Upcoming events at Soldier Field
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Soldier Field capacity, teams and what plays here
Soldier Field is the Chicago Bears' open-air stadium on the Museum Campus, along Lake Michigan just south of downtown, and it holds 62,500 for football. That makes it the second-smallest stadium in the NFL, a number that shrank from 66,944 when the interior was rebuilt in 2002 and 2003. Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer has played here again since 2020.
The building is the oldest stadium in the NFL. It opened in 1924, and the original Doric colonnades still line the east and west sides, with the modern seating bowl rising above them. The Chicago Park District owns it, and ASM Global operates it.
- Bears football: the NFL regular season runs September into early January, and December home games bring cold and wind off the lake.
- Chicago Fire FC: the MLS season runs roughly late winter through fall.
- Concerts and special events: summer stadium tours, international soccer and rugby tests.
How the Soldier Field seating chart is laid out
The field runs north to south, so the two sidelines face east and west. The levels stack differently on each side, which is the single most useful thing to understand before reading a map.
- 100 level: the lower bowl (the sections closest to the field), which wraps all the way around. The Bears' bench is on the west sideline, near section 133, according to published seating guides.
- 200 level, east side: the United Club, sections 202–216, with access to a climate-controlled indoor lounge.
- 200 level, west side: the Mezzanine (sections such as 128 and 136), backed by the indoor Miller Lite Midway behind sections 136 and 138.
- 300 level: on the east side, United Club sections 301–317; the 300 sections continue around the ends.
- 400 level: the upper grandstand on the west side, the highest and steepest seats in the building.
The east side is the premium side: the three-level United Club, entered through Gates 6, 12 and 38, covers sections 202–216 and 301–317. It also includes the Sideline Club (row A of sections 103–105 and 113–115) and the Touchdown Club (row 1 of sections 119–126).
Best seats at Soldier Field, and the ones to think twice about
Because the stadium is compact, almost no seat is truly far from the field. The choices that matter are side, height and exposure to the weather.
For Bears games
- Best overall: the middle and upper rows of the 100 level between the 10-yard lines. Front rows look close on a map, but the players and staff standing along the sideline block a lot of the field from rows that sit at bench height.
- Best for shelter: the west 200 level sits beneath the media deck overhang, roughly sections 232–242 according to third-party guides, which gives some cover in rain or snow.
- Best for a cold December game: United Club seats on the east side, because the ticket includes access to an indoor lounge before and during the game.
- Best value: the 300 level along the sidelines, which keeps a full-field view without the premium attached to club seats.
Seats to think twice about
- The 400 level: very steep, high and exposed to the wind. Fans who dislike heights should avoid it.
- The north and south ends at field level: low end-zone rows make it hard to judge play at the far end of the field.
- The patio above section 354: it has lake views and bar tables, and it is also one of the windiest spots in the stadium.
As a rule of thumb for afternoon games, the low sun sits to the southwest, so east-side seats face into it while the west grandstand puts its own lower rows in shadow first. For concerts, the floor layout changes by tour, so check the event-specific map before you buy. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Soldier Field parking, transit and rideshare
Parking right around the stadium is limited, and the Bears strongly encourage public transit. As of the 2026 season, the lots immediately surrounding Soldier Field require a prepaid parking pass, open four hours before kickoff and close two hours after the game.
Parking options
- Museum Campus lots: the Lexus North Garage, Waldron Deck, South Lot, East Museum Lot and Adler lot, all prepaid.
- McCormick Place Lot B: farther south, with a free shuttle that drops off on 18th Street just west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and runs until two hours after the game.
- McCormick Place Lot C (Lakeside): drive-up parking with no shuttle. Conventions at McCormick Place can limit single-game spaces.
- Drive-up alternatives: Burnham Harbor, Adler and Northerly Island.
Parking is prohibited in the residential area bounded by Roosevelt Road, Cermak Road, DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Clark Street, and violators are ticketed and towed.
Transit and rideshare
- CTA trains: the Red, Orange and Green lines stop at Roosevelt, where you can walk east to the Museum Campus or connect to the #146 bus.
- Metra: the Museum Campus/11th Street and 18th Street stations are closest, and the #128 Soldier Field Express bus runs from downtown Metra stations.
- South Shore Line: the McCormick Place station serves fans from Northwest Indiana.
