The Chicago Bears haven’t made headway on the new stadium front for some time. While they have a plan in place to build one on the lakefront south of Soldier Field, the opposition to it has proven stiffer than expected. Not only has the state government resisted talks about such a project, they’ve outright refused to even consider it. Governor Pritzker believes any discussions are pointless since he has far bigger issues to deal with than giving billionaires a new vanity building that won’t do anything for the local economy.
Team president Kevin Warren remains hopeful things will get off the ground soon. However, recent signs indicate the Bears have kept their back door open, making progress in talks with Arlington Heights over the property tax issue. Nicholas Moreano of CHGO spoke to Mayor Thomas Hayes about the situation. He seems more confident than before that an agreement can happen to bring the stadium to his town. Why? It centers around Warren’s aggressive timetable. That, along with the state government dragging their feet, will force a decision.
Warren said it openly earlier this year. His goal is to have shovels in the ground by 2025. If the building is on schedule, the new stadium will open by 2028. The way things are going, there is no way the Bears get concessions from the state on a downtown project by next year. They would have to delay. Hayes believes Warren is not willing to do that. He wants to get things started as soon as possible. Right now, the best way forward for that to happen is by coming back to the table with Arlington Heights.
It is a fair point. The Chicago Bears have one clear path forward. Arlington seems ready and willing to do things more according to the team’s desires. While it might not be the glitzy lakefront building he wanted, Warren would have far more control of the situation. The Bears already own the property. They can do whatever they want with it without nearly as much interference from advocacy groups and local businesses. Everything hinges on Warren’s timetable.
