Soldier Field and the Chicago Bears announced that they will install a new natural grass field to replace the one that has become problematic in recent weeks.
The Chicago Bears and the Chicago Park District, which owns Soldier Field, have had a long-standing conflict regarding the stadium’s field. The dispute came to a head earlier this month, when the team was forced to cancel a sold-out Aug. 5 Family Fest practice due to poor turf conditions. New sod had been laid just weeks before, but the stadium’s management company, SMG of West Conshohocken, Pa., and the park district failed to ensure it was properly watered. As a result, seams puckered and left gaps large enough to create an unsafe playing surface.
The Chicago Bears will select a new vendor to replace the field.
“While we are comfortable with our existing vendor, we respect the Chicago Bears’ wishes,” Tim LeFevour, Soldier Field’s general manager, said in a press release.
The new field will be installed over Labor Day weekend and will not interfere with the stadium’s upcoming events, including the Bears’ final preseason game and the Chicago Football Classic.
The Chicago Bears’ preference for natural grass means the field must be replaced periodically. Field conditions have repeatedly come under criticism. Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings was recently quoted as saying it was “probably the worst in the league.”