Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has released exploratory renderings proposing a domed Chicago Bears stadium and mixed-use district at the current Rate Field site in Bridgeport, contingent on the Chicago White Sox relocating to the South Loop after their lease expires in 2029.
A new architectural pitch has injected a fresh possibility into the Chicago Bears’ stadium search, proposing that the NFL franchise could remain inside city limits by taking over the South Side location currently occupied by the Chicago White Sox. The architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill published a five-slide visual concept showcasing a large domed stadium surrounded by parks, entertainment venues, and housing developments.
The firm designed the concept leveraging existing parking infrastructure, alongside regional transit connections including the CTA, Metra, and Dan Ryan Expressway. According to the firm, the proposal aims to create a destination that serves the surrounding neighborhood year-round.
White Sox Move Enables New Bears Stadium District
The speculative design relies on the premise that the White Sox will eventually vacate their longtime home on 35th Street. The baseball franchise has played in Bridgeport for over a century, though team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has expressed interest in a move after the current lease expires in 2029. The baseball team has previously examined potential sites in the South Loop, including a parcel known as The 78.
We envision the new Bears stadium as the centerpiece of a mixed-use district that brings together housing, entertainment, hospitality, parks, and public recreation.
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, via CBS News
The architectural firm noted that the footprint offers significant transit advantages. In addition to existing rail and highway access, the plan identifies publicly owned land surrounding the property that could support the construction of affordable and market-rate housing, civic amenities, and upgraded pedestrian bridges linking the site across the expressway to Bronzeville. SOM noted that widening existing bridges and adding a new bridge over the expressway would support existing businesses and improve accessibility.
Debt Obligations and Local Hurdles Challenge Redevelopment Plan
While the architectural renderings present an ambitious vision for urban redevelopment, local officials and neighborhood advocates emphasize that the proposal faces substantial hurdles. The site is currently governed by existing lease agreements and public debt obligations, as $50 million in stadium authority bonds tied to Rate Field renovations will not be fully retired until 2029.
Local leaders also pointed to competing infrastructure projects already stirring controversy in the area.
Ward leadership voiced mixed reactions to the sudden influx of stadium proposals. Ald. Nicole Lee stated that while she is glad people view the property as having potential, her primary objective remains keeping the baseball team in its historic home while preventing a 24-7 maintenance facility and industrial complex from moving into the ward.
The Broader Bears Stadium Search
The Bridgeport concept arrives as the Bears evaluate multiple locations for a future home. Team leadership previously purchased land in Arlington Heights for a stadium project. More recently, Bears chief executive officer Kevin Warren noted that team representatives have engaged in discussions regarding building a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana.
At the same time, state lawmakers in Springfield continue to weigh legislative options intended to encourage the franchise to remain within Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over the summer to discuss stadium options, though no formal agreements have been announced regarding the Bridgeport exploratory design.