The Chicago Bears are shifting their focus to Arlington Heights for a new stadium project. While it’s not a done deal, it does appear that after spending a year trying to get a project done in downtown Chicago, the Bears’ future home will be in the suburbs.
The Chicago Tribune first reported the news.
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“Over the last few months, we have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality,” the team said in a statement.
Arlington Heights recently elected a new mayor, James Tinaglia, who supports a stadium in the village and met with Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren earlier this month.
The team purchased the 326 acres on the Arlington Park site in 2022 but in April 2024 unveiled plans for a new stadium on the Museum Campus in Chicago, making that its sole focus. The public shift to Arlington Heights began last month at the league meetings in Florida, but at that time, Warren said downtown was still in play.
“Arlington Heights is unique,” Warren said on April 2. “I don’t think there’s another piece of land like this in the world. Because the biggest thing for me as I represent the family’s interests, I not only look at this generation, but I really say it and I seriously mean it — this is a decision that will impact this franchise for the next 100 years. And my biggest thing that my focus will continue to be on is the fan experience.”
An aerial view of Arlington International Racecourse on Sept. 29, 2021, in Arlington Heights. The Bears purchased the 326-acre site in 2022. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Bears would not ask for any public funding for the stadium itself. State money would be requested for infrastructure support for the mixed-use entertainment district. In December, the Arlington Heights Village Board voted unanimously to set the Bears’ taxes at $3.6 million per year at the Arlington Park site. There is a pending measure in Springfield that is not stadium-specific but would provide a vehicle to support “megaprojects” in the state.
Unlike Soldier Field, which is owned by the Chicago Park District, the Bears would own their new stadium in Arlington Heights and the land surrounding it. The Bears have played home games at Soldier Field since 1971. They faced several roadblocks after going public with their plans to build on the Museum Campus including, among other things, relying on financial support from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
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South of Soldier Field presented a potential third option on the Michael Reese Hospital site, but that never gained traction. Before Warren’s hiring as president/CEO, the team’s representatives spoke at Hersey High School in the fall of 2022, speaking to community members about their stadium plans. Three years later, the Bears are back with Arlington Heights as their main focus.
Warren has said the goal is to get shovels in the ground in 2025.
“George Halas identified (Arlington Heights) more than 50 years ago as an ideal place for a Bears stadium, and I don’t know if anything that’s happened since then changed that evaluation,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said last month. “As Kevin mentioned, it’s pad ready, it’s got the Metra stop, plenty of acreage, topography is good. It can be an outstanding, beautiful green space with enhancements to Salt Creek, but the downtown locations have their advantages, too. Kevin has said it since he’s been here. Beautiful spot by the lake. It’s idyllic and if there were sufficient improvements in infrastructure to make that location accessible 365 days of the year, it can be a fantastic opportunity as well.”
The Bears would be able to host events at this new, domed stadium like the Final Four, College Football Playoff and Big Ten championship. They would be able to bid for a Super Bowl.
There’s still a long way to go, but the Bears are back to where they started, with Arlington Heights being the likely destination of the franchise’s new stadium.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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