Soldier Field

Soldier Field sits where nothing else in Chicago does: right on the shore of Lake Michigan, south of downtown on the Museum Campus. From the stands you see water to the horizon on one side and the skyline on the other — a setting no other major US stadium has.

A monument with a modern interior

It opened in 1924, making it one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL, and is home to the Chicago Bears. Its name honours the American dead of the First World War. In 2003 the interior was rebuilt entirely and dropped inside the historic colonnades — a project still argued over in Chicago, because the modern structure visibly overshoots the old façade.

Capacity is around 61,500, which makes it one of the smaller NFL grounds. For concertgoers that is an advantage: short sightlines, a compact bowl, and volume.

Location and getting there

The Museum Campus setting is the great advantage. From downtown it is a few minutes by bus or commuter rail, and the walk from the Loop along the lakefront is worth recommending in its own right in good weather. The Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium are next door — an afternoon before the show plans itself.

Stay in the Loop or River North. From there the stadium is a short hop, and getting back after the concert is straightforward.