Why Chicago's Soldier Field is Ugly

Рет қаралды 71,952

Ай бұрын

The stadium, commonly called Soldier Field, stands as a monumental symbol in Chicago's sporting and architectural landscape. Constructed in 1924 and initially named Municipal Grant Park Stadium, it was renamed Soldier Field in 1925 to honor American soldiers who lost their lives in combat. Originally designed as a multipurpose venue, Soldier Field has hosted many events, including football games, concerts, and political rallies. Over the years, the stadium underwent several renovations, notably in 2003, when it was extensively modernized while preserving its historic façade. Today, Soldier Field not only remains home to the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) but also serves as a vibrant venue for various cultural and entertainment events, reflecting the city's dynamic present alongside its rich heritage.
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Пікірлер: 269

@WarmandHardy Ай бұрын

Most of us called the remodel, “When the space ship landed.”

@richardstonyisland9719 Ай бұрын

I remember that green light and spaceship a few years ago

@ponyote Ай бұрын

Who knew Area 51 was actually in Chicago? :D

@agbook2007 26 күн бұрын

It looks like a spaceship landing on the colonnades. Crazy.

@cubnation 32 минут бұрын

Mistake by the lake. 😑😑

@peteklein630 Ай бұрын

Having been a Chicagoan for the first half of my soon to be seventy-year life, I must commend the designers of this new facility for FINALLY accomplishing something which no one has been capable of in multiple generations... TO GET ALL CHICAGOANS TO AGREE ON SOMETHING!!!

@carstarsarstenstesenn 23 күн бұрын

haha nice

@kalban112 29 күн бұрын

When you rebuild historical building into modern building, it is no longer historical building...

@jeremycox2983 27 күн бұрын

This is just another reason why the chicago bears still stink. GO PACK GO

@brick6347 25 күн бұрын

This is all too common. Liverpool, UK, lost it's UNESCO World Heritage status (in part) because of a new football stadium too. But at least Soldier Field could be, in theory, undone. The iconic twin towers of Wembley stadium in London, which hosted two Olympics, a world cup final, and the famous Live Aid concert was just unceremoniously demolished.

@majorbuzz Ай бұрын

I was in Soldier Field only once. When I was a young boy in the 1960s, my dad took me to some type of firefighter competition and demonstration. Local newsman Fahey Flynn was rescued from a burning facade during the program.

@stephenmoerlein8470 Ай бұрын

The new stadium should have been located elsewhere so the original majestic stadium would remained unmarred. Thanks for presenting this interesting historical content.

@johnallen8248 29 күн бұрын

For how long though. It would be a money pit for the city, taking up prime real estate, needing constant maintenance, and bringing in no profit.

@Bikeguychicago1 29 күн бұрын

I honestly wonder if any thought was given to upgrading the existing structure like what was done with that place up North in the frozen tundra. Doing so would have preserved the building's historical significance while providing the modern amenities required of new stadiums.

@commodorezero 29 күн бұрын

This is a false choice because they probably would have demolished the stadium if they didn't do the renovation.

@nochey78 28 күн бұрын

@@Bikeguychicago1well… that’s actually what they tried to do with soldier field… it just got botched..

@aWomanFreed 27 күн бұрын

No kidding. Not to mention the years of traffic problems this is gonna cause. Theres no other way to go north/south along the lake.

@RustyLoaf 29 күн бұрын

The new covered stadium proposal they just unveiled makes me laugh because, like... why didn't y'all propose something like this in the first place before you blew hundreds of millions of dollars to land a toilet bowl inside the stadium???

@TheSjuris 26 күн бұрын

They did, they couldn’t do that without demolishing the historic facade. The new stadium proposal is dead on arrival.

@napoleonsolo3784 26 күн бұрын

They did but Daily screwed up the deal back in the 90’s (aka payoffs ) we could have had 2-3 super bowls in the last 30 years plus other national international events

@travisbeagle5691 22 күн бұрын

@@TheSjuris They aren't using Soldier Field. They're moving the stadium to the site of one of the parking lots and converting soldier field to a sports park.