- Rideshare: the designated zone is at Balbo Drive and Columbus Drive.
Tailgating is allowed on the Museum Campus surface lots, the upper level of the Waldron Deck and McCormick Place Lots B, D and E, within one parking space, with no open fires. It is not allowed during games or after night games. Details are on the Bears parking and transit guide.
Soldier Field bag policy and entry rules (2026 season)
As of the 2026 Bears season, Soldier Field enforces the NFL clear-bag policy (bags must be transparent plastic, vinyl or PVC). Each guest may carry one approved bag:
- a clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, including clear backpacks, fanny packs and cinch bags;
- a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag; or
- a small non-clear clutch or purse no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches.
Non-clear backpacks, diaper bags (unless medically necessary), coolers, camera bags and luggage are not allowed. Lockers for prohibited items are available, for a fee and by credit card only, at the Field Museum East Terrace and the 18th Street turnaround.
- Gates: open two hours before kickoff, with walk-through metal detectors.
- Tickets: mobile only, through the Chicago Bears app; screenshots are not accepted.
- Payments: the stadium is cash free.
- Re-entry: not permitted.
- Smoking and vaping: prohibited, with no designated smoking areas.
- Accessible seating: every gate is accessible, and guests exchanging a ticket for a wheelchair seat must enter through Gate 8.
Concerts and soccer matches can set their own rules. Check the current Bears bag policy or the event's page before you go.
Food, clubs and comfort
Levy runs food and beverage, and recent seasons added self-checkout terminals and grab-and-go markets on the concourse. Food for personal consumption may be carried in if it fits the bag policy. Blankets are allowed for Bears games, carried by hand or in a clear bag.
- Miller Lite Midway: an indoor, heated hospitality space on the west Mezzanine concourse, sold as an add-on pass.
- United Club: the indoor lounge for east-side club ticket holders, open two hours before kickoff.
- Pregame: the free Ultimate Tailgate on the Field Museum Terrace opens two hours before kickoff.
- Elevators: one in the southeast corner inside Gate 6 and one behind section 128 that reaches the Media Deck and West Grandstand.
A century of Soldier Field history
The stadium opened on October 9, 1924, as Municipal Grant Park Stadium and was renamed Soldier Field on November 11, 1925, in memory of American soldiers who died in World War I. The Bears moved in from Wrigley Field in 1971.
The 2002–2003 renovation demolished the interior and built a new bowl inside the old walls. The result modernized the stadium, lowered capacity and led to its removal from the list of National Historic Landmarks in 2006, nineteen years after it was designated. In 2012 it became the first NFL stadium to earn LEED certification.
- Soccer: five matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 1999 Women's World Cup and several CONCACAF Gold Cup finals.
- Music: the Grateful Dead played their final concerts here on July 8 and 9, 1995.
- Technology: the first commercial cellphone call was placed from the stadium on October 13, 1983.
The stadium's long-term role with the Bears is in flux. On June 5, 2026, the team announced that its board had voted to advance a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected. Treat any move as years away, and check current news before assuming anything about future seasons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capacity of Soldier Field?
Soldier Field seats 62,500 for football, the second-smallest capacity in the NFL. Before the 2002–2003 rebuild it held 66,944.
Does Soldier Field have a roof?
No. It is an open-air stadium on the lakefront. The west 200 level sits beneath the media deck overhang and gets some cover, while the United Club on the east side offers an indoor lounge.
What is the Soldier Field bag policy?
As of the 2026 Bears season, guests may bring one clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check the current policy before you go, since concerts can differ.
Where do you park for a Bears game at Soldier Field?
The lots around the stadium require a prepaid pass and open four hours before kickoff. McCormick Place Lot B offers parking with a free shuttle, and drive-up spaces are available at McCormick Place Lot C, Burnham Harbor, Adler and Northerly Island.
Which sideline do the Bears use at Soldier Field?
Published seating guides place the Bears' bench on the west sideline, near section 133. The east side holds the United Club sections.
What is the best way to get to Soldier Field without a car?
Take the CTA Red, Orange or Green line to Roosevelt and walk or transfer to the #146 bus, or ride Metra to the Museum Campus/11th Street or 18th Street stations. The #128 Soldier Field Express runs from downtown Metra stations.