Letters: Chicago owes residents a clear vision for Soldier Field's future

Chicago Tribune

5 hours ago

With the Chicago Fire announcing their departure from Soldier Field and the Chicago Bears intensifying their focus on Arlington Heights, serious questions arise about the future of the city-owned stadium. Representative Kam Buckner recently remarked, 'There was life in Soldier Field before the Chicago Bears, and if, for some reason, they are no longer there, there will be life afterwards.' While the sentiment is optimistic, it warrants a closer examination.
The Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971 — a vastly different era for both the stadium and the city. Today, the landscape of professional sports and entertainment is evolving rapidly. A state-of-the-art, domed stadium in Arlington Heights promises to attract elite sporting events, major concerts, and high-revenue opportunities that Soldier Field may no longer be able to compete with.
Chicago owes its residents a clear and transparent vision for what the future holds for Soldier Field without a primary tenant. While regional sporting events and community gatherings like farmers markets have value, they do not match the scale or economic impact of the marquee events the stadium was built to host.
Moreover, the financial implications cannot be ignored. What will it cost to maintain the stadium without consistent, large-scale events? How much revenue will the Chicago Park District forfeit? What is the projected impact on local employment and the surrounding economy?
This is not a call to support or oppose public funding for a new stadium. Rather, it is a call for a comprehensive understanding of the consequences tied to these decisions. Without a clear plan, Soldier Field risks becoming a costly relic — an iconic venue with no clear purpose.
In its current trajectory, Soldier Field may soon be a symbol not of Chicago's legacy, but of its missed opportunities.Before making his decision to sell the White Sox, do you know if Jerry Reinsdorf offered the team to the Vatican?Turning around at the far end of our recent scenic boat ride on the Seine, I saw the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower rising together against a hot blue sky. The statue was a quarter scale model used in the construction of the full size one in New York harbor, given to France back in the day by American expats.
What I saw was E Pluribus Unum, out of many one, the motto of the USA since 1776, along with liberty, equality, fraternity, which you see plastered on official buildings all over France, a slogan they've used since the 1790s. Two great tributes to democracy.
But now in the age of MAGA and President Donald Trump we have, 'A republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years,' as he narcissistically claimed during his Memorial Day speech. And, 'People pouring through our borders unchecked. People doing things that are indescribable.' And everybody in Trump world is hitting the talking point about 'unelected judges' thwarting his 'mandate,' as if having to do things by the book is an unfair imposition on a president who got slightly less than half the votes cast in the last election.
We need leaders who can really think and plan, who have the long term good of humanity as their goal. What we've got in the White House right now is a mean-spirited man with the attention span of a toddler and a handful of screwball ideas, like his tariff mania, that nothing seems to shake.
— John Podulka, Wolverine, Michigan
Catastrophically, Big Brother has arrived. Congress must stop Palantir's compilation of all U.S. citizens' private data thus preventing Trump and his tech bros from having all the info on everybody. All that private data being so accessible would simplify their retribution and control exponentially. Any faults, excesses, weaknesses exposed could be easily used for manipulation and destruction. Don't let Social Security and IRS data go to Palantir and rescind the Pentagon and Homeland Security contracts.
— Stephen T. White, Buffalo Grove
Economic analyst Steve Rattner explained clearly why Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' will increase our deficit by trillions over 10 years. The obvious problem is there are not enough things to slash to pay for the irresponsible tax cuts and spending included in the bill. If Trump cuts Medicaid, law enforcement, environmental protection, medical research, international assistance, education and transportation it will not balance his plan.
The resulting debt is trillions of dollars. Our debt is the largest since World War II.
During a period of huge tax cuts, from George W. Bush in 2001 through the present, there was gross fiscal irresponsibility inflicted by both Republicans and Democrats. It is unsustainable. This bill is a gimmick to again benefit a few over the many. It will not pay for itself as Trump boasts.
The House has already passed the bill along party lines. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for this selfish irresponsibility for generations.
— James Frank, Reading, Pennsylvania
After reading the opinion piece by two real estate brokers fearing big bad Zillow, I viewed it as two founders fearing further loss of their hold of an industry that is rapidly becoming obsolete. ('New bill could strip Illinois homeowners of choice,' June 2)
I sold my father's home by owner on Facebook without a real estate agent. My real estate attorney took care of everything for well under $1,000.
I found my recently-purchased condo online without an agent. However, since the condo was listed by an agent, I needed one to open the door, show me around, answer a few basic questions, and email me the documents to make my offer. She was also present for the 90 minute inspection. For all of this 'expertise,' more than $22,000 was shared by my agent, and the seller's agent. All for simply having the listing, and the keys to the property.
Tonight, I posted my current home 'for sale by owner' on Facebook. I expect to sell it within one week, and my attorney will handle the heavy lifting once more. The walls of this racket are beginning to fracture. It's well past time!