@TheSjuris 22 күн бұрын

@@travisbeagle5691 they can’t legally touch the facade. The city has much bigger problems then building a stadium where they won’t get a single dime from. It’s a waste of taxpayer money. Build a stadium for a team and only the team gets all the revenue from everything.

@travisbeagle5691 22 күн бұрын

@@TheSjuris That's an issue with damn near every stadium this project is not unique in that regard. There wasn't going to be any really great option here between the 3 that have been brought up, but this new one shifting the stadium over and repurposing Soldier Field I think is the best of the 3 we've seen.

@peterdore2572 29 күн бұрын

I love this Channel. The topics are underrated and not well known. Every video has HOURS of Extensive Research that can only be done by a Team of Profesionnals! Really Top notch Quality! Thank you 😊

@Josh-yr7gd Ай бұрын

The timing of this video is perfect. There have been discussions of rebuilding and relocating Cleveland Browns Stadium. Preliminary renderings were released just yesterday. The crazy part is the current stadium was completed only 25 years ago in 1999 which replaced the old Municipal Stadium built in 1931. Right after the original stadium closed, I remember seeing people carrying whole rows of seating out to their vehicles to keep for memorabilia. Just like in the video, there are a lot of different opinions of what should be done. I just hope the new stadium does Cleveland history justice.

@TRAINRUNNA1 28 күн бұрын

I went to a Blackhawks game at Chicago Stadium in the early 80s. During one intermission when we went to the restroom, there were men, more than one at a time, urinating in the sinks. Disgusting

@jamesschulziii9098 Күн бұрын

The only time I was inside the stadium was during the world cup in 1994, I worked as a laborer for illiana fence installing temporary gates for the event. Love the look of that grand old structure. Not so much now unfortunately. Great video as always Mr Socash.❤️💯👍

@chouseification Ай бұрын

I vividly remember seeing the band Chicago playing (during the Taste of Chicago some year in the early 80s) in the old "back arena" section. Unlike the main stadium, this was an area with old rotting wooden bleachers, clearly not used for many events. The story I heard was they made the stadium too long originally, so at some point they built a new set of seating which enclosed the back area... whose seating was on the original stadium tiers.

@carolynhotchkiss4760 Ай бұрын

I know I was told about my parents attending a football game at Soldier Field when they were first married, which would be the mid-50s, and I could swear they told me the Bears were playing, so it's always a bit jarring for me to get reminded that they didn't move in until 1971. I can't ask them now, they're both gone, but I wonder if it was a Cardinals game? There was a thick fog and they couldn't see the playing field. As for the current iteration, it's less of an icon and more of an eyesore. Why could they not have at least tried to match or find an architectural exterior style that went with what was there already?

@Backroad_Junkie Ай бұрын

Could have been the Cardinals, but I think they used to play in Comiskey in the 50's. The Bears played in Wrigley.. BTW, the Fog Bowl was played in Soldier Field on New Years Eve, 1988. *That* was a wild game, lol...

@burningphoneix Ай бұрын

Yeah that's jarring to hear. I'm not from Chicago but I could've sworn that the Bears moved into Soldier Field in the 30s...

@mikenixon2401 Ай бұрын

Great presentation. You answered questions I have had for decades. Thank you.

@ITSHISTORY Ай бұрын

You're very welcome!

@user-jg9li4ug6j 4 күн бұрын

As a life long, die hard Bears fan(not from Chicago) I really enjoyed this video you did a great job! thank you!

@LordBussey 29 күн бұрын

You should do a video on the Chicago Bucket Boys! Everyone who grew up in Chicago would love the history of the Bucket boys as they have always been a classical Chicago staple.

@DeanStephen Ай бұрын

What a loss that the structure was not constructed as originally designed.

