“In addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Chicago Bears in a Wednesday open letter.
He said that this expanded search is necessary because the state of Illinois has said the project to move the Bears’ playing grounds from Soldier Field on the Chicago lakefront to Northwest suburban Arlington Heights will not be a priority next year. Warren said that site is the only one in Cook County that meets the requirements for a “world class” NFL stadium.
“For a project of this scale, uncertainty has significant consequences,” he wrote. “Stable timelines are critical, as are predictable processes and elected leaders, who share a sense of urgency and appreciation for public partnership that projects with this level of impact require.”
Soldier Field has been a Chicago landmark since 1924, though the Bears didn’t move there until 1971. Previously, they usually played their home games at Wrigley Field, still home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Warren described Soldier Field in his letter as the NFL’s “oldest and smallest” stadium. He also noted that the Bears just played over a weekend with record cold temperatures.
Talk of moving the Bears’ home games to Arlington Heights began years ago, as 670 The Score noted. Fans have voiced frustration over back-and-forth plans that have also included a potential new stadium in Chicago itself, Axios reported.
“We still believe it offers the best and only path forward in Cook County given there are no other viable alternatives,” Warren said. “Over the past several years, we have worked in good faith with Illinois leaders and made clear our commitment and readiness to invest more than $2 billion by the Chicago Bears, one of the largest private investments in state and NFL history.”
Warren also noted that the team has not “asked for state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium at Arlington Park,” though it has asked “for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size,” and property tax certainty to secure financing.
Still, he said the plans have not been met with legislative partnership. Warren argued that “thousands of union jobs, year-round attractions and global events made possible by a fixed roof stadium that would provide long-term revenue for the State.”
“This is not about leverage,” Warren added. “We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights. Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.”
He also said the team will remain committed to the city, even if its stadium is outside the city limits.