At a press convention scheduled for this Monday, July 25, Lightfoot is envisioned to pitch 3 attainable eventualities as to how to posture the historic stadium, one particular of the anchors of the lakefront museum campus.

According to various resources close to the matter, a person selection will simply call for proficiently allowing the Bears go and fairly improving the facility for its other major tenant, Chicago Fire FC, and other potential buyers.

A second strategy would extensively modernize the facility, building it “dome completely ready,” as 1 insider set it.

But it’s the prepare for the dome—which was thoroughly vetted by Lightfoot’s Museum Campus Doing the job Group before this summer season, with specific engineering specs and artists renderings prepared—that will draw in the most awareness.

In its report very last month, the doing the job team urged Lightfoot to “explore the feasibility” of roofing, enclosing or otherwise putting a dome atop Soldier Area to make it useable yr-spherical.

The team did not elaborate. But in accepting its report, Lightfoot promised that, to keep the Bears from moving to the website of the previous Arlington International Racecourse, the town would make “an terribly compelling economic scenario that (it) would make no sense for them to do anything at all other than remain in the town of Chicago, with enhancements to Soldier Area.”

Numerous aspects about the dome proposal are not out there. Integrated are its cost—sources are citing figures of up to $2 billion—or how to pay out for it devoid of dinging Chicago taxpayers, anything Lightfoot has reported she does not want to do.

But sources close to the subject say the dome program was developed in consultation with developer Robert Dunn, who wants acceptance for the huge A single Central mixed-utilized project just across Metra tracks from Solider Subject, but is superior identified as a stadium developer who’s labored with the Eco-friendly Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and other NFL teams on stadiums.

Dunn is anticipated to attend Monday’s push conference along with Lightfoot, review group leaders, and representatives of nearby museums and other cultural institutions.

Lightfoot’s business declined to remark in progress of the press conference.

1 artists’ rendering received by Crain’s depicts a Soldier Field that is correctly surrounded by a new composition, with a moveable roof. The depiction resembles AT&T stadium in Texas, wherever the Dallas Cowboys enjoy.

Amid products on which the city appears prepared to bargain are likely incredibly valuable naming rights that would retain the title “Soldier Field” but add a corporate sponsor, renovated concourses and other admirer spots, much more electronic adverts and other items. All of those were being mentioned or alluded to in the review group report.

What is not acknowledged is irrespective of whether this has a serious opportunity to persuade the Bears or is additional a gesture of political self-protection as Lightfoot strategies for re-election.

Right after the analyze group report was issued, the Bears mentioned they are solely centered on negotiations over the Arlington Heights property, and in fact could be contractually essential not to discount with Chicago or everyone else. But in publicly putting a strategy on the desk, Lightfoot will unquestionably deliver a concept that choices do exist.

Many sports insiders consider the Bears are all but certain to transfer. Setting up a new stadium would expense a large amount much more than retrofitting Soldier Discipline, and while they would very own the facility, the proudly owning McCaskey family members will either have to go into credit card debt or sharply dilute its possession share to raise the required money.

Mayors for a long time have toyed with the concept of acquiring a domed stadium in Chicago, so that the town would bring in an NCAA basketball Ultimate Four, a Super Bowl or other large sights. But none acquired very significantly because of the expense and due to the fact other sporting teams like the White Sox have been unwilling to go in a team job.

Lightfoot has not taken a position on Dunn’s One Central venture, which would produce thousands and thousands of sq. ft of workplace, retail and household room moreover a transportation center, but which also would need a $6.5 billion state subsidy.