Chicago’s Soldier Field turns 101 years old this October, but most fans don’t know the powerful story behind its name. What started as “Municipal Grant Park Stadium” became something much more meaningful, and the Chicago Bears once walked away from $300 million to keep that legacy alive. Now, as the team eyes a move to Arlington Heights, the question isn’t just where they’ll play, but whether they’ll leave behind one of the NFL’s most historic venues.
Why Is Soldier Field Named After Fallen Warriors?
Located in Chicago, Illinois, Soldier Field serves as the home of the Bears. Opened in 1924, Soldier Field stands as the oldest NFL stadium ever established, representing a landmark that has become part of the city’s culture and sports scene.
Designed in 1919, Soldier Field took five years to build and complete before opening on October 9, 1924. Initially, the stadium carried the name “Municipal Grant Park Stadium.” However, this changed quickly.
A year later, on November 11, 1925, the name was changed to Soldier Field to honor U.S. soldiers who had died in combat during World War I. Chicago’s Gold Star Mothers urged the management to take this meaningful step, ensuring the venue would forever commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Over the years, the stadium has also hosted concerts and other events, further adding to its iconic status throughout the city.
This October, Soldier Field turns 100 years old — pictured here in 1926 for an Army vs. Navy football game. pic.twitter.com/QB9YDh6Wma
— Bears History (@ChiBearsHistory) October 3, 2024
Why Did the Bears Turn Down $300 Million in 2001?
In 2001, the Bears planned to sell corporate naming rights to Soldier Field. However, they decided against it, passing on a deal that would have given them $300 million for the naming rights.
“Is it an economic hit to us? Yes it is,” then-Bears President Ted Phillips said. “But it makes the project a go and that’s the key.”
The decision came after former Mayor Richard M. Daley threatened to back out of the deal to give the Bears the new stadium they wanted if they changed the name from Soldier Field to something else.
“Soldier Field is the only name for this stadium. Soldier Field will always be,” Daley said at a news conference.
As per reports, the original deal would have allowed the state of Illinois to retain Chicago’s share of income taxes if the city failed to grow by 5% each year, which would have been enough to retire $399 million in stadium bonds. The new deal would have deferred interest payments for two years, avoiding a local tax bailout.
Though the renovation project faced criticism, the mayor argued that Chicago needed a “public-works project and the approximately 1,000 jobs that would come with it.”
After the project was approved in 2001, the stadium underwent a year of renovation before reopening for NFL games on Sept. 29, 2003.
Are the Chicago Bears Getting a New Stadium?
After proposing a new stadium plan earlier, the latest reports reveal that the Bears are ready to publicly share plans in the fall before beginning work in the spring. Reports show that Bears President Kevin Warren is meeting with people at Arlington Heights village, hoping to finalize a deal that works for everyone.
“This new construction of a couple billion dollars is a win-win for everybody, including Chicago,” Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said. “I’m hoping that cooler heads prevail and people will see that it’s good for everybody.”
Here is your Gameday Guide for tomorrow’s @ChicagoBears Game at Soldier Field! 🐻⬇️
🔗: https://t.co/t2ouotPdtD
🏈: 7:15PM
🚪: 5:15PM#MINvsCHI | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/WjAC8lWbpi
— Soldier Field (@SoldierField) September 7, 2025
With the proposal still in the works, the Bears will kick off the 2025-26 NFL season with a Week 1 Monday Night Football clash against the Minnesota Vikings.
Beyond the Bears, Soldier Field also serves as the home stadium for the MLS team Chicago Fire.
