‘Unprecedented’: Soldier Field hosts 5 back-to-back sold-out shows

CHICAGO (WGN) — This weekend marks a major milestone for Soldier Field as it plays host to five nights of concerts back-to-back.

The stretch of shows kicked off Thursday as Oasis took the stage for a sold-out performance during the band’s first U.S. show in 17 years.

Once the house lights turned on, crews got back to work immediately, breaking down and getting ready for the My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade tour to take over the stadium Friday.

“We had 20 trucks last night for Oasis. We had to stay and take down all the lights, all the sound, all the set, pack it up and put it in those trucks,” Ross Wilkerson said.

That wrapped around 3 a.m. and Wilkerson, a stagehand with Local 2 Chicago, said about 20 trucks filled with equipment rolled in several hours later with the My Chemical Romance production. From lighting to sound, wardrobe, band gear, and everything that comes with a band production, the team worked through the afternoon hours to have everything ready to go for Friday night.

This week, the only thing that will stay the same from night-to-night is the main stage build, something all tours agreed on to help with the process of flipping the field.

Soldier Field General Manager Tim LeFevour has been in the business for about 45 years and said this weekend is one for the books.

“We’ve done some of the greatest shows ever, the Grateful Dead’s final show, Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, you name it, but five nights, four different bands, four different productions, this is unique,” LeFevour said.

The planning for any show, especially five back-to-back, includes everything from logistics to security, working with promoters, preparing for weather scenarios, coordinating with production teams, and getting ready to execute day-of.

“You’ll have 3,000 employees a day and over the next five days we’ll have 250,000 people at Soldier Field and that’s just something spectacular,” LeFevour said.

LeFevour and his team, including Danielle Croushelli, the venue’s director of events and booking, have been working with Live Nation for more than a year to prepare for this stretch of shows.

“It’s been a great experience obviously working with the different promoters, making sure the event goes on successfully,” Croushelli said.

“It’s unprecedented; it’s a lot of coordination, a lot of work, a lot of bodies in and out, you know staff, managing hours, managing our team,” said Chris Weathers, vice president of production for Live Nation.

His colleague, Alex Armellino, production manager for Live Nation Chicago, played an important role in coordinating what fans will see this week.

“I’ve got a lot of lists, a lot of schedules, checking things twice and it feels truly like we have a lot of spinning plates,” said Armellino. “We started planning all of this almost a year ago, so it feels like something that is finally nice to see come to fruition and we’re ready for it.”

It’s a carefully coordinated dance to bring the entire experience to fans as they come to Soldier Field, LeFevour said.

The shows brought together people from Chicago and beyond, many who spent the weekend in the city and booked rooms at hotels, ate at area restaurants, and explored all the city has to offer.  

“I’m really excited. My mom saw them in like 2005, so the fact that I’m getting to experience this is great, they’re my favorite band,” said Izzy Casey, who traveled with her mom from Cleveland.

“Everything I’ve been singing along to since high school. I’m just excited to see them in person,” Beau Frederick, who came from Kenosha, Wisconsin, said.

Tourism experts said the weekend is already gearing up to be a big one for the city, and they expect the events at Soldier Field will play a big role in that.

Choose Chicago President and CEO Kristen Reynolds shared the following statement with WGN:

“We are thrilled to mark the unofficial end of summer with an unprecedented run of concerts at Soldier Field. This summer has made it clearer than ever: mega concerts are not just entertainment — they are powerful economic engines for Chicago. From Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to festivals like Lollapalooza, these events have driven record-breaking hotel occupancy, drawn visitors from across the Midwest and beyond, and filled our restaurants, shops, and attractions.

When combined with conventions and other visitor draws, they create a ripple effect across the city’s economy. We’re looking forward to a strong travel weekend thanks to these five concerts, alongside Chicago’s iconic music festivals, vibrant neighborhood events, and the one-of-a-kind energy that makes our summers truly unmatched.”

Once the shows wrap, Soldier Field’s transformation begins as crews begin laying sod and preparing for the Bears to commence the 2025 season, which happens at home against the Vikings on September 8.