Everybody knows the Chicago Bears stadium situation at this point. Thanks to a series of blunders on all sides, the team has found itself in a stalemate between Indiana and Illinois. On the one hand, Indiana offers enticing legislative perks and vast land for development. The problem is that it is mostly industrial waste. On the other hand, they already own some prime real estate in Arlington Heights, nestled in a quality suburb. Unfortunately, Illinois has been highly resistant to legislative assistance for property taxes and infrastructure.
Thus, the waiting continues.
Meanwhile, other teams that started their own projects later than the Bears have already begun construction on their stadiums. The Tennessee Titans are among them. Chicago visited Nashville for the preseason finale this past weekend. While the game was at the Titans’ old Nissan Stadium, the new stadium was nearby. According to Brad Biggs, several prominent Bears executives decided to make the trip down there for a chance to do some first-hand research.
“The next time the Bears travel to Nashville, they will play in the Titans’ new stadium. It’s being constructed right next to Nissan Stadium and is scheduled to be completed in the spring. The Bears had many executives on the trip. Presumably they got some information on the sprawling new building.”
The Chicago Bears might be seeking advice.
After all, Titans ownership had far more success negotiating their new stadium in Nashville than the Bears have. Granted, the political climates of Tennessee and Illinois are vastly different. Still, both projects are around $2 billion in cost. How is it that the Titans managed such a smooth process? At least those are the questions Kevin Warren and George McCaskey should be asking. Maybe the information they gather can be applied to their stalled process in Springfield.
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As for the stadium itself, it certainly sounds interesting in design. It’ll have a translucent polymer roof, so the team can play in the sunshine without having to deal with the southern heat. There will be panoramic city-view patios and seating much closer to the field. No doubt the Chicago Bears might be interested in some of the ideas that will help attract fans to the venue. Improving the fan experience is a vital way to generate revenue. It is the entire reason the team started this saga.
There will be similar opportunities this season.
The Chicago Bears are among the first teams to play the Bills at their brand-new Buffalo stadium this year. No doubt that’ll be another opportunity to gather information. Reception from fans at that venue has been mixed regarding the overall atmosphere and experience. If the team is smart, they’ll take those lessons and apply them to their own stadium project once construction finally starts. Has the design changed since Warren revealed it years ago? Hopefully. The Bears need to think about something beyond cookie-cutter stuff.
This is the Bears after all. It is their first opportunity to build their own stadium. No more relying on leasing venues already established, like Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. Build something people will recognize immediately when they see it. Everybody knows what the Cowboys’ stadium looks like. Everybody knows what the Seahawks’ stadium looks like. The Bears belong in that conversation.
