What to know about the Chicago Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field — and which other suburbs are vying for the stadium

The Chicago Bears started a brand-new period in February 2023 with the purchase of a website in Arlington Heights where the group wants to construct a brand-new enclosed arena with an enormous home entertainment and domestic advancement.

The group has actually struck a monetary obstruction in their proposed relocation to Arlington Heights, and now other towns have actually been competing in a sort of live roulette to bring in– or in Chicago’s case, keep– the group.

Naperville, Rockford, Chicago and, most just recently, Waukegan and Aurora have actually put themselves in the going to land the white whale of the NFL– though some authorities yield the group might be utilizing them for utilize in settlements with Arlington Heights.

Here’s what to understand about the possible relocation from Soldier Field.

The Bears continue to have a look at a range of websites around Chicago– consisting of the website of Soldier Field — as prospective homes for a brand-new arena, authorities stated on Dec. 6.

The Bears are doing due diligence on the practicality southern car park at Soldier Field as the place for their next arena, according to unnamed sources pointed out by The Parkins & & Spiegel Show on WSCR-AM 670 The Score.

The parking lot south of Soldier Field consists of a garage and a ground-level lot. The location is celebration main for tailgating fans. The location as soon as was suggested by a mayoral job force as the website of the proposed Lucas Museum.

President and CEO Kevin Warren sent out a letter to season ticket holders before the 2023 season opener, stating he is “working vigilantly to provide on a brand-new, multipurpose indoor arena complex that will supply a best-in-class gameday experience.”

Warren stated he has actually reengaged with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and applauded the “vision” the mayor’s group has actually used concerning the group staying in the city. Still, the group stays engaged with authorities in Arlington Heights and other suburban areas.

“We are motivated by the development up until now,” Warren composed, “and we anticipate narrowing and specifying our area in the future.” Find out more here.

• Bears state they will not pursue legislation on arena advancement throughout fall session in Springfield

Demolition of Arlington International Racecourse continues as a possible website for a brand-new arena as the Bears choose an arena for the future. (Chicago Tribune)

Naperville

The Bears have actually rapidly had 2 conferences with city authorities, after Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli composed to welcome the group to talk. The mayor stated he’s had extremely initial conversations with Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren.

Wehrli has actually stated he wishes to establish underused homes along the Interstate 88 tollway, where the previous BP Amoco website would be more than huge enough at 187 acres.

• Issues about traffic and security raised in Naperville’s 2nd arena conference with Bears, councilman states
• Naperville mayor protects conference with Bears about arena, worrying procedures will be followed if proposition is made

Waukegan

Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor composed a letter Monday to Warren, proposing that the Bears develop a brand-new arena on lakefront residential or commercial property

A number of areas Taylor pointed out have the area for an arena and home entertainment location with access to Interstate 94, U.S. Route 41 and mass transit. The Bears currently train in Lake Forest, 9 miles south of Waukegan.

• Waukegan has uninhabited lakefront land readily available for possible Bears arena

Aurora

Mayor Richard Irvin has actually welcomed the Bears to think about moving to the residential area.

In a letter from Irvin to the Bearshe promotes Aurora’s history, area and performance history of getting advancements done. The letter begins the heels of President/CEO Kevin Warren stating just recently that the Bears are “in a position to begin checking out other locations and chances and no longer thinks about Arlington Heights as a particular focus.”

Rockford

State Rep. Dave Vella, a Democrat from Rockford, informed the Tribune he ‘d like his city to have an opportunity at bringing the Bears there.

While acknowledging that Rockford is 90 miles from Chicago, he promoted Rockford’s transport advancement and how that might be utilized at Bears fans’ benefit.

Richton Park

In a letter to Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold promoted big areas of readily available land and the south suburban area’s distance to highways and the Metra Electric Line.

“I comprehend how the intricacy of finishing an arena offer at the previous Arlington Park website can be aggravating,” Reinbold informed Warren in the July 21 letter. “Allow me to interest you in greenfield chances waiting for the Bears in Richton Park!”

Nation Club Hills

Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon is motivating the football group to think about Country Club Hills, tossing what her workplace referred to as a “Hail Mary pass” to motivate the group to think about the south suburban area.

Gordon stated in a press release she and Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford “are urging the group to take a look at the south suburban areas as a chance to have a favorable financial influence on a part of the Chicagoland location that is neglected all frequently.” “We’re taking our shot in the dark here,” Ford stated.

Arlington Heights

The primary distinction in between Arlington Heights and the other websites, obviously, is that the Bears own home there– and demolition has actually startedThe website is huge enough for an arena and a big suggested real estate and home entertainment complex. It has a Metra train station and is beside Route 53, not far from the I-90 tollway.

• Chicago Bears, schools are $100M apart on tax worth of previous Arlington Park, making complex arena proposition
• Even as Chicago Bears open season with losses, Arlington Heights Village Board working to bring arena to residential area
• Kevin Warren states Bears look for ‘genuine partner’ in choosing website for brand-new arena. Would that be Arlington Heights? Possibly.
• Arlington Heights-area school districts reach contract with Churchill Downs on racecourse real estate tax– however handle Bears still being looked for
• Recently seated Arlington Heights trustees get rundown on Bears prepares to relocate to Arlington Heights: ‘We’ve still got a long, long method to go’
• Some Arlington Heights locals decry absence of input in possible arena relocation: ‘Bears need to remain in Chicago where they belong’

Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson stated he wished to keep the group in the city and consulted with Warren about what they called their shared dedication to the city.

