NFL fans noticed the troubling state of the Soldier Field turf due to music concerts before the Monday Night Football game.
Pregame shots of the turf at Soldier Field didn’t look encouraging ahead of the Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings contest on Monday night.
Chicago Bears running D’Andre Swift being tackled by Minnesota Vikings’ Eric Wilson[/caption]
Hours before kickoff, videos surfaced of Soldier Field’s playing surface.
And the early showings weren’t intriguing for the players of the primetime contest in Chicago.
A video showed a patchwork field being stamped down with about five hours until kickoff.
Parts of the field appeared to be dried out and torn up.
There was a reason that Soldier Field was so torn up.
Over Labor Day weekend, from August 28 to September 1, the stadium hosted five major concerts.
Thousands of fans watched Oasis, then My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers, and two shows of Systems of a Down.
It was reported that the field crew placed “a sand/seed mix in areas that need to be filled on the playing surface,” per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
Clearly, the new grass that was planted after the five-concert stretch didn’t fully settle in time for the Week 1 game at Soldier Field.
NFL fans quickly noticed the conditions and reacted accordingly on social media.
“That seems very unsafe,” one wrote.
“Ay man, not even rivalry smack talk, are you sure you want to risk your guys on this turf like that?” another said.
“Should be ashamed of this field, it shows all they care about his money, not the quality of product, and certainly not player safety,” a third added.
The players did seem affected by the playing surface during the game, as Vikings and Bears players slipped in multiple plays.
How to watch NFL games in 2025
THE 2025 NFL season is fast approaching and you can get some excellent deals to watch all the action.
Below you’ll find all the places to watch Patrick Mahomes and Co in what’s sure to be another sizzling campaign.
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
- ESPN: $11.99/mo – subscribe here
- Amazon Prime: $14.99/mo – subscribe here
- Peacock: $11.99/mo – subscribe here
- Paramount+: $11.99/mo – subscribe here
- Fox One: $19.99/mo – subscribe here
- Netflix: $22.99/mo – subscribe here
- NFL+ Premium: $14.99/mo – subscribe here
- Hulu + live TV: $82.99/mo – subscribe here
- Sling TV: $45.99/mo – subscribe here
- DAZN game pass: $17.99/mo – subscribe here
Minnesota came away with the narrow 27-24 win after being down 17-6 after three quarters of play.
Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy delivered a stunning comeback in his first NFL start, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Soldier Field’s playing surface issues come as the Bears are currently working to reach an agreement on a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
Hours before the NFC North battle, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren penned a letter to reveal the fate of the team’s next stadium, which will be built outside of Cook County.
How to buy tickets for 2025 NFL games
The 2025 season is near and you can scoop up tickets to watch your favorite team for a great deal.
Below you’ll find all the places to watch NFL action in what should be an incredible season.
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Please note: Stubhub, Viagogo and Vivid Seats are secondary ticketing platforms. Tickets are resold on these platforms by individuals or businesses and not by the official event organizers. Tickets may be listed above or below face value, and prices may fluctuate by dynamic pricing based on demand. Additional booking fees and tax may apply to ticket purchases. Please be aware that tickets purchased through these sites may not guarantee entry to the venue or event (and may be void) if the official organizer does not permit resale of tickets, including on or through secondary ticketing platforms. Always check the event’s official ticketing terms and conditions and the applicable ticketing platform’s guarantees and complaint handling process before purchasing.
“In evaluating options for a new stadium, the focus of the McCaskey family has been clear: build a world-class stadium that requires zero money from the State of Illinois for its construction,” Warren said in his letter.
“We are partnering with political, labor, business, and community leaders across Illinois to develop a plan for property tax certainty and a fair contribution toward essential infrastructure that will benefit the entire community.
“Arlington Heights is the only site within Cook County that meets that standard. It allows us to better serve our fan base and deliver a truly transformative and elevated gameday experience.”
