The Bears de Chicago practically closed the door to the construction of a covered stadium in town, according to what the team president wrote on Monday.
In a letter published to the supporters a few hours before the opening match against the Vikings of Minnesota, Kevin Warren argued that the “future domicile” of the Bears was in the suburbs of Arlington Heights.
“Moving outside Chicago is not an easy decision,” wrote Warren. This project does not mean a departure, but an expansion. The Bears attract supporters of all of Illinois, and more than 50 % of our subscribers live less than 40 kilometers from the Arlington Heights site. »»
Warren clearly indicated that the team was determined to build a stadium, saying that “it’s the year” to finalize the plans in order to be able to apply for the organization of a Super Bowl “from 2031”.
He said that the stadium “would not require any state financing for its construction”, but that the team would need the Council to adopt a bill in October to start the work this year.
This bill would freeze land taxes for large -scale construction projects, such as the stadium. Warren says this bill could create 56,000 jobs during construction and 9,000 permanent jobs.
The Bears’ objective for a new home has walked between land they have in Arlington Heights, the city, then a return to the suburbs.
In September 2022, they unveiled a plan of nearly US $ five billion for the project at Arlington Heights, which also provided restaurants, shops and more, while they were finalizing the purchase of this site 48 kilometers from the Soldier Field.
Their priority moved to the construction of a new stadium next to the Soldier Field, after the arrival of Warren to the presidency two years ago, replacing Ted Phillips, who retired.
The project to transform the Museum Campus de Chicago then received the enthusiastic support from the mayor, Brandon Johnson, but a mixed reception from the Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, and state legislators when he was announced in April 2024.
Last spring, the team announced that it was focused again on Arlington Heights, evoking “significant progress” with local leaders.
Since their arrival in Chicago, in 1921, the Bears have never owned their stadium, whether at the Wrigley Field, from 1921 to 1970, or at the Soldier Field since.