@VisionCommunications 26 күн бұрын

The thing is, that would only seat 20,000 people and have no real practical use today

@natevart4156 26 күн бұрын

@@VisionCommunicationswhat are you talking about ?? Soldier field originally held 70,000 which is more than it holds today. Plus there definitely would be use for it today just like there was in the past it could be used for all sorts of sports and games and events. That’s how it was originally intended to be used not for one team to stay there and change it. Multiple different colleges and different organizations got to use it which could have still happened today if the bears didn’t ruin it

@2dogsf-ing 29 күн бұрын

What is up with the blurred out word on the solider field picture thing. "Dedicated to the defenders of our ____?" The last word is censored for some reason.

@shaunnichols1743 26 күн бұрын

A big part of the problem is footprint. Most modern stadiums could fit the old Soldier field inside their lower bowl. Trying to put one on a plot of land that size was never going to go well. On top of that, most of the stadiums built during that era have not aged well and need major renovations already.

@edholmwood2263 Ай бұрын

The Bears played in Wrigley into the 70's. Soldier Field was almost abandoned. They used to run stock car races there in the 50's & early 60's. We saw Pink Floyd there in 1977 along with 100,00 of our closest friends. It is hideous. Great video Ryan.

@stevenj9970 Ай бұрын

We in Chicago say it looks as though they landed a toilet bowl inside 'Soldier Field'. Bravo to the announcer for not saying...."Soldier's Field"..............

@msbgone Ай бұрын

Soldier's is a better saying then Jewel's... LOL....

@briansierzega 29 күн бұрын

I went to the Jewel’s ov’r by da Sears Tower a couple two tree hours ago 😉😜

@stevenj9970 29 күн бұрын

@@msbgone lots of stupid folks here and everywhere......like going to to THE starbucks or THE target.

@richardvinsen2385 23 күн бұрын

@@stevenj9970My mother always said, “the Jewel.”

@kriskris998 23 күн бұрын

There no such a thing like historical things when comes to stadium. For example the Wembley stadium in London one of the most iconic sports venues in the world was torn down, and they built a new modern stadium in the same place.

@Brandon-im9wj 2 күн бұрын

Baseball has a couple exceptions like Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago.

@BrianBeauchamp 26 күн бұрын

It has always looked like they landed a spaceship on Soldier Field.

@tomace7924 10 күн бұрын

The Soldier Field renovation is the epitome of the old adage of “When you try to please everyone, you wind up pleasing no one.”

@cubnation 36 минут бұрын

They should make the owners of the Bears restore Soldier Field back to it's beautiful, pre-spaceship, self. They made it ugly. Now they should fix it!

@herrdrayer 29 күн бұрын

I'd love to see a collaboration between Ryan and Stewart Hicks on the subject of Soldier Field.

@JayygotdaJuiice 25 күн бұрын

Would love to hear about some other big parks and fields we had/have in Chicago. Like Normal Park, the Amphitheater, OG Comiskey, and Chicago Stadium

@robertlevine2152 29 күн бұрын

It's a shame that they didn't blend the modern features of a new stadium with the architecture of Soldier Field's historic design. When the University of Michigan added luxury suites to Michigan Stadium they designed the additions using the Intramural Sports Building and Yost Ice Arena as models. You can say the same thing about Yankee Stadium in New York City. The new Yankee Stadium looks a lot like the old one.

@user-jf4nj3ez2k 16 күн бұрын

Wasn't really big enough to do that Problem was the original Soldier Field wasn't actually built for football. In 2002 they probably should have turned the playing field to East/ west from north/ south.

@johnturgeon6826 17 күн бұрын

Not Ugly, it has character.

@ryans7097 4 күн бұрын

Definitely understand people who were used to the old stadium why people including you wouldn't like this. Personally my first time visiting Chicago I walked around the outside of soldier field and thought it was really cool and unique. It had a nice mix of old and new. The area around it is really nice too where most NFL stadiums I've been to just sit the middle of a massive parking lot.

