National Football League

Soldier Field getting new sod

Published Aug. 25, 2011 8:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

Soldier Field is getting new sod.

In a press release Thursday, the Chicago Park District says it's working with the Bears to ''identify a preferred vendor'' and that a top agronomist is being consulted. The new surface will be installed over Labor Day weekend, in time for the opener against Atlanta on Sept. 11.

The Park District says stadium management has been working with Penn State professor Dr. Andrew McNitt since March and will continue through the season. He consults with 10 other NFL stadiums.

Bears players have repeatedly blasted the conditions at Soldier Field, and there were more calls for artificial surface this month when the team had to cancel a ''Family Fest'' practice at the stadium this month because 3 1/2-week-old sod was in poor shape. Team management has decided against artificial turf in favor of player safety.