<P> Soldier Field was used as a site for many sporting events and exhibitions . The Chicago Cardinals used it as their home field for their final season in Chicago in 1959 . A dozen years later in September 1971 , the Chicago Bears moved in , originally with a three - year commitment . They previously played at Wrigley Field , best known as the home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team , but were forced to move to a larger venue due to post-AFL -- NFL merger policies requiring that stadium capacities seat over 50,000 spectators . They had intended to build a stadium in Arlington Heights . In 1978 , the Bears and the Chicago Park District agreed to a 20 - year lease and renovation of the stadium . Both parties pooled their resources for the renovation . The playing surface was AstroTurf from 1971 through 1987 , replaced with natural grass in 1988 . </P>
<P> Soldier Field was used as a site for many sporting events and exhibitions . The Chicago Cardinals used it as their home field for their final season in Chicago in 1959 . A dozen years later in September 1971 , the Chicago Bears moved in , originally with a three - year commitment . They previously played at Wrigley Field , best known as the home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team , but were forced to move to a larger venue due to post-AFL -- NFL merger policies requiring that stadium capacities seat over 50,000 spectators . They had intended to build a stadium in Arlington Heights . In 1978 , the Bears and the Chicago Park District agreed to a 20 - year lease and renovation of the stadium . Both parties pooled their resources for the renovation . The playing surface was AstroTurf from 1971 through 1987 , replaced with natural grass in 1988 . </P>
when did the bears start playing at soldier field
when did the bears start playing at soldier field
1971
1971