@Becauseimme 16 күн бұрын

I think the “New Soldier Field” looks great still, if you were to put this stadium in any other market, people would love it. I get the Chicagoland’s trepidation, that’s like putting that stadium inside of the LA Coliseum, it wouldn’t be a welcoming design.

@eolsen2007 29 күн бұрын

I would carefully remove the 2000s structure and restore the former pre-bear's shape I would have 10 rows and have parking underneath with event space up top. If a New Bear's stadium is built near Soldier Field fan experience and some parking. If a site outside this area gets built make a ADA compliant venue that can hold event's and get back on the National Register of Historic Places. have seating of 18k to 30k for high school football, and youth soccer along with concerts, boxing and other events.

@DLeadVox 29 күн бұрын

💛💛💛 Chicagofest was held there. I remember seeing the beach boys play. Circa 82? I went to Bears games in the stinky bathroom phase...yes, they were a nightmare, and COLD. There was nowhere you could go to get out of the cold except leave. The wind would come off the lake and blow through the concrete structure and without the sun's light, it would chill you to the bone. (Late 80's) We sat on stadium seats that had 2 inches of solid ice on them! Someone went out and purchased all the newspapers fron a local stand and passed them out to all in our section!!! Burrr! Fun times! When they built the space ship, it looked like a giant bed pan! It cost way too much money. Nobody liked it. The Bears destroyed Soldier Field. Now, they have destroyed Arligton Park Racetrack too. Now, they want a new stadium in the parking lot next to the old one. Remember Comiski Park? Monsters of the midway indeed..... MONSTERS.

@straightlikethat09 16 күн бұрын

This has always been one of my favorite NFL stadiums. It’s really unique. It’s not ugly it has good proportions and risk taking architecture. It’s just dated now

@denehardy949 26 күн бұрын

I would agree with one of the statements made in the video. The difference between the 2 style of the 2 designs is jarring, they are just too different to go to together! It blows my mind that these things can happen.

@sandybruce9092 Ай бұрын

I wouldn’t say ugly - but that flying saucer thing on top is a bit ridiculous! The one good thing is that the older parts were not demolished as so many other buildings of great antiquity are! I do think there could have been a much better design!

@TheLatinMass 28 күн бұрын

First time I saw the current remodel, it was ugly. I drove by and then had a chance to walk around the exterior. Close up it was just as unattractive and clear that a landmark had been vandalized with the renovation. Years later, when I've visited Chicago, the stadium is still hideous. With that said, I'm sure the interior is very nice, and the facilities are as well. That exterior is a backhanded compliment to the classical facade left in place.

@Micropops 10 күн бұрын

I agree I couldn't believe the look when it first started to rise out of the ruins. And they want to replace it just 20 years later!!

@theonlydiego1 5 күн бұрын

Honestly never knew about the Roman artifact that was at the park. I’ll need to see it next time I go to a Fire game.

@CPDheadstomp Ай бұрын

I hate the way it looks now. I worked the traffic detail during the summer. I was stationed at the traffic light at LSD and McFetridge. Sorry if you got stuck in traffic during the early 2000’s.

@rheteric 28 күн бұрын

I feel like they did it backwards... The attractive side faces the lake. The ugly side faces the masses.

@moonytheloony6516 23 күн бұрын

Maybe for you there is an attractive side but from any angle, in my view, there is no attractive side to this Soldier Field. It's ugly and the Bears wisely plan to finally leave the place.

@Tank4Life 7 күн бұрын

I've been to Soldier Field. It's actually a very nice stadium. I had a great time there.

