Soldier Field — Attraction in Chicago

A Pink-Tastic Night at Soldier Field: Our 11-Year-Old’s First BLACKPINK Concert! Last month, we took our 11-year-old daughter to her very first concert—BLACKPINK’s 2025 World Tour at Soldier Field in Chicago—and let me tell you, it was a night we’ll never forget! From the moment we stepped onto the Museum Campus, the energy was electric, with waves of fans decked out in pink and waving heart-shaped lightsticks that turned the iconic stadium into a glowing sea of sparkle. As first-time concert parents, we weren’t sure what to expect, but Soldier Field and BLACKPINK delivered a fun, family-friendly, and absolutely unforgettable experience! The Vibe at Soldier Field: A K-Pop Party Paradise Walking up to Soldier Field felt like entering a K-pop wonderland. The stadium, usually home to Bears games, was transformed into a vibrant, pink-hued playground for BLINKs of all ages. Our daughter’s eyes lit up as she saw fans in BLACKPINK-inspired outfits—think sparkly skirts and custom lightstick holders—dancing to “Pink Venom” blasting from nearby speakers. The pre-concert buzz was contagious, with merch booths outside Gate 4 swarmed by excited fans (we snagged a tour T-shirt and a lightstick, which our daughter waved like a pro all night). The lines were long but moved fast, and the staff were super helpful, guiding us to the family-friendly Gate 0 entrance for floor seats. The stadium itself was a perfect host for this massive event. With over 62,000 fans packed in, it never felt overwhelming. The clear signage and friendly security made navigating the venue a breeze, even for a first-timer like our daughter. We loved the open-air feel of Soldier Field—Chicago’s skyline twinkling in the background added a magical touch to the night. The weather was a perfect mid-70s, and the water fountains near Gate 14 kept us hydrated as we danced along. Pro tip: bring a clear bag to comply with the NFL All-Clear Bag Policy, or use the $10 lockers at the 18th Street Turnaround for any extras! BLACKPINK Brings the House Down When BLACKPINK hit the stage at 8:00 PM on July 18, 2025, the roar from the crowd was deafening! Our daughter was on her feet, screaming for Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa as they kicked off with “Kill This Love.” The setlist was a high-energy mix of hits like “How You Like That,” “Boombayah,” and their new banger “Jump,” which had everyone—including us parents—jumping and singing along. The giant LED screens and fireworks made every moment feel larger than life, and our daughter was mesmerized by the choreography and colorful stage effects. She even tried mimicking Lisa’s moves during “Fxck Up the World” (don’t worry, we covered her ears for that one!) The solo performances were a highlight—Rosé’s soulful “3am” had our daughter swaying, while Jennie’s “Mantra” got her hyped. The group’s chemistry was infectious, and their sweet shout-outs to Chicago made it feel personal. “We feel you giving so much energy to us!” Rosé said, and our daughter beamed like she was part of the show. The encore, with “Jump” and “See U Later,” had the whole stadium bouncing, and the confetti cannons were the cherry on top for our kiddo. Family-Friendly Fun at Soldier Field As parents, we were thrilled with how kid-friendly Soldier Field was. The staff checked on us during the show to ensure we had everything we needed, and the medical stations near Gate 17 gave us peace of mind. The cashless venue made grabbing snacks (popcorn and pretzels were a hit with our daughter) quick and easy. The only hiccup was the rideshare pickup at Columbus and Balbo—it was a bit chaotic post-show, but we planned ahead with Windy City Limo for a smooth exit, which was worth...

First impressions It’s always very worrisome & intimidating when 60,000 people are trying to get to the same location nearly at the same time as you. Preparing ahead of time was essential on where to park and how much cash to bring as well. Once you have the idea, then there are plenty of signs and staff who’ll be willing to direct you to the correct location. What impressed me the most was their undeterred willingness to make you feel safe. You saw police, security, and avenues of communication to report suspicious/unBEARable activity. Location The location is beautiful! Right alongside the lake, so it makes it for a pleasant drive when you in an hour of stadium traffic! There is always unpreparedness for the extra wind from the lake effect that no one seems to remember but instantly regrets. Most of the facilities were modernized back in the 2000s, but you don’t feel it outdated just yet. I’ve traveled to a few stadiums, and Soldier Field is far superior to many of those (except Dallas, Atlanta). This is a prime location to bring friends to enjoy an array of sporting events, concerts, and fun. I will say the United club was a nice extra touch, but WAY overcrowded. I couldn’t believe how long the men’s line restroom was and how small the space to get food was. If you manage to get there before the swarm of people, then it’s a fantastic experience. I couldn’t even imagine the stress of taking my kids during that halftime traffic. Staff I thought the staff was overall pleasant in comparison to other sporting venues. I wouldn’t fault them for being grumpy in shepherding many patrons asking the same questions over and over. They did fantastic directing us to our section, and specifically, in the United Club, they did well handling the massive crowds. I saw them opening doors for folks and food vendors, making conversation with customers. Awesome to see in the United club! Food The food was delicious! I thought for sure a stadium feeding 60k people would dice quality in at least half to find a way to feed fast. I not only received my food quickly, but the food was surprisingly good. Did I think it was overpriced? Yes, of course! But honestly, stadium food is always overpriced. I would most certainly grab this food...

The concert I attended on August 29, 2025 was so much fun, even from seats in the 400s section. However, this was my first and last time at Soldier Field. DO NOT go here with children or if you are not a fully able bodied person. I’ve been to a ton of concerts and I have never had an experience even close to this one. It took our ride share forever to get TO the drop off because of this venues horrible location, and we had to walk for who knows how long to get into the venue. Once we got in, there was practically no signage telling us how to get to our section. The signs posted were confusing and inaccurate, with arrows pointing in unhelpful directions. Every employee I talked to last night (at least 6 people), just asking simple questions, had no idea where they were or what they were doing— I’m not joking it’s like it was everyone’s first hour on the job. They were unhelpful clearly due to a lack of adequate training and supervision. I wouldn’t have known what to do if I needed something as simple as a bandaid, beginning with where to even go??? When the concert ended, it took everyone an hour to get out of the venue on foot. I don’t know how many miles we walked. Again, there weren’t any signs with any information about where we were going or why but everyone was aimlessly going the same direction. When we got out, again, no signs telling us where we were or how to get literally anywhere but there. And the people on bikes offering rides could only go in a small area? But not a single soul knew where to go just to be picked up by a ride share. I could write so much more but it’s not worth the energy. Point blank: Soldier Field, you guys need to do some serious research and investing to make this venue able to hold over 61,000 people; just having that many seats doesn’t count for anything. Seriously, every single person would’ve been completely screwed if there had been a fire or dangerous person. Do NOT wait for a terrible catastrophic event before doing something. Maybe spend less money on law enforcement officers standing around and spend more money on...