Soldier Field

A Stadium and Its City

Liam T. A. Ford

$52.95

Hardback

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English

University of Chicago Press
01 October 2009

Social & cultural history; Sporting venues

Series: Chicago Visions and Revisions

Sports fans nationwide know Soldier Field as the home of the Chicago Bears. For decades its signature columns provided an iconic backdrop for gridiron matches. But few realize that the stadium has been much more than that. Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City explores how this amphitheater evolved from a public war memorial into a majestic arena that helped define Chicago.

Chicago Tribune staff writer Liam Ford led the reporting on the stadium’s controversial 2003 renovation—and simultaneously found himself unearthing a dramatic history. As he tells it, the tale of Soldier Field truly is the story of Chicago, filled with political intrigue and civic pride. Designed by Holabird and Roche, Soldier Field arose through a serendipitous combination of local tax dollars, City Beautiful boosterism, and the machinations of Mayor “Big Bill” Thompson. The result was a stadium that stood at the center of Chicago’s political, cultural, and sporting life for nearly sixty years before the arrival of Walter Payton and William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

Ford describes it all in the voice of a seasoned reporter: the high school football games, track and field contests, rodeos, and even NASCAR races. Photographs, including many from the Chicago Park District’s own collections, capture these remarkable scenes: the swelling crowds at ethnic festivals, Catholic masses, and political rallies. Few remember that Soldier Field hosted Billy Graham and Martin Luther King Jr., Judy Garland and Johnny Cash—as well as Grateful Dead’s final show.

Soldier Field captures the dramatic history of Chicago’s stadium on the lake and will captivate sports fans and historians alike.

By: Liam T. A. Ford
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 26mm, Width: 19mm, Spine: 3mm
Weight: 992g
ISBN: 9780226257068
ISBN 10: 0226257061
Series: Chicago Visions and Revisions
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 01 October 2009
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Liam T. A. Ford is a reporter at the Chicago Tribune.

Reviews for Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City

"""Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park may attract more attention, but neither has hosted as many historic events as Soldier Field. Ford's Soldier Field reveals how Chicago's iconic amphitheater is more than a football field; it serves as a unique portal into Chicago's social, political, and cultural history."" - Timothy J. Gilfoyle, author of Millennium Park: Creating a Chicago Landmark"""