(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The mayor of Aurora says he wants the Chicago Bears to seriously think of their city if the effort to build a new stadium on the Lakefront fails.
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin was a guest at Tuesday’s event at the Union League Club headlined by Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren. Warren was talking up the team's plans to build a new stadium in Chicago.
Irvin said he and others want the Bears to see Aurora as a realistic alternative.
“I don’t blame them for wanting to be in Chicago,” Irvin said. “They are the Chicago Bears, but, because of some of the obstacles that they have to deal with, whether it be with the [Chicago] Park District, whether it be with the City, whether it be with the State, we will get rid of those obstacles.”
Warren was asked about the mayor's efforts. He said he was glad to see Irvin and considers him an astute businessman and politician. But, he said his focus is on Chicago.
Irvin, of course, believes Aurora is the perfect location. Irvin insists Aurora is ideally located for fans around the area and will not have the parking problems faced by fans at Soldier Field.
“They can come on to I-88. They can come [from] I-355 and come from the south on I-55…We’ve got a great location, and we won’t have those same parking issues that you have. Many people have gone to Soldier Field, it takes you a long time to find parking, let alone to get into the stadium,” Irvin said.