Citizendia

Soldier Field
Stadium in a Park
Image:soldfldlogo.gif
Location16th Street, Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Broke ground1922
OpenedOctober 9, 1924
Reopened September 29, 2003
ClosedJanuary 19, 2002 - September 26, 2003
OwnerChicago Park District, City of Chicago
OperatorSMG-Soldier Field Joint Venture
SurfaceGrass (1924-1970), AstroTurf (1971-1987), Grass (1988-present)
Construction cost$10 million USD
$600 million USD (Renovation)
ArchitectHolabird & Roche
Former namesMunicipal Grant Park Stadium (1924-1925)
TenantsChicago Bears (NFL) (1971-2001) (2003-present)
Chicago Fire (MLS) (1998-2001) (2003-2005)
Chicago Enforcers (XFL) (2001)
Chicago Blitz (USFL) (1983-1984)
Chicago Sting (NASL) (1975-1976)
Chicago Winds (WFL) (1975)
Chicago Fire (WFL) (1974)
Chicago Cardinals (NFL) (1959)
Chicago Rockets/Hornets (AAFC) (1946-1949)
Chicago Spurs (NPSL) (1967)
1968 International Special Olympics Games
Capacity61,500

Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, and is currently home to the NFL's Chicago Bears. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Chicago Park District is the oldest and (financially largest Park district in the U Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The architectural firm of Holabird & Roche was founded in Chicago in 1880 The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Major League Soccer ( MLS) is the top-flight professional Soccer league in the United States and Canada with 14 teams 13 in the U The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago Illinois at Soldier Field. The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001 The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s For the proposed "New USFL" see United States Football League (2010. The Chicago Sting ( 1975 - 1994) was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago Illinois. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U The Chicago Winds was the World Football League 's ill-fated 1975 successor to the Chicago Fire. The World Football League was an American football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. The Chicago Fire was an American football team in the short-lived World Football League for one season 1974. The World Football League was an American football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. The Chicago Rockets was an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 The Chicago Spurs were a Soccer team based out of Chicago Illinois that played in the non- FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League The National Professional Soccer League (NPSL was a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The First International Special Olympics Games (Summer Special Olympics were held in Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois. Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore or The Drive) is a mostly Freeway -standard Expressway running Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. It reopened on September 29, 2003 after a complete rebuild (the second in the stadium's history). Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. The 2003 season of the National Football League (NFL was the 84th one played by the major professional American football league in the United

With the current stadium capacity of 61,500, Soldier Field became the smallest stadium in the NFL when the Indianapolis Colts moved out of the RCA Dome and into Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teamsThe following is a list of current National Football League stadiums, sorted by capacity their locations their first The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis Indiana. The RCA Dome was a Domed Stadium located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise Lucas Oil Stadium is a retractable roof stadium in Indianapolis Indiana. The 2008 NFL Season is the 89th season of the National Football League, the major professional American football league in the United States

Contents

History

Previously it was the site of the former College All-Star Game, an exhibition between the last year's NFL champion (or, in its final years, Super Bowl champion) and a team of collegiate all-star players of the previous season prior to their reporting to the training camps of their new professional teams. The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a Preseason American football game played annually (except in 1974 from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL This game was discontinued after the 1976 game due to the risk of injury to the all-stars in what was essentially a meaningless exhibition, and the lack of competitiveness of the game, which in its waning years was almost always won by the professional champions. The 1976 NFL season was the 57th Regular season of the National Football League.

Early configuration

In its earliest configuration Soldier Field was capable of seating nearly 74,000 spectators, and was in the shape of a U. Additional seating could be added along the interior field, upper promenades and on the large, open field and terrace beyond the north endzone, bringing the seating capacity to over 100,000. The largest crowd for any event at Soldier Field was 260,000 on September 8, 1954, for the Catholic Church's Marian Year Tribute. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) [1]

Early years with the Chicago Bears

Although used as the site for many sporting events and exhibitions, it was not until September 1971 that the Chicago Bears first made it their home. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd Regular season of the National Football League. Seating capacity was reduced to 57,000 by building a grandstand in the open end of the U shape. Seating capacity refers to the number This moved the field closer to both ends at the expense of seating capacity. The goal of this renovation was to move the fans closer to the field. Beginning in 1978, the plank seating was replaced by individual seats with backs and armrests. The 1978 NFL season was the 59th Regular season of the National Football League. By 1994, additional seating was added bringing the capacity to 66,944. The 1994 NFL season was the 75th Regular season of the National Football League. [2]

AstroTurf replaced the grass in 1971, when the Bears moved to the stadium. The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd Regular season of the National Football League. Grass returned for the 1988 football season. The 1988 NFL season was the 69th Regular season of the National Football League.

