Soldier Field: A Timeline

Soldier Field's distinctive colonnades — the Doric columns flanking both sides of the stadium — have stood since 1924.

By Dear Kevin Warren · 2026-01-21

1919-1924: Origins

1919 — Chicago's South Park Commission announces plans for a massive lakefront stadium to honor soldiers of World War I.

1922 — Construction begins on Municipal Grant Park Stadium. The design, by Holabird & Roche, features neo-classical colonnades inspired by ancient Greek architecture.

October 9, 1924 — Soldier Field opens. First event: a college football game between Notre Dame and host Illinois (Illinois wins 39-14). The stadium was not yet named "Soldier Field."

November 11, 1925 — The stadium is officially renamed "Soldier Field" as a memorial to American soldiers of all wars.

1920s-1930s: Early History

September 22, 1927 — The Dempsey-Tunney heavyweight championship fight draws 104,943 fans to Soldier Field — the famous "Long Count Fight." Largest attendance for a boxing match in history at the time.

1926-1929 — Soldier Field hosts the annual Army-Navy football game.

1929 — Catholic Charities hosts the First Annual Rockne All-Stars charity football game.

1930s — The stadium hosts a variety of events including auto racing, rodeos, and the Chicago Cardinals (NFL).

1937 — First Chicago College All-Star Game (NFL champions vs. college all-stars), a tradition that continued until 1976.

1940s-1960s: Evolution

1940s — During World War II, the stadium hosts military ceremonies and bond rallies.

1944 — The stadium is used for military training exercises.

1950 — The facility begins hosting ski jumping competitions using artificially constructed snow ramps.

1959 — The Chicago Bears, after decades at Wrigley Field, play their first regular-season home game at Soldier Field (they would return to Wrigley through 1970).

1963 — Bears win NFL Championship, but the game is played at Wrigley Field, not Soldier Field.

1971-1987: The Bears' Home

1971 — The Bears permanently move to Soldier Field from Wrigley Field.

1977 — Soldier Field is designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

September 29, 1985 — The 1985 Bears play their home opener at Soldier Field. This team will go on to win Super Bowl XX.

1985 — The Bears go 12-0 at Soldier Field during the regular season, part of their legendary 15-1 overall record.

1988-2001: Aging and Planning

1988 — The Chicago Park District takes over management of Soldier Field from the city.

1990s — Soldier Field is showing its age. The Bears begin advocating for renovation or a new stadium.

1995 — The Bears threaten to move to the suburbs if a new stadium isn't built.

1997 — Voters reject a tax increase to fund a new stadium in the suburbs.

2000 — Agreement reached between the Bears, Chicago Park District, and the city for a major renovation of Soldier Field.

2002-2003: The Renovation

January 2002 — Renovation begins. The Bears play the 2002 season at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

2003 — The renovation is completed. The new design by architects Wood + Zapata and Lohan Caprile Goettsch has a modern bowl inserted into the historic colonnades.

September 29, 2003 — Soldier Field reopens. Bears beat the Packers 38-23 in the home opener.

2004 — The National Park Service removes Soldier Field's National Historic Landmark designation, citing the renovation as having "destroyed" the architectural integrity. The decision is controversial.

Post-Renovation: 2004-Present

2004 — Soldier Field loses its National Historic Landmark status but remains on the National Register of Historic Places.

2005 — Bears make the playoffs for the first time in four years.

January 21, 2007 — The NFC Championship Game. In snow and cold, the Bears defeat the New Orleans Saints 39-14 to advance to Super Bowl XLI. Urlacher hoists the Halas Trophy on the Soldier Field turf.

2009 — Major concerts resume at Soldier Field with U2's 360° Tour.

2011 — FIFA announces Soldier Field as a potential World Cup venue.

2014 — The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match between the USA and Honduras draws over 57,000.

2016 — International Champions Cup soccer matches at Soldier Field.

2019 — Soldier Field celebrates 95 years since opening.

2020 — COVID pandemic limits stadium capacity; Bears play games without fans or with limited attendance.

2023 — Kevin Warren named Bears President and CEO; immediately begins stadium push.

2024 — Bears propose $4.75 billion lakefront dome; Illinois legislature rejects $2.4 billion public funding request.

2025 — Bears announce Arlington Heights as "future home," then threaten move to Indiana.

Notable Events at Soldier Field

Attendance Records

| Event | Date | Attendance | |-------|------|------------| | Dempsey-Tunney Fight | Sep 22, 1927 | 104,943 | | 1927 Navy Game | Oct 1927 | 117,000 (estimated) | | 1944 Army-Navy | Dec 2, 1944 | 70,000 | | Bears-Packers 2011 | Jan 23, 2011 | 62,377 |

Historic Moments

1927 — The "Long Count" fight becomes one of the most famous events in sports history. Gene Tunney defeats Jack Dempsey after a controversial delayed count.

1962 — John F. Kennedy speaks at Soldier Field during a massive political rally.

1979 — Pope John Paul II holds Mass for over 300,000 people at Soldier Field during his first visit to America.

1985 — The Bears' legendary 12-0 home record during the Super Bowl season.

1994 — World Cup matches are held at Soldier Field during the USA-hosted tournament.

2003 — The reopened stadium's first game — Bears defeat the Packers.

2007 — NFC Championship in the snow — Urlacher and the Halas Trophy.

The Colonnades

Soldier Field's distinctive colonnades — the Doric columns flanking both sides of the stadium — have stood since 1924.

Design: The colonnades were designed to evoke ancient Greek and Roman athletic venues, connecting modern sport to classical tradition.

Material: Made of Indiana limestone.

Status: The colonnades survived the 2003 renovation but the contrast with the modern bowl structure inside them is often criticized.

Symbolism: The colonnades represent the war memorial function of the stadium — a tribute to American soldiers that predates the Bears' occupancy by decades.

Quotes About Soldier Field

> "Soldier Field is not just where the Bears play. It's where the city shows up as the extra defender." — Anonymous fan

> "That's not a stadium. That's a spaceship in the middle of a Greek temple." — Critics of the 2003 renovation

> "The Bears have won in snow, rain, and wind for 100 years. That's not a bug—it's Chicago." — Dear Kevin Warren

> "December in Chicago isn't a disadvantage. It's a weapon." — Bears player (attributed)

Sources

- Chicago Park District archives - National Register of Historic Places documentation - Chicago Tribune historical archives - Pro Football Reference (Bears home records) - NFL.com stadium history