The Chicago Bears placed a bid on the Arlington International Racecourse property for a reason. This is the first real indication they are considering a move out of Soldier Field to a potential new stadium in the suburbs. Obviously, it is early in the process and the Bears actually have to win the bid. However, there are plenty of reasons to think they will. If and when that happens, what exactly are they looking to accomplish?
Robert McCoppin of the Chicago Tribune has a pretty good idea. In fact, the Bears already may have a template in mind. The exact sort of situation they’re in has been seen in the sports landscape before. Just a few years ago as it turns out. Not in the NFL but in Major League Baseball. The Atlanta Braves were in a similar predicament. So they enacted a plan to get a new building of their own.
A plan the Bears seem ready and willing to copy.
A few years ago, a professional sports franchise had a problem: It was located in a leased stadium that was inferior to those of its competitors. Team officials wanted to renovate, but that required a lot of costly upgrades.
Unable to reach an agreement with city officials, the team bought a large site outside the city and built a new stadium, modernized for its sport, and surrounded it with restaurants, housing and entertainment. The team was the Atlanta Braves, but its predicament, and potential solution, sounds similar to that facing the Chicago Bears.
“It’s absolutely a positive impact. It’s a tide that’s risen all ships around here,” Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller told the Tribune. “We’ve created a better fan experience. We’ve got new memories to create here.”
The impact on the Braves franchise seemed to show on the field to. They moved into their new building in 2017. Prior to that, they had failed to make the playoffs in three straight seasons. After another down year that inaugural season in the new stadium, they saw a quick turnaround. They made the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 before breaking through to the NLCS in 2020. While the build alone didn’t do everything, it’s hard to deny getting to play in it had an impact.
This is likely what the Bears are aiming for as well. A chance to give their organization a fresh start in a new building built to their own specifications. Players will get better accommodations. More fans will be able to attend games. They can use the architecture to their advantage, perhaps utilizing better noise reverberation to help crowds. The possibilities are plentiful.
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Chicago Bears have challenges ahead if they win the bid
Simply gaining ownership of the property is just the beginning. The bigger challenges remain after that. First and foremost is finding the money to build that new stadium One thing is clear above anything else. They aren’t going to get it from taxpayers. Cook County residents are still paying for the renovations to Soldier Field almost two decades ago. There is no reason to think they’ll be willing to shell out another estimated $2 billion to help pay for a new stadium.
That means the Chicago Bears ownership must work to find private investors. Similar to what the Los Angeles Rams did with SoFi Stadium out west. A lot of negotiations will be required. Not to mention the need to likely buy their way out of the Soldier Field lease. Something Mayor Lori Lightfoot has insisted she will do everything in her power to stop. Either way, the Bears seem to have an idea of what they want.
The Braves helped provide a blueprint.
Things won’t go the same for the McCaskeys but this is yet another puzzle piece slotting into place. More than ever it seems like the Bears are quite serious about leaving Soldier Field. It is becoming more of a matter of when not if it happens.