Johnson didn’t provide any specifics, however the mayor stated it’s crucial to have discussions to keep the Bears “shuffling” in Chicago, a recommendation to the group’s only Super Bowl win, in 1986.

• Bears president and Mayor Johnson continue talking as NFL group keeps arena choices open
• Chicago’s Soldier Field: A timeline of occasions because 1924, consisting of hosting the world’s professional athletes, parishes, political leaders and entertainers
• What are the expenses if the Bears bail on Chicago for Arlington Heights?

A Chicago Bears fan takes his seat early before a video game at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim/ Chicago Tribune)

The divorce is far from an inescapable conclusion– the Bears have actually just taken the next action, one they’ve been telegraphing for over a year.

If the group leaves Soldier Field, Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry stated she hopes the arena can host much more performances each year, reducing the progressively questionable problem on community parks for huge musical occasions such as Riot Fest in Douglass Park and the just recently revealed Re: SET celebration in Riis Park. Learn more here

• What would a prospective brand-new arena resemble? Here’s a take a look at the 7 latest NFL arenas, from capability to finest facilities.
• Designer information ‘reimagined’ domed Soldier Field in ‘Hail Mary’ quote to keep Bears in Chicago. Take the 6-minute video trip.
• A Bears relocation might leave countless fans with useless Soldier Field seat licenses

Teams destroy the grandstand and surrounding structures at the previous Arlington International Racecourse on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Capture up on the most recent Bears-related headings out of Arlington Heights.

• ‘Touchdown’ group wanting to assist regional companies and neighborhood have win-win with Bears proposed transfer to Arlington Heights
• Bears arena advancement might on depend upon TIF cash– a monetary tool that’s had differing success in Arlington Heights
• Arlington Heights mayor and trustees balk at ‘offending’ allegation that leaders are on the take in possible Bears arena relocation
• Expecting security requirements for a Bears arena, Arlington Heights cops and fire go to arena locations in LA, Vegas and Dallas
• Bears’ proposed relocate to Arlington Heights might have homeowner moneying in with increasing price
• Bears assure ‘first-rate experience’ for fans throughout arena conference in Arlington Heights
• Arlington Heights trustees ‘all in’ on developing redevelopment arrangement for Bears arena– however meh on some parts of group’s proposition
• Bears’ prepare for arena in Arlington Heights delighted numerous suburbanites. With moneying a huge concern, financial experts warn about aids

Bears Chairman George McCaskey and president/CEO Ted Phillips took a seat with the Tribune in 2022. Here are a few of their responses on how the Arlington task will be managed as Phillips prepares to leave, how Phillips reviews his period and far more. Read it here.

• ‘One action at a time’: Bears stay in a waiting video game for a prospective brand-new arena in Arlington Heights
• Bears verify deal with Manica Architecture and 2 other companies for Arlington Heights arena task

A kick cruises over a mass of Bear protectors to clear the crossbar and provide Washington a 3-0 lead at Soldier Field on Nov. 14, 1971. The Bears have actually played their home video games at Soldier Field because 1971. (Ray Gora/ Chicago Tribune)

While the Bears have actually called Soldier Field home considering that 1971, the group has actually gone over or proposed playing its video games in other places throughout much of the last 50 years.

Wrigley Field functioned as the initial home place for the group when it relocated to Chicago in 1921 and stayed there through 1970. The group won almost 70% of its home video games throughout that period.

The Bears were required to discover a brand-new home after the American Football League combined with the National Football League and needed arenas to seat at least 50,000 fans. The group played its last video game at Wrigley Field on Dec. 13, 1970, beating the Packers 35-17. Find out more here

If the Bears attempt to dream huge about a brand-new arena in Arlington Heights, they can discover motivation in SoFi Stadium, the brand-new star destination of the NFL.

The league’s biggest and most costly arena and the website of the Super Bowl, SoFi, simply outside Los Angeles, is frustrating fans with its sweeping curves and impressive scale. The arena and its advancement emphasize particular parallels to the Bears’ proposition to purchase and redevelop Arlington International Racecourse. Both show desires to leave century-old arenas and home cities for huge websites that permit prepared enclaves of surrounding dining establishments, hotels, workplaces, shops and homes. Learn more here

• Arlington Heights locals prefer a Bears arena– however not tax assistance, a libertarian survey discovers. The mayor is cautious of the questioning.
• Could the website of a proposed Bears arena in Arlington Heights likewise consist of a minor-league baseball complex?
• Dining establishments? Soccer arena? With cautious preparation, an Arlington Heights arena might tempt extra advancement
• How Arlington Heights hung a welcome indication for Bears
• Arlington International Racecourse: History of among the ‘world’s most stunning racetracks’

Some fans revealed a draft day-like optimism that much better days are ahead. They dreamed honestly of much shorter concessions, simpler parking, much better tailgating chances and a domed arena that secured them from biting winter season winds.

“I’ve been to several arenas in the NFL and Soldier Field does not take on any of them,” Bears season ticket holder Neal Shah of Wheaton stated. “On video game days, the tv teams reveal a bird’s-eye view of the arena, which is gorgeous, however the logistics are awful.” Find out more here

• At tailgates outside Soldier Field, the Bears’ possible departure is a burning problem: ‘Arlington Heights, if they move, here I come’
• Would take a trip to a Bears arena in Arlington Heights be much better or even worse than Soldier Field? It depends upon how you arrive, fans state.
• A Bears transfer to Arlington Heights would be a ‘win-win’ to numerous. About that traffic and building and construction …

Initially Published: Oct 01, 2021 at 9:14 am