Thread: Soldier Field resodded for Patriots game

Soldier Field resodded

Bears don't play at home again until Dec. 12

The view from the south end zone on Sunday against the Eagles. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune / November 28, 2010)





By Dan Pompei, Tribune reporter 6:36 p.m. CST, November 30, 2010





Many chunks of grass were ripped up from the Soldier Field playing surface Sunday during the Bears- Eagles game. And whatever was left was ripped up Monday.

On Tuesday, the Chicago Park District started the process of resodding the field, which usually takes a few days. The new grass should be ready for action shortly after it is laid, though the Bears won't play at Soldier Field again until Dec. 12, when they play host to the Patriots. They have only one other regular-season home game remaining, though there is a possibility of the Bears hosting playoff games.

In the game Sunday, players had trouble with their footing at times. Bears receiver Johnny Knox came free on the Bears' second touchdown in part because Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson lost his footing. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick told people during pregame warm-ups that he was concerned about the soft field.

Other natural-grass fields in northern climates also are showing signs of wear at this time of year, especially Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

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The Bears and Vikings also had some problems with footing in the Nov. 14 game at Soldier Field. After that game, the Park District offered to replace the sod, but the Bears opted to wait another game with an eye on the rest of the season and potentially the postseason.

The grass at Soldier Field typically is replaced two to three times a year, and the cost is incurred by the Park District by the terms of the Bears' lease.

The playing field also was resodded after the Bears' final preseason game. The surface that was just ripped up had only eight events on it — six Bears games, the Chicago Football Classic and the Prep Bowl.

The grass in the end zones was not torn out.

It is the Bears' choice to have a natural grass playing surface at Soldier Field, despite strong sentiment in the locker room for an infill surface. The Park District would gladly switch to a synthetic surface if the Bears chose to switch.

dpompei@tribune.com