Soldier Field Information

Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. The professional NFL team the Chicago Bears has made the stadium its home since 1971. While the smallest stadium in the league, the field has been used for a number of events throughout its history. The design of Soldier Field is reminiscent of Greco-Roman imagery with large pillars and an open-air top.

  1. History

    • Construction began on Soldier Field in 1919 and the stadium was completed two years later. Over the years, Soldier Field hosted a number of sporting events. The most notable of these events was the College All-Star Game, an exhibition of the NFL champion team and an all-star collegiate team.

    Significance

    • Beginning in 1971, the Chicago Bears made Soldier Field their home. The stadium was also the site of the final Grateful Dead concert with Jerry Garcia in 1995.

    Geography

    • Soldier Field is located on Lake Michigan in the museum park district of Chicago. It is operated by the Soldier Field Joint Venture and the Chicago Park District.

    Size

    • Soldier Field was renovated between 2001 to 2003 to add capacity and update the stadium's features. As of 2009, capacity rose to 61,500 spectators. Despite this additional capacity, it remains the smallest stadium in the NFL.

    Features

    • The stadium is designed to appear like a Greek- or Roman-style coliseum. As of 2009, the field is comprised of grass and features the shortest distance between seating and the sidelines in the NFL, 55 feet.