Origin of name and design model

The field serves as a memorial to American soldiers who died in wars, hence its name. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. It was designed in 1919 and completed in the 1920s. It officially opened on October 9, 1924 (the 53rd anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire), as Municipal Grant Park Stadium, changing its name to Soldier Field on November 11, 1925. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Great Chicago Fire was a Conflagration that burned from Sunday October 8 to early Tuesday October 10 1871 killing hundreds and destroying about four square miles in Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Its design is modelled on the Greco-Roman architectural tradition, with doric columns rising above the stands. In modern Olympic and amateur Wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling is a particular style and variation The Doric order was one of the three '''orders''' or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or Classical architecture; the other two Canonical However, after being rebuilt, the modern stands now dwarf the columns. The new stadium seats 61,500 people - 5,444 fewer than the old

Other events hosted

Mainly thought of as the long-time home of the NFL's Chicago Bears, the 100,000-seat stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan hosted the Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney championship fight in 1927, track and field competitions and several major college football games, including Army-Navy and Notre Dame-USC. The Battle Of The Long Count was the Boxing rematch between world Heavyweight champion Gene Tunney and former champion Jack Dempsey, held on September

The stadium was the site of numerous races. A 1/4 mile board track was built,[1] and the first two midget car races at the track in 1939 were won by Sam Hanks. UniontownPennsylvaniaBoardTrack1916Constructionjpg|thumb|right|Construction of a board track in Uniontown Pennsylvania in 1916]] Board track, or motordrome, Midget cars are very small Race cars with a very high Power-to-weight ratios and typically using Four-cylinder engines Despite their name they are fully Sam Hanks ( July 13 1914 &ndash June 27 1994) was an American Racecar driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500 [2] The track was also used for motorcycle races. The board track was removed and it was changed to a half-mile dirt oval track. This article concerns auto racing motorcycles, horses, and dogs also race on dirt tracks An oval track is a dedicated motorsport circuit primarily in the USA, which differs from a road course in that it only has turns in one direction which is almost In 1956, NASCAR swung through for its only race at Soldier Field. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Twenty-five cars started the 200-lapper, with Fireball Roberts averaging 61. Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts Jr ( January 20, 1929 – July 2, 1964) was one of the pioneering race car drivers of 037 mph to win $850. The racetrack was torn out in 1970. Soldier Field even hosted a Tractor pull in 1985, which was so loud that it echoed off the tall Downtown buildings. Truck and tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a competition using Tractors and large Trucks to pull a heavy drag along a 'track' and is very

In 1984, Soldier Field was listed in the National Register of Historic Places program managed by the National Park Service, and it was later designated a National Historic Landmark. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the Until their recent renovations in 2003.

Renovation

In 2001, the Chicago Park District, which owns the structure, faced substantial criticism from the Chicago Tribune when it announced plans to alter the stadium. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company Proponents, however, argued the renovation was direly needed citing aging and cramped facilities.

Reaction to the renovation was mixed. The New York Times ranked the facility as one of the five best new buildings of 2003,[3] while the Chicago Tribune architecture critic dubbed it the "Eyesore on the Lake Shore. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company "[4] While Bears fans generally regard the renovated exterior appearance as strange and ugly, they find the interior to be a pleasant and comfortable place to watch a football game.

On September 23, 2004, as a result of the 2003 renovation,[5] a 10-member federal advisory committee unanimously recommended that Soldier Field be delisted as a Landmark. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The recommendation to delist was prepared by Carol Ahlgren, architectural historian at the National Park Service's Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, Nebraska. Ms. Ahlgren was quoted in Preservation Online as stating that "If we had let this stand, I believe it would have lowered the standard of National Historic Landmarks throughout the country" and "If we want to keep the integrity of the program, let alone the landmarks, we really had no other recourse. " The stadium lost the Landmark designation on February 17, 2006, primarily due to the extent of the renovations. Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [6]

The current design of the stadium, with the Greek style columns being the primary renmant of the older facility, has prompted some fans to refer to the stadium as the "Spaceship on Soldier Field". [7] This is because of how the new stadium bowl rises above and hangs over the columns, which was largely not the case in the older design.

