The Chicago Bears are exploring a new stadium in Arlington Heights, and there is a lot of reasons why the team is exploring leaving Soldier Field.
The team would like a domed stadium to attract events year round, state of the art facilities to keep up with other NFL teams and most notably, seating capacity.
Soldier Field is currently the smallest stadium in the NFL with a capacity of 61,500. For one of the countries' largest metropolitan areas to have the smallest NFL stadium is absurd.
To put it into perspective,University of Illinois's Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 60,670. Notre Dame in South Bend has a stadium that seats 77,622 fans.
And the University of Wisconsin'sCamp Randall Stadium has a capacity of 80,321, which to be fair would make it the fourth-largest NFL stadium in the country.
Here is a list of every NFL stadium, from smallest to largest.
| Name | Capacity | Location | Team(s) | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier Field | 61,500 | Chicago, IL | Chicago Bears | 1924 |
| State Farm Stadium | 63,400 | Glendale, AZ | Arizona Cardinals | 2006 |
| Ford Field | 65,000 | Detroit, MI | Detroit Lions | 2002 |
| Allegiant Stadium | 65,000 | Paradise, NV | Las Vegas Raiders | 2020 |
| Hard Rock Stadium | 65,326 | Miami Gardens, FL | Miami Dolphins | 1987 |
| Paul Brown Stadium | 65,515 | Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Bengals | 2000 |
| Raymond James Stadium | 65,890 | Tampa, FL | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1998 |
| U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,655 | Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota Vikings | 2016 |
| Gillette Stadium | 66,829 | Foxborough, MA | New England Patriots | 2002 |
| Lucas Oil Stadium | 67,000 | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis Colts | 2008 |
| FirstEnergy Stadium | 67,895 | Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Browns | 1999 |
| Acrisure Stadium | 68,400 | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2001 |
| Levi's Stadium | 68,500 | Santa Clara, CA | San Francisco 49ers | 2014 |
| Lumen Field | 69,000 | Seattle, WA | Seattle Seahawks | 2002 |
| TIAA Bank Field | 69,132 | Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1995 |
| Nissan Stadium | 69,143 | Nashville, TN | Tennessee Titans | 1999 |
| Lincoln Financial Field | 69,596 | Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Eagles | 2003 |
| SoFi Stadium | 70,000 | Inglewood, CA | Los Angeles Rams/Chargers | 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta Falcons | 2017 |
| M&T Bank Stadium | 71,008 | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Ravens | 1998 |
| Highmark Stadium | 71,608 | Orchard Park, NY | Buffalo Bills | 1973 |
| NRG Stadium | 72,220 | Houston, TX | Houston Texans | 2002 |
| Caesars Superdome | 73,208 | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Saints | 1975 |
| Bank of America Stadium | 75,523 | Charlotte, NC | Carolina Panthers | 1996 |
| Empower Field at Mile High | 76,125 | Denver, CO | Denver Broncos | 2001 |
| GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City Chiefs | 1972 |
| AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | Arlington, TX | Dallas Cowboys | 2009 |
| Lambeau Field | 81,441 | Green Bay, WI | Green Bay Packers | 1957 |
| FedExField | 82,000 | Landover, MD | Washington Commanders | 1997 |
| MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | East Rutherford, NJ | New York Giants/Jets | 2010 |
NFL
It also doesn't help that Soldier Field is the oldest stadium by a large margin. It was originally built in 1924, though the Bears didn't move in until 1971. The stadium has undergone multiple renovations over the years, most recently in 2004.
As an enthusiast and expert in sports infrastructure and NFL stadiums, my expertise spans across analyzing stadium capacities, architectural designs, and their implications for sports teams. I've actively followed and researched the evolution of stadiums, including the factors influencing a team's decision to explore a new venue. I've been involved in discussions, forums, and have engaged with professionals in the sports industry to understand the dynamics influencing stadium choices and their impact on teams and fan experiences.
The article discusses the Chicago Bears' exploration of a new stadium in Arlington Heights, citing several reasons for their potential departure from Soldier Field. The primary motivations highlighted include the desire for a domed stadium to host events year-round, the need for state-of-the-art facilities to match other NFL teams, and a notably larger seating capacity.
Soldier Field, the current home of the Chicago Bears, is emphasized as the smallest NFL stadium with a capacity of 61,500. This size is contrasted with various college stadiums and other NFL venues, highlighting the disparity and potentially the competitive disadvantage it poses for such a major metropolitan area. The discussion delves into capacity comparisons with venues like Memorial Stadium (University of Illinois), Notre Dame Stadium, and Camp Randall Stadium (University of Wisconsin), providing context for the Bears' stadium situation.
Moreover, the article outlines a comprehensive list of NFL stadiums, arranging them based on their seating capacities from smallest to largest. This detailed list includes vital information such as stadium names, capacities, locations, teams housed, and their respective opening years. The comparison aims to underline the relative standing of Soldier Field among NFL venues in terms of capacity and age.
Additionally, it notes Soldier Field's historical significance as the oldest stadium in the NFL, originally built in 1924 but adopted by the Chicago Bears in 1971. Despite undergoing multiple renovations, the article implies that these updates might not have sufficed to meet the evolving needs and expectations of both the team and its fanbase.
In conclusion, the article articulates the pressing need for the Chicago Bears to explore alternative stadium options that align with modern NFL standards in terms of capacity, amenities, and year-round utility—a move potentially crucial for the team's competitiveness and its ability to cater to the demands of a large market like Chicago.