@trekkiexb5 27 күн бұрын

When I went to the field Museum for the first time, I loved the building's classical look. The Shedd Aquarium looked great, too. Oh, look! What's that classical building over th---!!!!?!?! OMG!!!! There ARE Aliens! Then a local told me that was Soldier Field, home of the Bears... REALLY? That hideous thing? I am glad I wasn't the only one who thought aliens crashed into Soldier Field. The Bears can move, leave the original Soldier Field and turn it into a Museum or something. Or revert to its original purpose. Bears deserve a better field, maybe they will win more. Heck, I'd bet Wrigley would take them back for a few years.

@wynnpetsovich34 26 күн бұрын

I’d love to see the white Sox build a stadium with columns like soldier field. They can put it right where comiskey was and turn the other one into a parking lot.

@jetsons101 29 күн бұрын

Hmmmmm At 12:07 what event had all the old cars driving around the field ??????

@user-jf4nj3ez2k 16 күн бұрын

Probably auto racing. They used to have it there before the Bears started playing there

@freetolook3727 29 күн бұрын

The Boston Store in Chicago, how ironic! 😂

@dumbestoyster 29 күн бұрын

The more I look at it, the more I don't understand it. The seating doesn't make sense, it reminds Me of Candlestick park. No balance, or continuity

@burningphoneix Ай бұрын

"We don't have enough toilets and concession stands? What's the answer?" "We could perhaps extend the existing building to create space for the... "UFO! BOOYAH!"

@Bikeguychicago1 29 күн бұрын

Well now you have a giant bed pan to relieve yourselves :)

@bigz4302 3 күн бұрын

Wrigley field managed to go through a redesign and renovation without losing any of its original look or charm. They could've easily gutted the interior and made the endzone seating look like the roman coliseum and it wouldnt have hurt its historical status

@davideastham Ай бұрын

I agree, the 'remodel' should not have been done that way.

@nochey78 Ай бұрын

How should it have been done??? Considering the constraints of the original infrastructure,What other way was there to do it?? If anything…they should’ve just built a completely new stadium back then… For what was spent on the soldier field remodel, that was most certainly doable.

@Backroad_Junkie Ай бұрын

@@nochey78 If you take a look at the rest of the Museum Campus, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium, Soldier Field looks like they dumped a silver toilet into it. It didn't fit with the esthetic of the area at all. But they didn't care...

@nochey78 Ай бұрын

@@Backroad_Junkie yes I’m aware that soldier field isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing facility… but it beats the pit that it was before it was renovated. But I’d still like to know what other ways the renovation could have been done considering the infrastructural limitations..

@Backroad_Junkie Ай бұрын

@@nochey78 You make it look like the rest of the Museum Campus. If they could figure out how to put that glass monstrosity in the stadium, they could have figured out how too make it look like the surrounding buildlings...

@nochey78 Ай бұрын

@@Backroad_Junkie if they could’ve done lt like that, I’m pretty sure they would’ve… The reason they did it like that is because the infrastructure couldn’t permit anything other than that…. Because of limited amount of space within soldier fields frame, they had to build up in a way when the columns couldn’t be seen from the outside. And it had to have a smaller capacity.. that’s why the decks are so bunched up together in the place currently.. And since the seating decks had to be built so high.. there’s no way it could’ve been build to look like the rest of the campus… it was gonna look different and out of place no matter what.. Again… you need to take in consideration the limitations of the place from an infrastructural aspect.. But that still doesn’t change the fact that… instead of renovation soldier field, they should’ve just built a completely new stadium..

@millcity9711 Ай бұрын

Wonder what the next complete stadium remodel will look like?

@capnsalty0200 29 күн бұрын

With this new proposal by the Bears to build a new stadium on the lake front what happens to Soldier Field? Do the leave the saucer in in the middle or do they remove and try to restore some of the magnificence to the structure, or will it remain the Mistake by the Lake?

@joeshoe6184 26 күн бұрын

There are renderings online that detail how it will look.

@ridemywheelie 21 күн бұрын

Why did the old newspaper call it "Soldiers' Field" when describing the Bears-Packers game? Was that an original accepted name?

