NFL owners approve two Soldier Field renovation projects
On Wednesday, NFL owners approved a couple of Soldier Field renovation projects for the Chicago Bears. The approval involves financing for the 2015 scoreboard installation and the 2019 videoboard installation near the Walter Payton and George Halas statues.
The initial announcement regarding a “Chicago stadium project” had many fans wondering if a potential move to Arlington Heights — an always popular rumor given Arlington International Racecourse is for sale — was about to ramp up. But the Bears have a lease at Soldier Field through 2033.
Since I guess I kicked a hornet's nest in Chicago … some clarity—the Bears' stadium project financing that was approved today by the owners relates back to video boards that went up in 2015, statues built in 2019.
(Didn't realize the stadium thing was so sensitive there!)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 26, 2021
The Bears had seven digital video screens installed inside the stadium, including high-definition scoreboards in each end zone, in 2015. They also had two sideboards posted along the outside of the stadium by the statues of Halas and Payton.
It sounds like the Bears will be welcoming fans back at Soldier Field in full capacity for the 2021 season, as they’re already one of 30 teams that have approval for full capacity stadiums to begin the preseason.
Earlier this month, the Bears confirmed they would be welcoming fans back to Soldier Field, but they had not issued any limits on capacity at that time. Single-game tickets then went on sale two weeks ago following the schedule release.
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