Chicago architecture firm proposes renderings of new Bears stadium near current White Sox location

New renderings from Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill envision a future Chicago Bears stadium at Rate Field, but the concept is already prompting discussion among community advocates, neighbors and elected officials.

The proposal imagines a new Bears stadium at the center of a mixed-use district featuring housing, parks, entertainment and other development with access to public transit. The concept was developed with the goal of keeping the Bears in Chicago.

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Before anything like this could happen, the White Sox would first have to leave their longtime home at Rate Field. A new baseball stadium has been proposed in the South Loop.

While the renderings offer a glimpse of what could be built on the site, some community advocates say the conversation should include the people who live nearby.

“We have a very powerful local coalition of neighbors and residents that want to have a say in development in the community, and this kind of dropping of a rendering at the same time as the Amtrak is trying to push its way forward is very disappointing,” said Sarah Tang of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community.

For many neighbors, the bigger focus remains a separate proposal that would bring an Amtrak maintenance facility to the area.

“My main focus compared to what a lot of people are, is keeping Amtrak out of here. That’s my main focus. The Bears, the Sox–we’ll worry about them after we get rid of Amtrak,” said Bridgeport resident Philip Basso.

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Ald. Nicole Lee said the renderings are intriguing but stressed that her priorities remain unchanged.

“Our first choice would be to keep the White Sox where they’ve been for, you know, 116 years…” Lee said.

“We want them to stay we don’t we don’t want a 24-7 maintenance facility, an industrial complex, moving into our ward,” she said.

The proposal comes as the Bears continue exploring stadium options, including building in Hammond, Indiana. Illinois lawmakers are also working to keep the team in the state.

For now, the Rate Field concept remains only a proposal. But the renderings have added another layer to the ongoing debate over development, community input and the future of the neighborhood surrounding the ballpark.