@isaiahpyron7491 26 күн бұрын

Don't ever say that my teams stadium is ugly, idc how old it is, it's a beautiful site to see

@DERRTYCHYBO 6 күн бұрын

Nope

@timewave02012 29 күн бұрын

They should have done a less destructive remodel, lived with lower capacity until somewhere like the proposed site in Arlington Heights was available, moved the Bears there, and kept Soldier Field for lower capacity events. I've never been there, but I'm considering going to the Metallica show this summer. You could say I'd get the full Bears fan experience-seeing a group-at Soldier Field-that was better in the 1980s.

@TheSjuris 26 күн бұрын

The sad thing is, the Bears wanted to move to Arlington Heights in the 70’s.

@briansieve 25 күн бұрын

I worked events there from 2006 to 2011. It was beautiful inside. And still had gravitas. But it did not do justice to the original. They could have harmonized the new and old better

@danielgranny2x522 2 сағат бұрын

Bro I am from Chicago born and raised bro we don’t give a care about the stadium how it looks or nothing we got a whole downtown we could care less how the stadium looks

@rickradix7464 10 күн бұрын

Close encounters of the third kind is what my friends and i refer to it as, when we go there.

@paweltylman9831 18 күн бұрын

Hope for new stadium

@kosjeyr 29 күн бұрын

I'm not a fan of the spaceship.

@mattyg4186 29 күн бұрын

They are currently planning a new stadium where the parking lot is now and demolishing soldier field except for the historic Pillars, Collums and exterior and making it look like a memorial park.

@robertgriffin445 29 күн бұрын

I’m a building engineer and big fan of architecture. I wish they did it the right way like how Notre Dame renovated there football stadium or even how University of Michigan renovated the Big House. The way the Yankees renovated old Yankee Stadium or Cubs renovating Wrigley Field. Yes, baseball stadium are held to different standards compared to football stadiums. Solider’s Field should have been held to that standard because of why it was built as memorial to all the solider’s that served in any branch of arm services. Look what the Packers did with Lambeau Field. It’s a shame that they ruined such a historical landmark. Now with new stadium proposal they try to make it look like the ruins of Roman Coliseum which is nice. Done the right way the first time the Bears wouldn’t need a new stadium

@aWomanFreed 27 күн бұрын

The Wrigley renovation wasn’t just the stadium. They changed the entire neighborhood.

@Knightmessenger 24 күн бұрын

Original Yankee Stadium is gone. But the current stadium was built to look as much like the old one as possible.

@marblox9300 12 күн бұрын

@@Knightmessenger As a Chicagoan - The Original Pre -1975 Yankee Stadium is the ONLY real one. Blocked Views and all. Never liked the 1975 version.

@Knightmessenger 10 күн бұрын

@@marblox9300 I get that people don't like new Yankee Stadium or even the 70s renovations. But it's not a night and day difference like with Soldier Field or the Detroit Tigers abandoning Tiger Stadium for Comerica Park. Those examples didn't even try.

@beaniemac 26 күн бұрын

Us Chicago taxpayers are still paying for that 2002 renovation and the bears are out here begging us to finance another stadium for them 🤬

@jamesmiller5331 11 күн бұрын

Damn You guys can make a huge return putting in on a new stadium though

@beaniemac 10 күн бұрын

@@jamesmiller5331 countless studies have proven that publicly funded stadiums do NOT really benefit the taxpayers who fund those stadiums.

@jamesmiller5331 10 күн бұрын

@@beaniemac depends on the deal that is made I guess. If they can't make a good deal, I don't blame you

@beaniemac 10 күн бұрын

@@jamesmiller5331 I've yet to hear of a good deal for taxpayers on a publicly financed stadium. The one we funded for the bears last time didn't yield is any tangible benefits.

@kelvarnsen 23 сағат бұрын

So how come they didn't build it with the obelisk like the original design?

