The Bears’ newest Halas Hall expansion is an "apt illustration of just how far the franchise has come under McCaskey ownership," as the team is now "leading the way" into the 21st century, according to Mark Potash of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. An "impressive 162,500-square-foot expansion" of the team's football operations facilities is "in some cases beyond state-of-the-art." The Bears have "increased the size of their locker room, weight room, draft room, cafeteria and sports medicine facilities." In addition, they have "added amenities like a barber shop, a sauna and a steam room." They have also "included the latest technological advancements in virtually every area." The Bears "even installed a 4,200-square-foot rooftop garden area, where they will grow their own herbs." Among other highlights:
- A new players’ entrance down a corridor with the names and uniform numbers of the 14 retired jerseys on each wall.
- A 3,250-square-foot players lounge.
- An expanded cafeteria.
- The new locker room is 1,750 square feet larger.
- The weight room was increased in size by 2,000 square feet (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/30).
MORE DETAILS: In Chicago, Dan Wiederer notes the project, with HOK as the design firm and Mortenson Construction as the general contractor, began in March '18. The organization "quadrupled its sports medicine space, which now features two hydrotherapy pools, two plunge pools, [and] a float pod." Meanwhile, a 13,000-square-foot "indoor turf training space also was added on the north end of the campus" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/30). Also in Chicago, JJ Stankevitz wrote "no longer does Halas Hall feel out-dated or small" (NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com, 8/29).
HALAS HALL EXPANSION
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