(670 The Score) If the Bears were to move from Chicago's lakefront to Arlington Park, they would first have to break their lease at Soldier Field.
The Bears' financial penalty for leaving Soldier Field, which they're leasing through 2033, would start at $84 million in 2026, according to the Chicago Tribune. 2026 is considered the first year a stadium in Arlington Heights could be ready for the Bears, the Tribune reported, citing the process of acquiring the site and then designing and constructing a stadium.
The financial penalty for the Bears leaving Soldier Field would decrease each year from 2026 -- to $74 million in 2027, $63.8 million in 2028, $53.3 million in 2029, $42.7 million in 2030, $32.1 million in 2031, $21.6 million in 2032 and $11 million in 2033, according to the Tribune.
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The Bears are valued as a franchise at more than $3.5 billion, according to Forbes. They lease Soldier Field from the Chicago Park District.
On June 16, the Bears announced they had placed a bid on Arlington Park, the 326-acre property in Arlington Heights currently occupied by Arlington International Racecourse. The site is being sold by its owner, Churchill Downs Inc.
"If selected, this step allows us to further evaluate the property and its potential," Bears president Ted Phillips said in a statement.
The bid was condemned by Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, who called it a negotiating tactic with the city.
"The Bears are locked into a lease at Soldier Field until 2033," Lightfoot said in a statement. "In addition, this announcement from the Bears comes in the midst of negotiations or improvements at Soldier Field. This is clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before. As a season ticket holder and longtime Bears fan, I am committed to keeping the 'Chicago' name in our football team."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.