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Venue Soldier Field The Gay Games could not ask for a more beautiful venue than Chicago's newly renovated Soldier Field, surrounded by parklands and located right on Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. With modern facilities and historic architecture, Soldier Field will provide the uplifting atmosphere ideal for the Opening Ceremony and the return of the Gay Games to North America for the first time since 1994. 
Built in the 1920s, Soldier Field is a monument to the great sports palaces typical of the "Golden Age of Sports." It opened on 9 October 1924, on the 53rd anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. Built of concrete faced with granite-textured cast stone, the general design followed that of ancient Greek and Roman stadium, with a signature feature the classic Doric colonnades that rose 100 feet above the playing field. The stadium was named Soldier Field in honor of America's veterans. For 80 years it has hosted sporting events, concerts, and other special events, including the Opening Ceremony for 1994 World Cup Soccer.
Soldier Field was completely renovated in 2002/2003 in a project that took just 17 months, a record for such projects. During the makeover, the original colonnades were retained while additional seating, luxury skyboxes and media facilities were added. The stadium re-opened on 29 September 2003 to a home game between the National Football League Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers.
The surrounding park provides the perfect setting for the staging of the participants prior to their entry into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony. The athletes' and cultural participants’ procession will be done efficiently so that they can enjoy the majority of the program. |
