Five years. That is how long ago the Chicago Bears embarked on their journey to finally build a new stadium they could call their own. For over a century, the organization has always operated in a building owned by somebody else. It started with Staley Field, owned by the A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company. Then it was Wrigley Field, owned by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Finally, there was Soldier Field, owned by the Chicago Park District. All the while, other franchises were purchasing their own buildings. The McCaskey family wanted one, too.
They had cause. Soldier Field was considered outdated by every NFL measure and badly in need of upgrades to reflect the modern fan experience. However, the CPD refused to consider such an idea. That is why the Bears purchased the 326 acres in Arlington Heights. Such a property was perfect. Spacious, eager for renovation, and right in the heart of country filled with Bears fans. Best of all, they’d own the property. All they needed was the state’s cooperation on infrastructure and property taxes.
Four years later, they still haven’t gotten it.
The Chicago Bears finally decided to do something last year.
After it became clear Illinois planned to shelve the idea for 2026 entirely, team president Kevin Warren got fed up. He announced the team was officially negotiating with the state of Indiana about possibly moving to its northwest region. It had already come out that Indiana was highly interested in luring the Bears there and was fast-tracking legislation to prove it. That sudden shift appears to have caught the attention of people in Springfield, sparking a sense of urgency not felt in years. Was it too little, too late?
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Based on recent updates from people with strong connections to those negotiations, it sounds like the situation was salvaged at the eleventh hour. David Kaplan believes, based on what he’s hearing, that the Bears will announce they intend to build in Arlington Heights as the Mega Projects bill receives the necessary votes in Springfield to pass. This optimism was shared by state representative Kam Buckner, who said on 104.3 The Score that he expects good news in the next few days.
Ultimately, this is the best outcome for everybody.
The Chicago Bears already owned the Arlington Heights property. It didn’t make sense not to make use of it. Besides, their willingness to privately fund the stadium’s construction was far more attractive to the state than other ongoing projects elsewhere in the country. Illinois politicians get to avoid the inevitable backlash from fans who feel they let a beloved institution leave. Not to mention the state would’ve lost a prominent source of tax money. Then you have the simple nostalgia factor.
The Bears have been an institution of this state for over a century. “The pride and joy of Illinois,” and all that. Throwing all of that away over a squabble regarding property taxes and infrastructure felt petty. Yes, the taxpayers are important, but the organization has never once made it seem like they wish to gouge people for ridiculous amounts of money. All they’ve asked for is some help to make the process smoother. At last, things have finally coalesced into a decision.
