CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are considering abandoning plans for an indoor stadium and entertainment district on recently purchased suburban land.
The team could move to another area of the Chicago area.
Citing a property assessment they believe is too high, the Bears said a site in Arlington Heights is no longer their only focus, and they need to listen to other area municipalities about potential sites.
The Bears announced in February that they had purchased the site of a former racetrack for $197.2 million in Arlington Heights.
The club plans to pay for the stadium but wants taxpayers’ money for roads and sewers, among other things.
The team said demolition work at the racecourse will continue.
The Bears plan to surround the stadium with restaurants and businesses, on a site about 50 kilometers northwest of Soldier Field. All for around $5 billion, with some help from taxpayers.
Last summer, the city of Chicago offered to put a roof on Soldier Field and increase its capacity (it is the lowest in the NFL, with 61,500 seats).
The Bears, however, reiterated that they were considering no other option than Arlington Heights.
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Soldier Field has been the home of the Bears since 1971.
2023-06-03 01:23:04
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