As they continue to seek a new stadium site, it appears there is little hope of the Bears remaining in Chicago. In a statement issued Thursday, the Bears indicated they are considering just two potential sites for their new home. Both locations are outside of the city.
“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
Arlington Heights is an Illinois suburb approximately 25 miles from Chicago. If the Bears end up there, it would be in a new indoor venue on 326 acres of land. Despite being out of state, Hammond, Ind., is similar in distance to Soldier Field as Arlington Heights. The Indiana site would also include a new domed stadium. Commissioner Roger Goodell called both options “viable” earlier this week (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).
Last month, the Illinois House voted to approve a proposal to give tax breaks for megaprojects of $100MM or more. That would include a football stadium, which would bode well for the Bears staying in Illinois. But the Senate will also have to approve the legislation before adjourning on May 31, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. If the vote doesn’t pass, the Bears will likely go to Indiana, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren wants the team to pick a site by late spring or early summer, per Finley. Warren accompanied Bears chairman George McCaskey on a mid-April visit to Hammond, where they met with Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. Although the franchise has played in Illinois since 1920, McCaskey said Bears fans “would get used to” Indiana (via Finley). Because Hammond is within 75 miles of downtown Chicago, the Bears – not the Indiana-based Colts – already own marketing rights there.
The Bears’ current home, Soldier Field, opened in 1924. It is now the oldest stadium in the NFL by far. The Bears began play there in 1971. Fifty-five years later, their time at Soldier Field is nearing an end. Depending on how the Illinois Senate votes on May 31, the Bears’ days in the state may also be numbered.
Let em go back to Wrigley Field!!
The NFL doesn’t do baseball parks anymore — and besides, Pete Rozelle is still dead.
C’mon Chas. I know it’s difficult for someone with your limited IQ to identify but that was sarcasm
I’m not a fan of billionaires asking for public funding, but in fact, the Bears are putting up $2 billion themselves. As a comparison, the Titans only put up $900 million toward their $2.2 billion dollar stadium- the taxpayers are paying the rest… and btw.. Roger Goodell is not an owner.
Bears are paying for the stadium. They are asking for infrastructure improvements to accommodate the increase in local traffic, which is 100% reasonable considering how much economic impact there will be. They are also asking for tax breaks which any billion dollar a year company would do.
Muppets think Bears won’t be paying any taxes, which is false. Asking for a tax break when you’re bringing in big bucks to a local economy is better than not being there and paying zero taxes. It’s market economics pure and simple. The state of Illinois and City of Chicago have been a pain in the ass for the Bears and frankly, I don’t see why they would stay there. When the Arlington Heights teachers union is making a fuss about how much the Bears should pay, I wouldn’t even bother with that. Who the hell are they to tell the Bears what to do?
What he said
A tax break just means that the government is getting slightly less tax than they want. I calculate that for the Yankees occasionally, and it is enormous.
The Chicago Bears own Arlington Park, yet the plus guy thinks they shouldn’t pay property taxes. Any politician who thinks that way is setting himself/herself up for a recall election.
Owner Roger?
Imagine wanting to move to Indiana
Red State Indiana, where the I-80/90 toll road was leased to a private operator that went bankrupt.
And how much money did the State of New York give the Bills for their new stadium?
It’s honestly a shame they don’t just stay in Soldier Field.
Them and Green Bay are the ONLY teams in historic stadiums still, and Soldier Field is just as iconic as Lambeau.
At least Arlington Heights is in Illinois but man I really wouldn’t want to deal with that state government at all.
History counts for nothing when it comes to sportsball. Nobody misses Veterans Stadium with its rock-hard carpet and drunken fans.
Veterans Stadium wasn’t iconic, and I’m not sure you want to be talking about unruly fans.
I don’t disagree, but the building is very old and has already been renovated once. Like Vegas hotels it’s cheaper to implode them and re-build rather than make constant repairs. Bad climate teams are moving to domes because while playing in bad wind or snow is fun, it doesn’t bring out the best in the athletes. Rich folk paying for the luxury boxes can’t be bothered to be cold either. The Denver/New England playoff game was a good example. Let’s see how this Buffalo canopy roof thing works out.
That photo of Goodell pretending to be a Bears fan has ruined my breakfast!
Chicago going woke long ago is catching up. Empty buildings and businesses on prime real estate. Add soldiers field to that list. Arlington Heights over Indiana im hoping.
What are they even gonna do with Soldier Field? It would be a travesty to demolish it.
I’m guessing the people running Chicago want to destroy “the impediment to the lakefront” or whatever though.
They won’t demolish it, that is the problem.
The City is broke and in massive debt, they have no money to demolish it.
Imho- Arrlington Heights will be selected
If the technology exists to build oil rigs on water then why not a football stadium? It could be a stone’s throw from Soldiers Field out on Lake Michigan. Provide a ferry service for Bears fans (make the Packers fans swim to the stadium).
And such a site would get destroyed first time a tornado blows through.
I know this was supposed to be humorous -and it was- but Lake Michigan is notorious for unpredictable and intense weather and for even having the random rogue wave.
Let’s not forget the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Tax break does not equal paying no taxes. It means paying less than 100%. But certain politicians would rather have nothing, which makes no sense at all.