Soldier Field Games

In 1924, Municipal Grant Park Stadium was built in Chicago. The park was soon renamed Soldier Field as a tribute to American military members. Known for its cold temperatures, the stadium has hosted a variety of sports games over the years. Soldier Field's most well-known tenant, the NFL's Chicago Bears, began playing at the stadium in 1971. The stadium closed for renovations in 2001 and reopened in 2003 after millions of dollars in improvements. It now holds a capacity of 63,000.

  1. Professional Football

    • In 1970, the NFL forced the Chicago Bears out of their previous home, Wrigley Field, due to a low capacity. The Bears moved their games to Soldier Field in 1971. Every season, the team plays eight regular-season home games, two exhibition games and the occasional playoff game at Soldier Field. The Super Bowl has never been held at Soldier Field, but as recently as 2011, the NFC Championship took place in the stadium.

    MLS Soccer

    • The Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) began playing at Soldier Field in 1998, and the team won the league championship that year. When Soldier Field shut down for renovations in 2001, the Fire briefly moved to North Central College's Cardinal Stadium before returning to Soldier Field in 2003. In 2006, Toyota Park opened and became the home for the Fire. The team still plays an occasional exhibition match in Soldier Field. In 2011, the team played international powerhouse Manchester United of the English Premier League.

    International Soccer

    • In addition to international exhibition games, Soldier Field has hosted premier soccer tournaments. In 1994, five World Cup matches took place at Soldier Field. The renovation of the stadium improved sightlines for football games but made the field no longer wide enough for championship soccer. Regardless, Soldier Field still hosts smaller tournaments, such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2011, El Salvador, Cuba, Mexico and Costa Rica will play soccer at Soldier Field.

    College Football

    • Soldier Field has hosted dozens of college football games since its opening. This includes more than 40 college football all-star games. In addition, local universities, including Northwestern and Northern Illinois, play occasional games at the stadium.

    Other Events

    • Many other sporting games and events have taken place at Soldier Field. The field hosted a boxing match soon after opening featuring heavyweights Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. Ski-jump competitions, stock car races, runs, walks and rodeos have also taken place at Soldier Field.