(670 The Score) Bears president Kevin Warren still envisions breaking ground on the franchise’s next stadium in 2025, though there's great work to be done before then.
Of course, the Bears must first solidify where they'll build a new stadium and line up the funding for a multi-billion-dollar project. The organization's focus remains on constructing a new stadium along the Chicago lakefront on the property south of Soldier Field, Warren told reporters in London on Wednesday. That has long been Warren's mindset despite the Bears having owned the 326-acre Arlington Park in suburban Arlington Heights for three years now.
“I look forward to the press conference we have at the ribbon cutting,” Warren told reporters. “We’ll be able to look back on this. They are fluid. So, it’s not about overriding because every piece of land, every location, is not the same, and one of those individuals that looks at the benefits of every location. You look at the museum campus, it has attributes that don’t exist anywhere in the world. Arlington Heights has attributes that are really unique. You have 326 acres, split by a river. There are things that you can do there from a mixed-use development. It’s no different than a game plan in football. What are the positive attributes? And so now because we’re focused on the museum campus, there are certain attributes that that has. Yes, it’s not 326 acres. There’s things you won’t be able to do that you could do in other locations. But when you look at the benefits of Chicago and what’s it mean, it’s just different and that’s what makes it exciting about this project.”
Back in late April, the Bears held a press conference at Soldier Field to unveil their vision for a new stadium on the lakefront. The team has pledged $2 billion toward a project it estimates will cost $4.7 billion, but the Bears haven't secured funding for the rest of the project. Warren’s efforts to seek taxpayer funding from the state fell flat during numerous attempts in Springfield. Outside experts also expect the price tag to rise well beyond $4.7 billion.
The Bears are currently in London, where they'll play the Jaguars on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. CT at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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