@michaelvaughn1496 29 күн бұрын

The "PITCH"? I didn't know Chicago was in Dorset or Cornwall. My goodness, when did the city secede and rejoin the UK?

@joedirt3449 27 күн бұрын

Recolonize back better

@josephpiskac2781 27 күн бұрын

I have seen the latest structure and I love it.

@VisionCommunications 26 күн бұрын

I think Soldier Field blends the old with the modern in the best possible manner. There's no real significance to being on the national historic register. They have other structures that are old and will remain old looking forever. A modern public venue that accommodates tens of thousands of people should not be tied to a historical designation. If they want it to be historic, make it a museum.

@KevinFields777 16 күн бұрын

If the Bears get their new stadium, this newer abomination should be torn down and a replica of the original field restored.

@freetolook3727 29 күн бұрын

The Fog Bowl game!

@donkraemer50 14 күн бұрын

Why was the huge monument not built at the rounded end?

@-Katastrophe 28 күн бұрын

They should have just continued columns around the outside of the bowl so it wouldn't look as awkward.

@Gamer_King8558 2 күн бұрын

i live in chicago and kinda hate soilder field because it is such low capacity

@TM10000 11 күн бұрын

For a city that prides itself based on its architecture Soldiers Field renovation is a disgraceful eyesore.

@bobbyguzman7434 Ай бұрын

I moved to the other side of the train when passing by on Amtrak seeing it made me sick, I bet the original designers and builders would be against the design

@briansivley2001 28 күн бұрын

I honestly don't think The Bears will be able to build New Soldier Field on the parking lot next to Old Soldier Field because of the law of having no industry and buildings east of Lake Shore Drive and Friends Of The Park. It'll be the exact same situation that The Lucas Museum had when that happened and we all know what happened with that potential project. Unless the city can convince Friends Of The Park to not interfere and mind their own business I can guarantee that this won't happen. And funny thing is that within 2 miles west of Soldier Field is a great place for The Bears to build their new Stadium at but they would have to work with The White Sox to determine how to do it. There's other cities that have their football and baseball stadiums next to each other. Seattle has their football and baseball stadiums right next to each other and Arlington Texas has AT&T Park and Globe Life Field across from each other so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for two different spots teams to build their stadiums next to each other they just need to work together. Or The Bears should respect what Arlington Heights wants and agree with what they want. I honestly don't think they'll be able to build New Soldier Field on the parking lot next to Old Soldier Field unless Friends Of The Park can be held at bay because they will do everything in their power to protect the park.

@Bikeguychicago1 29 күн бұрын

Ryan, aside from cost and any political finaglings, what is your opinion on the new stadium proposal?

@user-wj3qu4fs4d Ай бұрын

You never mentioned auto racing at soldier Field

@darryljorden9177 Ай бұрын

I remember those stockcar races. Fireworks afterwards.

@MattZaycYT 26 күн бұрын

The top of the soldier field is ugly. The lower part is absolutely gorgeous! I am sad they will destroy it because of the failure of the top.

@lowtek32 20 күн бұрын

Sad some cities are broken, but many puzzles for historians to solve!

@damiant.mccalman8123 7 күн бұрын

I would say that half of it is ugly. The side with the glass and probably suites looks awesome and it doesn't take away from the old structure. But the other side, the west end is the issue. It "overwhelms" the original structure. That should have never been acceptable.

@jamesseiter4576 8 күн бұрын

It's a pretty functional new design. Relatively easy to get in and out of, bathrooms are easily accessible, easy to navigate to your seats, jumbotrons are very visible from anywhere . . . it just looks like shit.

@repairdrive 22 күн бұрын

Did the owners con the city into paying for their private stadium back then too?

