Soldier Field

  • Chicago Bears (NFL, 1971-2001, since 2003)
  • Chicago Fire SC (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)
  • Arizona Cardinals (NFL, 1959)
  • Chicago Rockets / Hornets ( AAFC, 1946-1949 )
  • Chicago Spurs ( NPSL, 1967)
  • 1994 World Cup
  • Soccer Women's World Cup 1999
  • 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013

The Soldier Field is a stadium in Chicago, Illinois and is currently the home of the Chicago Bears in the NFL. It is also called the New Soldier Field since the stadium was completely rebuilt in recent years and re-opened on 27 September 2003.

History

In 1921 was begun to build a stadium in the Chicago Park District. Although the construction could already be completed a year later, but the stadium Park Stadium was only on October 9, 1924, the 53rd anniversary of the Great Fire in Chicago officially designated as Municipal Grant opened. On November 11, 1925, the name was changed to Soldier Field to put the fallen soldiers of the United States a monument. At this time, the stadium had a capacity of 90,000 seats and was adapted to old Greco-Roman architectural styles. The stands were surrounded by pillars in the Doric style.

In 1971, the Chicago Bears moved into the stadium because their old stadium, Wrigley Field was too small to host games in American football. Subsequently, the stadium was renovated for the first time and reduced the capacity to 57,000 spectators. Began in 1978, the simple benches in individual seats with arm and backrests convert. 1987 Soldier Field was added to the National Register of historically valuable places. The stadium now had the designation as a National Historic Landmark.

In 2001, plans for a complete reconstruction of the stadium into a modern arena were known. These plans provoked strong criticism of the operators of the stadium. But the management of the Chicago Park District and the city of Chicago held on to the reconstruction plans and on 19 January 2002 began the demolition of much of the old stadium parts. The staff responsible for the new design architectural firm Holabird & Roche was the new stadium in the outer walls of the old Soldier Fields install. A well-known sports journalist from Chicago described the new stadium with the words, it looked like a " spaceship that has landed on the Parthenon " from.

Also, the National Park Service was not thrilled with the renovation and withdrew the stadium in 1987 loaned securities as a National Historic Landmark again. Overall, the conversion cost 2002 365 million U.S. dollars. Since then, the stadium has a capacity of 61,500 spectators.

Events

In addition to the home games of the Chicago Bears in the NFL, the stadium was also used for a long time for an all-star game between the last NFL champion and a selection of the best college players. This game is no longer held for some time, because the risk that the professionals were too high and also fell attendances in recent sweeps.

Soldier Field for the annual comparison of the football team between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy became known. In the early days of the stadium boxing matches, and in 1956 even a complete NASCAR races were held in the stadium. In 1994, the stadium was used as a venue for the World Cup. The opening match of the World Cup between Germany and Bolivia on 17 June 1994 was held here. 1999 found four games of the group stage of the World Cup women's 1999 Soldier Field instead.

Gallery

The stadium 1988

East side of the stadium with a marina

The Soldier Field from the air in 2008

Panorama

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