Notable events

  • The 1985 NFC Championship Game took place in Soldier Field, where the Bears defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-0. The NFL playoffs following the 1985 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XX.
  • The 1988 NFC Championship Game took place here, where the Bears lost to eventual Super Bowl XXIII champions San Francisco 49ers 28-3. The NFL playoffs following the 1988 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIII. Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Florida to decide the National Football The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team
  • The 2006 NFC Championship Game granted the Bears their second trip to the Super Bowl, the first in 21 years, with a 39-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints. No original research and Verifiability. All content regarding the officiating or controversial calls that is unsourced Super Bowl XLI was an American football game played on February 4 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana.

Image gallery

Aerial view of Soldier Field, circa 1988. Behind it is the Field Museum of Natural History. The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

A sailor and his family, gazing eastward, over Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. Detail of a sculpture at Soldier Field.

Soldier Field as seen from Northerly Island

A soldier and son

Westerly view of Exterior of Soldier Field

Northerly view in front of Bronze Mural 2007-Jan-10

Front of Bronze Mural 2007-Jan-10

Back of Bronze Mural 2007-Jan-10

Southerly view against skyline backdrop from Lake Shore Drive 2007-Jan-10

Soldier Field viewed from McCormick Place. Northerly Island is a 91- acre man-made Peninsula along Chicago 's lakefront Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore or The Drive) is a mostly Freeway -standard Expressway running History As early as 1927 Robert R McCormick and the newspaper he controlled the Chicago Tribune, championed a purpose-built lakeside

Soldier Field with view of new additions to top

References

  1. ^ Biography for Ronney Householder at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Retrieved October 9, 2007
  2. ^ Biography for Sam Hanks at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Retrieved October 9, 2007
  3. ^ (ARCHITECTURE: THE HIGHS; The Buildings (and Plans) of the Year By HERBERT MUSCHAMP (NYT) Published: December 28, 2003)
  4. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0407250421jul25,1,7977992.story?coll=chi-archspecials-hed
  5. ^ Soldier Field loses National Historic Landmark status - < General Cultural Resources News Detail on eCUltural Resources >
  6. ^ National Park Service: Listing changes 4/17/06 through 4/21/06
  7. ^ A stadium deal that is hard to bear. Ronney Householder ( May 5, 1908 Omaha Nebraska &ndash November 11, 1972 Detroit Michigan) was an American The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Sam Hanks ( July 13 1914 &ndash June 27 1994) was an American Racecar driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500 The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation Steve Chapman. Chicago Tribune (2003-09-14). Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony
  8. ^ a b 2002 NCAA Records book - Attendance Records page 494 (PDF)
  9. ^ Cook County Listings at the National Register of Historic Places; Ref. #84001052

External links

Preceded by

Wrigley Field
Memorial Stadium (Champaign)		Home of the
Chicago Bears
1971 – 2001
2003 – present		Succeeded by

Memorial Stadium (Champaign)
current stadium
Preceded by
Comiskey Park		Home of the
Chicago Cardinals
1959		Succeeded by
Busch Stadium
Preceded by

first stadium
Cardinal Stadium		Home of the
Chicago Fire
1998 – 2002
2003 – 2005		Succeeded by

Cardinal Stadium
Toyota Park
Preceded by
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford		CONCACAF Gold Cup
Final Venue
2007		Succeeded by
2009 Final Venue


Wrigley Field is a Baseball Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Memorial Stadium is a football Stadium located in Champaign Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. Memorial Stadium is a football Stadium located in Champaign Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Comiskey Park (35th Street & Shields Avenue Chicago, Illinois) was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990 The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. For the race track outside Chicago known as Sportsman's Park see Chicago Motor Speedway. Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is a stadium in Naperville Illinois. Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is a stadium in Naperville Illinois. Toyota Park is the home stadium for the Chicago Fire, members of Major League Soccer (MLS Giants Stadium, is the home Stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams of the NFL, and the Red Bull New East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF. The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the association football championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean ( CONCACAF
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