May "The Force" Be Coming to the Sloop?

Image via Curbed Chicago

Big news around Chicago recently was that the task force for the city's bid for the George Lucas Museum has suggested that the museum be built south of Soldier Field (via Tribune):

A task force appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel has recommended the parking lots to the south of Soldier Field as the home for filmmaker George Lucas' collection of art and movie memorabilia, should the 'Star Wars' creator choose Chicago over San Francisco for his planned museum.  

Lucas is expected to select a site for his Lucas Cultural Arts Museum this summer, according to a museum spokeswoman.

Upon first blush, this seems like it would be a great thing for Chicago and the Sloop.  However, Bears fans might not be happy because it seems like it could alter tailgating drastically.

That doesn't seem like a good reason to shoot this down.  The Tribune has a great summary on the situation.  For us we would love to see this happen.  A world class museum is better than a parking lot (this I know to be true).

Besides the museum, it sounds like the area would get major infrastructure improvements.  The Sun Times provides a couple highlights:

• Building a “pedestrian connection” from the Lucas museum to Northerly Island — either a bridge or a “mid-harbor crossing that prioritizes pedestrians, cyclist and non-motorized transit” — to reduce traffic volumes on the few roadways that connect Northerly Island to the museum campus.
• Upgrading the 18th Street entrance and exits to McCormick Place and the museum campus as well as the Roosevelt Road interchange.

However, reading between the lines, it seems like Chicago is a long shot behind San Francisco (where Lucas has lived most of his life).  Obama museum seems ripe for Chicago.  Lucas museum still feels like a long shot.