In a recent development, the Chicago Bears have indicated a renewed focus on potentially establishing their new stadium in the suburbs, specifically zeroing in on a plot of land they own in Arlington Heights, in addition to continuing consideration of the Chicago lakefront location. This dual focus was highlighted by team president Kevin Warren during the NFL meetings held on Wednesday, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress made in both areas. Warren elaborated that the processes involved in these large-scale projects are complex and time-consuming, requiring significant effort and energy.
The team’s interest marks a notable shift in direction. Earlier in 2023, the Bears completed their purchase of a 326-acre site in Arlington Heights, suggesting a keen interest in developing this location. However, over the past year, efforts were prominently directed toward finalizing plans to build a covered stadium adjacent to Soldier Field, their current home. This ambition to transform Chicago’s Museum Campus gained strong support from Mayor Brandon Johnson but was met with muted enthusiasm from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and state legislators.
Discussions were also held surrounding a potential stadium development on the South Side, at the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital. Unfortunately, the team decided against the 48.6-acre site owing to constraints such as narrow space and the engineering issues posed by nearby commuter train tracks.
Since the Bears’ relocation to Chicago in 1921, the team has never owned any of its playing arenas, extending from their tenure at Wrigley Field to their ongoing stay at Soldier Field. The Bears are hopeful for the commencement of construction activities within the year.
A vision was shared with the public in September 2022; this proposed a nearly $5 billion project at Arlington Heights, extending beyond just a stadium to incorporate restaurants and retail spaces, initiated as part of finalizing the land acquisition roughly 30 miles from Soldier Field. However, the focus pivoted towards the potential of a Chicago lakefront location following Warren’s appointment as president two years ago, after Ted Phillips stepped down.
Warren praised the Arlington Heights location, emphasizing the rarity and value of such a substantial parcel of land so near to a major city. He remarked on the uniqueness of the opportunity it presents, suggesting there’s likely nothing else quite like it in other parts of the country.