Why Chicago's Soldier Field is Ugly
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- Опубликовано: 1 май 2024
- 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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Most of us called the remodel, “When the space ship landed.”
I remember that green light and spaceship a few years ago
Who knew Area 51 was actually in Chicago? :D
It looks like a spaceship landing on the colonnades. Crazy.
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!!!
haha nice
When you rebuild historical building into modern building, it is no longer historical building...
This is just another reason why the chicago bears still stink.
GO PACK GO
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.
The new stadium should have been located elsewhere so the original majestic stadium would remained unmarred. Thanks for presenting this interesting historical content.
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.
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.
This is a false choice because they probably would have demolished the stadium if they didn't do the renovation.
@@Bikeguychicago1well… that’s actually what they tried to do with soldier field… it just got botched..
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.
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 😊
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???
They did, they couldn’t do that without demolishing the historic facade. The new stadium proposal is dead on arrival.
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
@@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.
@@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.
@@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.
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.
It has always looked like they landed a spaceship on Soldier Field.
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.
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.
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"..............
Soldier's is a better saying then Jewel's... LOL....
I went to the Jewel’s ov’r by da Sears Tower a couple two tree hours ago 😉😜
@@msbgone lots of stupid folks here and everywhere......like going to to THE starbucks or THE target.
@@stevenj9970My mother always said, “the Jewel.”
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?
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...
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...
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.
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
Great presentation. You answered questions I have had for decades. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
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.
What a loss that the structure was not constructed as originally designed.
The thing is, that would only seat 20,000 people and have no real practical use today
@@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
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.
The Soldier Field renovation is the epitome of the old adage of “When you try to please everyone, you wind up pleasing no one.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'd love to see a collaboration between Ryan and Stewart Hicks on the subject of Soldier Field.
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!
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
💛💛💛
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.
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.
"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!"
Well now you have a giant bed pan to relieve yourselves :)
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.
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!!
I feel like they did it backwards... The attractive side faces the lake. The ugly side faces the masses.
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.
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.
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.
Hmmmmm At 12:07 what event had all the old cars driving around the field ??????
Probably auto racing.
They used to have it there before the Bears started playing there
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
The Boston Store in Chicago, how ironic!
😂
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.
Don't ever say that my teams stadium is ugly, idc how old it is, it's a beautiful site to see
Wonder what the next complete stadium remodel will look like?
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?
There are renderings online that detail how it will look.
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.
The sad thing is, the Bears wanted to move to Arlington Heights in the 70’s.
Why did the old newspaper call it "Soldiers' Field" when describing the Bears-Packers game? Was that an original accepted name?
Not Ugly, it has character.
Hope for new stadium
Close encounters of the third kind is what my friends and i refer to it as, when we go there.
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.
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
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.
I have seen the latest structure and I love it.
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.
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
Ryan, aside from cost and any political finaglings, what is your opinion on the new stadium proposal?
The "PITCH"? I didn't know Chicago was in Dorset or Cornwall. My goodness, when did the city secede and rejoin the UK?
Recolonize back better
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.
They should have just continued columns around the outside of the bowl so it wouldn't look as awkward.
IMO the lake side with the box seats is okay, but the cantilevered bleachers looming over the iconic columns is an architectural abomination.
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
The Wrigley renovation wasn’t just the stadium. They changed the entire neighborhood.
Original Yankee Stadium is gone. But the current stadium was built to look as much like the old one as possible.
@@Knightmessenger As a Chicagoan - The Original Pre -1975 Yankee Stadium is the ONLY real one. Blocked Views and all. Never liked the 1975 version.
@@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.
For a city that prides itself based on its architecture Soldiers Field renovation is a disgraceful eyesore.
I'm not a fan of the spaceship.
Had they at least made it symmetrical it could look decent (though not exactly good)
The Fog Bowl game!
I agree, the 'remodel' should not have been done that way.
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.
@@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...
@@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..
@@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...
@@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..
Why was the huge monument not built at the rounded end?
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.
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.
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
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
If the Bears get their new stadium, this newer abomination should be torn down and a replica of the original field restored.
Sad some cities are broken, but many puzzles for historians to solve!
I heard that Bears were looking to relocate to the suburbs if the Park District contract didn't give them everything they wanted.
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.
Us Chicago taxpayers are still paying for that 2002 renovation and the bears are out here begging us to finance another stadium for them 🤬
Damn
You guys can make a huge return putting in on a new stadium though
@@jamesmiller5331 countless studies have proven that publicly funded stadiums do NOT really benefit the taxpayers who fund those stadiums.
@@beaniemac depends on the deal that is made I guess. If they can't make a good deal, I don't blame you
@@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.
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.
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.
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
Mike Ditka’s Flying Saucer
I guess it could have been worse? They could have tried to put on a retracting roof and built it higher for more capacity.
You never mentioned auto racing at soldier Field
I remember those stockcar races. Fireworks afterwards.
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.
Did the owners con the city into paying for their private stadium back then too?
I really like how it looks
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
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.
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.
@@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.
Definitely lookes like a space ship landed. Also, don't forget that Wrigley Field was also famous (not in a good way) for their trough urinals. ACK!
As soon as image came up I thought UFO. They didn't have ideas of UFOs when the "architects" designed it? Plus, blame those that approved the terrible idea. In Chicago, look for kickbacks on that one.
Looks like a UFO fell on top of a Greek temple. What a crappy remodel
Wow. RUclips really doesn't want me to post on this topic, lol... Probably because I have nothing good to say about it...
Da Bears!
Where's the statue of The Great Mike Ditka?!
The ugly mismatched outside is fitting for the ugly mismatched football that has been played on the field itself since the renovation.
The venue is now holding the Chicago Bears back in terms of revenues in the NFL and it is rare to be competitive in the league without revenue to reinvest in the franchise.
Hopefully however the stadium situation ends up being resolved it will work out for BOTH the city of Chicago (once again asking for stadium funds...groan) and the Bears (haven't been competitive regularly in a long time).
Dear Chicago... The rest of Illinois doesn't like having you for a neighbor. Please, put up a fence and stay out of our yard. Thank you
Chicago was the BEST city until around 2010. The landscape changed. :(
I think it looks cool. Much better than demolishing the original.
Today it looks like a warped styrofoam container. I prefer the classical look it had before.
That sanitation issue sounds like a real shame, though. Sorry to hear that. That must've been a fun tailgate party in 2002 after the old stadium's last game.
Aaron Rodgers owned the new Soldier field (terrible renovation). Old soldier field the fog bowl was stuff of legend.
Looks wise I find it cool looking not sure all the hate. I like the blending of modern and old features. Game day experience is terrible.
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
Hopefully Chicago bears get to keep a real grass field!