@spddiesel 29 күн бұрын

One thing about the old stadium, you did NOT wanna wear flip flops to the game, lol. Speaking of old stadiums, a video comparing the old Chicago Stadium vs the United Center would be cool. If you haven't already lol

@emom358 Ай бұрын

I heard that Bears were looking to relocate to the suburbs if the Park District contract didn't give them everything they wanted.

@raybod1775 3 күн бұрын

As a Chicagoan, I am hoping the Bears move to Arlington Heights or anywhere else, they want too much money and give too little. Alway sorry Soldier Field got destroyed.

@101southsideboy 10 күн бұрын

as of a few weeks ago ( may 2024) Chicago Park Dist is still paying on the bonds they sold for this project so it has not been paid off yet

@ubroc 9 күн бұрын

I always liked the new staduim. In the sating had been flipped with the luxury boxes facing the lake and the cantileverred seating facing the city then the less jarring side woud have faced LSD which is how most eople experience it

@PixelatedH2O Ай бұрын

Had they at least made it symmetrical it could look decent (though not exactly good)

@patrickledonne5547 27 күн бұрын

Soldiers field should have been torn down and rebuilt years ago. Unfortunately 100 years ago some politician or businessman named it soldiers field and dedicated it to the soldiers of WW1. because of this it made it onto the national landmarks list ( removed since remodeled into a spaceship) which prevented an old, outdated stadium from being torn down and rebuilt. Just tear it down and start new somewhere

@de132 26 күн бұрын

Before I watch: Chicago's Soldier Field is like a person wearing the skin of a corpse. It's an abomination.

@zachl3330 Ай бұрын

Mike Ditka’s Flying Saucer

@nochey78 Ай бұрын

I understand why you prefer the original stadium… sentimental value is a thing. But me personally, prefer the soldier field we have now. as weird as it may look, its over a much better place to watch a football game then the old place was. Old soldier field was an absolute dump, and something had to be done to modernize it.

@003333333333 Ай бұрын

I respectfully disagree. I have fond memories of seeing the skyline when seated in the south end of the stadium for games and concerts. That view is almost completely blocked now.

@jtsholtod.79 29 күн бұрын

@@003333333333view aside, there is very little about the old stadium that is better than the new facility. Millennium metal and glass aesthetics aside, the accessibility, amenities, and capabilities are far greater now. Few people complain about watching events (the old stadium you would be starting at the back of the people in front, even way out at the top of the bowl). I would also argue that the renovation was done quite ingeniously so that in the future the "new" could be dismantled and still preserve the old colonnades again. The seating is just utilitarian, and should be able to change as preferences evolve (right now: more luxury boxes). I don't think anybody would have been happier with an even more dramatic renovation considering the price tag of this one.

@SVW1976 29 күн бұрын

Disgraced? Maybe. Chicago as a whole is a disgrace.

@joeshoe6184 26 күн бұрын

It's also one of the great cities of the world.

@leonardkrol2600 28 күн бұрын

bring back stock car racing!

@stevevorgias6734 27 күн бұрын

Apparently the new stadium will be next to the old one. Which is fine despite the Arlington hts current fiasco. Regardless of where itll be ya need more parking. If theres ever a time for this to happen. Its literally right now.

@danielulz1640 Ай бұрын

It may be a marvel of engineering, but I think that the addition looks tasteless and tacky.

@lordsherifftakari4127 29 күн бұрын

for the longest time following the rebuilding. the "New" Soldier Field was known more as the Tidy Bowl given it's appearance of a gigantic Toilet jammed into place inside the classical original building. given the amount of Taxpayer money used to construct it, one can understandably see the reasoning behind the uproar.

@gtwfan52 28 күн бұрын

If you reference your own video on the Chicago tunnel system, you'll realize that the site of Solider Field wasn't a prairie, but an ash dump.

@williamkelly8237 29 күн бұрын

The McCaskey’s who forced the city to build this onto an existing landmark historical landmark should have to pay to put it back the way it was, and then kick the fucking Bears out of the city and the insanity