Soldier Field Renovation Clears Hurdle

After nearly 30 years of negotiations, threats and foot-dragging, the Chicago Bears and city officials agreed on a $587-million renovation of Soldier Field.

The Bears will pay $200 million and the remainder of the project’s costs will be covered by bonds that would be retired by the city hotel tax. The measure still has to be approved by the Illinois Legislature.

The Bears, who have a $100-million loan from the NFL for stadium improvements, plan to recoup their expenses with a still undetermined personal seat license fee and the possibility of adding a corporate name to Soldier Field, Bear President Ted Phillips said. Because of the construction, the team would have to play its home games during 2002 at Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, Northwestern’s Ryan Field in Evanston or Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., Phillips said.

*

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, hobbled because of a sprained left foot, didn’t take a snap in practice, but thinks he will be able to start Sunday against Indianapolis. . . . Cornerback Darrell Green and linebacker Shawn Barber will return to the Washington lineup for Monday night’s game at St. Louis, but quarterback Brad Johnson will miss his second consecutive game. He will be replaced by Jeff George. . . . Minnesota fullback Jim Kleinsasser will miss at least one game and possibly another because of a hamstring injury. . . . New Orleans running back Ricky Williams had two screws and a small plate inserted in his broken left ankle during a surgery. . . . Dallas signed free-agent punter Barry Cantrell to replace injured Micah Knorr, who broke a bone in his left leg in Sunday’s victory against Cincinnati. . . . Tampa Bay defensive end Marcus Jones signed a seven-year contract extension worth more than $5 million annually. . . . Eddie Miller, the former New Mexico State quarterback believed to be the first player from New Mexico to play in the NFL, died of heart failure at his home. He was 84. Miller played for the New York Giants from 1939-40 before serving in World War II.