(670 The Score) The Bears on Friday confirmed that they've shifted their focus back to Arlington Heights as the location to build a new stadium after they previously ran into roadblocks from lawmakers in a quest to build a new stadium in Chicago.
The Bears plan to privately finance the stadium itself, but they're seeking funding from the state of Illinois for other aspects and infrastructure of the development at the 326-acre Arlington Park property.
“Over the last few months, we have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality," the Bears said in a statement.
The Chicago Tribune first reported the Bears' official shift in focus. The news comes after the Bears had explored options across the past year-plus to build a new stadium along the lakefront in Chicago.
The Bears own the 326-acre Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, a purchase they closed on in February 2023 at a cost of $197.2 million. As owners of the property, the team led the teardown of Arlington International Racecourse, which was previously on that land. But in March 2024, the Bears shifted their stadium focus back to the city amid tension with three local school districts in Arlington Heights over property tax assessments.
In April 2024, the Bears and city officials held a press conference at Soldier Field in which they unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art stadium to be constructed on the museum campus. The Bears pledged $2 billion in private funding toward a project that was estimated to be at least $4.7 billion, but they've failed to secure the public funding that’s needed for it to move forward. A publicly funded stadium has been a non-starter for key state legislators.
The Bears and those three school districts in Arlington Heights reached a property tax agreement in November, a key development in the team's pursuit of a new stadium.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.