its G-3 loan policy for the league’s largest markets. Another $50 million will be borrowed through other sources, and the final $50 million the Bears are kicking in will come stadium revenue.

Which brings us to the crux of the matter.

The team will start selling personal seat licenses (PSLs) for approximately half of the renovated seats, much like the Packers are doing to help finance their stadium renovation. This means that season ticket holders are yet again paying for the privilege of buying their tickets. In Green Bay PSLs are being sold at $2000 apiece. Considering the size of the Chicago market, that number will certainly be higher for Soldier Field.

Other stadium revenues include concessions and merchandise, also certain to see a price hike. And the Bears are likely to try and sell the naming rights to the new facility. However, the Bears will probably receive a lower than standard deal, as team officials will insist that the sobriquet Soldier Field remain part of any naming-rights deal.

The fans of Chicago are bearing the immediate impact of Soldier Field’s renovations.

And at what cost to the average fan? The stadium’s seating capacity is being REDUCED from 66,944 to 63,000 – now 4,000 fewer fans will be able to attend each game. Cheaper seating (admittedly with poor sight lines) is being replaced with more upscale club seats (8,600) and 133 luxury boxes.

Joe Q. Public now has less chance of getting a seat at Soldier Field, and there’s less likelihood that he could afford one.

Sure, the new place is supposed to look nice and have all new amenities. The facility’s front colonnades will be kept – but they have to be, as they are protected as a historic landmark. The new luxury suites will all be added elegantly on just one side – the east – and there will be two new super-sized video screens, one at each end of the stadium.

The Bears hope to begin the remodeling after the 2001 season and resume playing at Soldier Field in 2003. The 2002 season will be spent on the road: either at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois (capacity 72,000) or at Notre Dame Stadium. Both locations are about two hours outside of Chicago.

The deal isn’t final, as it still has to be passed by the Illinois state legislature. If fans wish to speak up, they better do so now.

Article courtesy of UsFANS.com