The Chicago Bears’ lease at Soldier Field expires in 2033, so they plan to build a domed stadium just south of their current home.
Photo courtesy of Credit: Image via Getty Images/christopherarndt
The Chicago Bears have announced plans to build a new stadium in the suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois, opting to invest more than $2 billion in a domed public facility just south of Soldier Field, the team’s current home in downtown Chicago.
Until the wonderful announcement on March 11, the team seemed on track to build a new stadium on the site of the 326-acre Arlington International Racetrack, which it purchased for $197 million in early 2023 and began demolishing existing structures.
A six-fold increase in asset prices through the Cook County appraiser sparked a dispute between the team and local school districts, which are funded through asset tax revenues. Reportedly, the Bears insisted on “certainty” on asset taxes before moving forward with progression plans. .
Even as negotiations with Arlington Heights officials over the latency asset tax factor continued throughout the year, the team held conversations with several other municipalities in the domain about conceivable opportunities for progression at the stadium. One option that would have been ruled out was to remain in the century. The former Soldier Field, one of the oldest and smallest stadiums in the National Football League, with a capacity of 61,500 people per day after a renovation in 2003.
The March 11 announcement suggests the Bears have discovered their opportunity literally next door.
In a statement, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said the stadium in the long term “will bring a transformative opportunity to our region: it will develop the economy, create jobs, facilitate mega-events and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue. “More data when our plans are finalized.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement that he supports the new proposal.
“I’ve said that significant personal investment and a strong emphasis on public advantages are my needs for public-people partnerships in our city,” he said. “The Chicago Bears’ plans are a welcome step in that direction and a testament to Chicago’s success. “economic vitality. “
Johnson said he’s looking forward to conversations with the Bears, state leaders and network stakeholders about building a domed stadium in the city.
The Bears and the city have yet to reveal major details about the stadium, its timeline for progress and its overall investment strategy. Until the new stadium is completed, the team will most likely remain at Soldier Field, where its $6 million-a-year lease expires. Published news reports suggest that after that, most of Soldier Field will be demolished, with its unique colonnades serving as the backdrop for a new public park with sports fields and other amenities.
Despite those promises, Friends of the Park, a local preservation organization committed to protecting Chicago’s lakefront and other city-owned land adjacent to Lake Michigan, criticized the Bears’ attempt to rush the task of the downtown stadium structure when questions were raised about the amount. and deadlines were raised. Public investments remain unanswered.
The group, which also effectively blocked director George Lucas from building a lakefront museum, noted in a statement that the Bears’ plan not only omits the option of other favorable progress sites inside and outside Chicago’s city limits, but also their longstanding preference. Expand an entertainment district in connection with the stadium.
“What new entertainment district are you envisioning for the lakefront?”He asked.
The Bears’ announcement did not mention what could happen to Arlington Heights’ assets if the lakefront stadium plan goes ahead. Local officials insist that while the structure of a new stadium was never intended to be a “closed deal,” they would. Continue to work with the team until disputes with school districts. Alternative methods of progression are not excluded.
“The assets continue to be a critical asset to the grid and the region, and they have great potential,” said Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes.
The rendering of the proposed domed stadium has yet to be published and no design team has been hired.
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