The Chicago Bears are in the midst of an ambitious quest to establish a new home, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. While they continue to play at historic Soldier Field, the team is actively exploring alternatives that will redefine their future. Recently, Bears team president and CEO Kevin Warren shed some light on this lengthy process, indicating a shift in focus toward potential new stadium locations.
On Wednesday, Warren revealed that the organization is now looking at Arlington Heights, Illinois, alongside a downtown venue as viable options for their new stadium. “The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights,” Warren stated, emphasizing that these explorations are complex and require meticulous planning. “These are not linear processes or projects. They take time, they take a lot of energy and effort. I am very, very pleased with where we are. I think we, collectively as a group, are where we thought we would be.”
The Bears acquired a sizable tract of land in Arlington Heights for a hefty price tag of $197.2 million back in the fall of 2021. Despite that significant investment, the team hasn’t yet broken ground on developing this promising site. Initial plans suggested a multibillion-dollar stadium that would not only house the Bears but also include a mix of dining, retail, and real estate options, offering an attractive and vibrant hub for fans and the community alike.
However, while interest in Arlington Heights is growing, Warren is clear about the complexity involved in bringing this project to fruition. “Because these projects are so complex and so difficult, they’re literally virtually impossible to do if you don’t have all hands on deck and everyone committed,” he explained. “Even if you have that, they’re difficult. So that was important to see the focus on it.”
In terms of financing, owner George McCaskey has indicated that private equity might play a role in funding the construction. This financial backing will be crucial as the Bears aim for a significant milestone: the hope to start moving dirt by 2025. Warren stressed the importance of beginning pre-construction work, explaining, “there’s a lot of preconstruction work that needs to go into these projects, whether you’re at the museum campus, Michael Reese [hospital site] or downtown, to get things ready to go, and so we’re only one-quarter of the way through the year.”
As the Bears continue to navigate this complex landscape, fans are left hopeful that a new stadium site might be approved soon—an exciting prospect that promises to be a game changer for the franchise and its supporters. Investors and stakeholders will undoubtedly be watching closely, as the Bears strive to carve out a new legacy in a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the rich history and future aspirations of this storied franchise.
