The Bears appear ready to move out of Chicago in favor of Arlington Heights, one of the city’s surrounding suburbs.
Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren told reporters at Halas Hall on Friday that the team is “extremely focused” on building its next stadium in Arlington Heights.
“We strongly believe that is the only location in Cook County that will allow us to build a stadium—the new Chicago Bears stadium—with a fixed roof,” Warren said.
In September 2021, the Bears agreed to purchase a 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse property. However, over the last few years, they have flirted with the idea of building a $4.7 million domed stadium in downtown Chicago adjacent to Soldier Field, their current home.
However, they have not received much support from local legislators, particularly Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Warren said “excellent progress” has been made on the Arlington Heights stadium, adding that the organization has been in weekly meetings with Arlington Heights leaders for several months.
He said the plan is to proceed this year by beginning to move dirt, then break ground by 2026.
However, one hurdle the Bears are hoping to clear is the passing of a “mega project bill” that would provide tax relief for the organization as it builds the new stadium. Warren argued Wednesday that the bill would cost Illinois “zero.”
“This is not a grant. This is not a gift. This is not any transfer of money from the state of Illinois to the Chicago Bears or other businesses. This just says we’re going to allow you to negotiate the property taxes, which is critically important,” Warren said. He also said that the Bears are “not trying to avoid paying taxes.”
A vote on the bill is expected in October.
