It was quite a bombshell when news hit on Tuesday evening that the Chicago Bears had reached a purchase agreement for Arlington Racecourse International. Everybody knew what that meant. Once the deal goes through, a move that cost them $197.2 million, the organization would own 326 acres of prime real estate. Everybody with common sense knows what that means. They’re aiming to leave Soldier Field and into a new stadium. One they would own themselves rather than leased from the Chicago Park District.
Tensions have always been high between the Bears and the CPD. The team has looked for alternatives multiple times but never had the leverage to do anything. That changed when Arlington Park went up for sale. After the CPD failed to take a request from the Bears about a new sportsbook in Soldier Field seriously, the team placed their bid on the property. Now they are the ones with leverage and Chicago representatives are left scrambling.
Barring something unexpected, it looks like the Bears are leaving.
Not right away. This process will likely take a few years. Still, unless major concessions are made Soldier Field will not host a football team for the first time in decades. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has already said there are alternatives in play for what the city can do with the stadium. It’s still a premier venue. One idea comes from insider Mike Florio of NBC Sports. He believes there is a strong chance that the Bears moving to Arlington Heights opens the door for a second NFL team to come to Chicago.
“Let’s also keep an eye on the possibility that Chicago could become a two-team market. When it comes to hosting events other than the 10 home games per season played by an NFL team, staging another 10 home games by another team becomes an attractive option. Chicago already has two MLB teams; the economics of having two teams play at a new NFL stadium make it a much better private investment.
Then comes the question of whether Chicago would try to lure a team from another city, or whether Chicago would become the potential location of an expansion team. As the NFL commences a 17-game regular season with an 18-game slate seemingly inevitable, the next frontier when it comes to increasing inventory comes from increasing the number of teams. Chicago would make plenty of sense for a 33rd or 34th (or 35th or 36th) franchise.”
This is fascinating. It also makes sense.
Remember New York and Los Angeles are the two largest markets in the country. Each has two teams. Chicago is the third-largest. So it is only natural to think the NFL would envision a second team there at some point. With the Bears moving to the suburbs in their own building, it would present a perfect opportunity to slot a second franchise downtown at Soldier Fields. Most likely an expansion team.
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Chicago Bears haven’t shared the city for 61 years
Not since 1959 was that case when the Chicago Cardinals were still a thing. That franchise was often viewed as the little brother of the Bears and eventually left the city for St. Louis. Eventually, they ended up in the southwest where they became the Arizona Cardinals everybody knows today. Since then no other team has come close to the idea of relocating to Chicago to compete with the Bears.
With two football stadiums in play or the brand new one possibly open to hosting two teams? That would open the door for something that hasn’t been seen since George Halas was still coaching on the sidelines. Perhaps the threat of competition might compel the Chicago Bears to work harder towards fielding an actual contender. Otherwise, the arrival of an alternative in Chicago might compel many disgruntled fans to switch allegiances.
Another reminder is that big decisions like this can have unintended effects.
The big question for many is what sort of stadium might the Bears look to build. No doubt they’ll be seeking something along the lines of what the Rams, Raiders, and Vikings have done with their new venues. State-of-the-art technology and a surrounding village of entertainment to enhance the fan experience.
