Video: Bears Unveil Renderings, Details for New $4B Lakefront Stadium Proposal

Julia StumbaughApril 24, 2024

Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Chicago Bears released the initial renderings for the new stadium the team hopes to build on the Chicago lakefront on Wednesday.

Chicago Bears @ChicagoBears
A world-class destination for a world-class city. Introducing initial designs for a new lakefront stadium. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StadiumForChicago?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StadiumForChicago</a>

Chris Emma @CEmma670
Renderings of the proposed Bears stadium along the city of Chicago's lakefront. <a href="https://t.co/bQgdLLg8Lh">pic.twitter.com/bQgdLLg8Lh</a>

The full renderings can be found at the Bears' official stadium website.

The proposed project will cost $4.6 billion, with half the total funded by taxpayers, according to a Wednesday report by the Chicago Tribune.

The Bears stated they have committed $2 billion to the project and are requesting a loan of $300 million from the NFL and bond of $900 million from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which taxes area hotels, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, who was present at the event, stressed that the plan included "no new taxes on the residents of Chicago," per NBC Chicago.

Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCronin
Here's the $$$ breakdown for what it will cost to fund the Bears stadium project Bears $2.025B NFL loan request: $300M ISFA bond request: $900M Total: $3.225M

The Bears confirmed in Wednesday's release that the stadium would have a fixed roof.

Bears president Kevin Warren said the team initially looked into developing a retractable roof, but that the idea was eventually scrapped because it would add "a couple hundred million" dollars to the overall cost, Cronin reported.

The stadium will be created by the same company that designed the Las Vegas Raiders' Allegiant Stadium, according to 670 The Score's Chris Emma.

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Manica Architecture, the Kansas City-based firm behind the Las Vegas stadium, has also built arenas for the Golden State Warriors and Inter Miami CF.

Warren added that the proposed stadium could seat as many as 77,000 people for a Final Four, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times.

He also mentioned the city's goal of hosting a Super Bowl. Despite serving as one of the largest sports markets in the United States, Chicago has never hosted an NFL title game, a goal NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated in February would require the construction of a domed stadium.

The Bears aren't the only team working to build a new venue in the city. The Chicago White Sox are working on their own proposal for a downtown stadium, and Fran Spielman previously reported for the Chicago Sun-Times that the Bears and White Sox have discussed a "financing partnership" to fund both stadiums.