Chicago Bears Can Learn From the Bills' New Stadium Before Building Their Own
Between 2030 and 2033, the Chicago Bears are expected to have their new stadium finished and in a new location. Back in September of 2025, Kevin Warren said the goal is to have the new stadium done by 2030 to host a Super Bowl as early as 2031. The Bears' lease on Soldier Field ends in 2033 ends in 2033, which is also something to keep in mind.
If the Bears don't want to pay a fee to end their lease early, they may wait until 2033 to open their new stadium. But looking at this now is very important, especially after the numerous complaints about the Bills' new Highmark Stadium.
There are many factors that make or break an NFL stadium, including the culture of the team and fanbase, visibility, and convenience. A stadium is architecture, a form of art, which means these factors can be represented through symbolism. With that being said, here is how the Bears can make their stadium appeal to fans and represent the team.
What the Chicago Bears' New Stadium Needs to Get Right
Emphasize Bears History
Soldier Field is one of the most iconic and historic stadiums in the NFL. It has a unique design and honors the military for their service. Ideally, there should be some part of the design that emulates Soldier Field on the exterior. The Bears are also one of the first NFL franchises to exist, back when the league was founded.
There are several ways that you can commemorate the Bears' history and integrate it into the stadium. Iconic and historic members of the Bears franchise, like Mike Ditka, could have statues at the front of the stadium to greet fans. They could also integrate the columns from the outside part of Soldier Field into the new stadium, serving as a gateway to the past.
Prioritize Visibility
Whether you are front row right behind the Bears bench, or in the upper ring, visibility is crucial to the fan experience. Nobody wants an obstructed view of the field or to struggle to see the scoreboard when trying to watch a replay. It removes them from the moment.
This was something that left Bills fans disappointed. In some seats, the view is obstructed by glass panels, built-out decks, or glare from the glass when the sun shines on it. Not to mention the fact that the scoreboards are not set up well for people to watch the replays.
For the Bears, they simply need to make sure that the boards are large enough and that all seats have a full visible view of the stadium.
Don't Forget Convenience
It should not be a debate as to whether convenience is a consideration in building a new stadium. For example, restrooms should be accessible at all levels of the stadium, or at the bare minimum, easy to get to. Bears fans should not have to navigate long distances or steep stairways just to access a restroom, especially in the upper levels of the stadium.
The Bills' Highmark Stadium failed in this regard, with no restrooms at the upper level of the stadium. This would force people on the upper level to walk down steep stairs to use a restroom, which can be dangerous in the snowy season. This could be a problem depending on the style of stadium that the Bears decide to build. There are three types of stadiums that the Bears can build: non-dome or traditional, dome, or semi-dome, where the dome can open and close.
The Bears and Chicagoians want to be able to host a Super Bowl, so some kind of dome stadium is going to be built. For argument's sake, let’s say that the Bears decide to build a semi-dome stadium, and only close the dome for the Super Bowl. If it snows and it isn't the Super Bowl with an open dome, the safety of the fans can be in jeopardy.
Learning From Buffalo
The Bears can learn a lot from what the Bills did, or in this case, did not do, with their new stadium. Even though the stadium will not be built for about eight years, planning for it now will help ensure its long-term success. There needs to be intent behind every aspect of the design, both in practicality and aesthetics, to create the ideal fan experience.
The Bears were essentially given a playbook by the Bills on what not to do when it comes to history, convenience, and visibility. As impressive as the design of the Bills' new stadium is, a visually impressive building does not automatically guarantee success or satisfaction for the fans. Getting these things right is important because this stadium is going to represent Bears fans for generations to come.
The Bears have years to learn from Buffalo's mistakes and make sure they get these details right. For now, though, the process is already beginning to take shape, as the Bears have officially announced that they have narrowed their search down to two possible sites in Hammond, Indiana.
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