The Bears began as the Decatur Staleys, a company team of the A. E. Staley starch company, and played their first league season in Decatur in 1920 before moving to Chicago in 1921. Since then they have called four stadiums home: Staley Field in Decatur, Wrigley Field for 50 seasons, Soldier Field since 1971 and, for one season while Soldier Field was rebuilt, Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Here is every home in order, with the years the Bears played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each stadium with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Bears Stadium, 1920 to Today
- Decatur
- 1920
Staley Field
The A. E. Staley company's athletic field, home of the Decatur Staleys in the league's first season. With only 1,500 seats it could not pay the bills, so George Halas moved the team to Chicago.
- Chicago
1921–1970Fifty seasons at the Cubs' ballpark, which inspired the Bears name. All eight pre-merger NFL titles (1921–1963) came in this era. Even with extra bleachers it held about 46,000, short of the NFL's new 50,000 minimum.
Today: Still home of the Chicago Cubs
Stadium history →- 1971–2001
The Bears moved to the lakefront in 1971 on what began as a three-year commitment. The 1985 Super Bowl XX champions played their home games here, and so did the 1988 Fog Bowl playoff win over Philadelphia.
Stadium history → - Champaign
2002The University of Illinois stadium was the Bears' home for the 2002 season while Soldier Field was rebuilt. Founder George Halas had played for Illinois. The Bears went 3–5 here.
Today: Renamed Gies Memorial Stadium; still home of Illinois football
Stadium history →- Chicago
- 2003–presentCurrent home
Reopened in September 2003 after a rebuild that kept only the exterior walls, which cost it National Historic Landmark status in 2006. In June 2026 the team's board voted to keep developing a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana.
Visiting guide →
Bears Stadium FAQ
Where did the Bears play before Soldier Field?
At Wrigley Field, the Cubs’ ballpark on the North Side, from 1921 through 1970. Before that they played the 1920 season at Staley Field in Decatur as the Decatur Staleys.
How many stadiums have the Bears had?
Four: Staley Field, Wrigley Field, Soldier Field and Memorial Stadium in Champaign, their home for 2002 while Soldier Field was rebuilt. One 1970 game at Northwestern’s Dyche Stadium during work at Wrigley Field is not counted.
Why did the Bears leave Wrigley Field?
After the AFL–NFL merger the league wanted stadiums with at least 50,000 seats, and even with portable bleachers Wrigley Field held only about 46,000. A move to Northwestern’s Dyche Stadium fell through when neighbors objected, so the Bears moved to Soldier Field in 1971, first on a three-year commitment.
Are the Bears building a new stadium?
They are trying. The Bears bought the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in 2023 and in 2024 showed plans for a domed stadium on the lakefront next to Soldier Field. The lakefront plan stalled without public funding, and after years of failed talks with Illinois lawmakers the team widened its search. In June 2026 the team’s board voted to keep developing a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. For now the Bears still play at Soldier Field.
Where do the Bears play now?
At Soldier Field on Chicago’s Near South Side. The stadium opened in 1924, was rebuilt inside its old exterior walls in 2002–03 and now seats 62,500.