Bears Revisiting Another Lakefront Location for New Stadium

The Bears are determined to keep the team in the heart of Chicago. 

As the franchise continues to explore the next location for its proposed $4.7 billion domed stadium, the Michael Reese site, a 48.6-acre lot on the Chicago lakefront, is back in consideration, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. 

Bears president Kevin Warren said earlier this year that the site—which sits about 2.5 miles south of Soldier Field and a mile south of the Wintrust Arena, home of the Chicago Sky—was part of 10 to 12 the team considered, but was previously rejected because it was narrow and “doesn’t work from an NFL standpoint.”

The team’s preferred option continues to be a lakefront stadium adjacent to Soldier Field—but the proposal has not gained any traction with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, particularly as more than half the cost would need to be shouldered by public funding. The proposal has also received pushback from preservation group Friends of the Parks. 

The Reese site has been pushed as an option by Friends of the Parks and government research organization Civic Federation. It was purchased by the city of Chicago as a potential Olympic Village site, but it was never used since Brazil won the hosting rights to the 2016 Summer Olympics.

A Reese site stadium proposal could receive a more favorable reaction from the local government given the area is already undergoing a $4.3 billion redevelopment project.

Warren doesn’t seem to have closed the door on the Bears moving to Chicago suburb Arlington Heights, where the team purchased more than 300 acres of land in 2023, saying in October the team has “stayed close with the individuals in Arlington Heights.” But according to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bears are determined to stay within the city of Chicago—and are more open to sites away from the lakefront.

On-Field Circus

The Bears fell to 4–5 following a loss at home to the Patriots on Sunday. Chicago is in the middle of a three-game losing streak, which started with the Hail Mary loss to the Commanders. 

On Tuesday, the Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron as the team has not scored a touchdown in its last 23 offensive drives. According to ESPN’s Marc Silverman, there are “a few veteran players” who have even requested second-year quarterback Tyson Bagent start over 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.