Five things Liam Ford was surprised to learn while researching
his recent book, "Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City":  1.
While they were building Soldier Field, the South Park
Commission had trouble deciding whether to allow professional
football there. The South Parks controlled Chicago's lakefront
parks from Grant Park south, and wanted the new Grant Park
Stadium to serve as a venue to showcase the athleticism of the
children of the South Side. In the summer of 1925, the
commissioners voted to study whether to allow professional teams
to play there. Eventually, they decided it would be all right -
and bring some money in to support park programs.  2. The
original Soldier Field designs called for a giant monument at
the south end of the stadium, where the stadium curves to
resemble a Greek theater. The memorial would have stood just
above Gate 0, where the sign with the stadium's name is today.
Because of cost, the South Park Commissioners decided to forgo
the monument. Although the colonnades were desig