The Chicago Bears have spent the past couple of years trying to find a new home after it became clear their time at Soldier Field needed to end. The building is too old, too small, and too outdated for a franchise of this caliber. They’ve tried to work with the Chicago Park District on a solution but have been stonewalled at every turn. That is why they purchased the Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights. However, the hiring of team president Kevin Warren shifted them back to the idea of a downtown stadium with all the latest innovations.
Unfortunately, progress has been almost impossible due to interference from advocacy groups and the state government. Marc Ganis is regarded as one of the top stadium experts out there. He spoke with 670 The Score about the Bears’ situation. In his mind, because of the lakefront protection orders, there is almost no path to a museum campus stadium. That is why he believes Arlington Heights is most likely where they end up. However, he admitted that could change if the state is willing to chip in on the Michael Reese Hospital site, which people have wanted to see renovated for years.
The Chicago Bears decision comes down to location.
If Warren is determined to stay in the city by any means, it sounds like the Michael Reese site is his best option. While not as large as the museum campus, it is lakefront property with plenty of room for improvement despite more limited space. The primary issue was infrastructure and security when it was evaluated. Experts, however, insisted to the organization that solutions exist for those problems. There are even hints from the state government that they’d be open to helping with funding if that is the direction the Bears go.
Warren has remained adamant for months that he believes progress can be made on the museum campus. Now that elections are over, perhaps he’s pinning his hopes on the upcoming spring session. If he can win enough votes over to his side, Governor J.B. Pritzker would be compelled to negotiate. Otherwise, the Chicago Bears are left with two choices. Either go back to Arlington Heights or make it work at Michael Reese.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Arlington Heights by the time preseason begins. Warren has to put shovels in the ground this year and that is per George’s orders. Now with the death of Virginia, I strongly feel like George will push for the stadium to commence in Arlington Heights and named after Virginia for at least the first couple of years, if not longer.
Are there class, racial, or religious cleaves over the placement of the new stadium et. al.? Or is it about strictly financial considerations with a sprinkling of environmental planning considerations?
They own a piece of land in Arlington Heights that is perfect for what they want to do and be free of the Chicago Park District. Stadium, entertainment, hotel (s), restaurants, parking all can be constructed on that property. A self-contained village within a village. Metra trains already stop at the now empty site. They’ve already had all the buildings demolished. In that regard, construction has already begun on what that is still to be determined. .
Warren better get building before they decide to sell. New owners would want their own president and most likely want to build in AH. They probably wouldn’t have the misguided infatuation with downtown. There is so many more opportunities with the AH property. Own everything. Get away from the crap political powers that run the city and change every few years. The Bears don’t owe Chicago anything.
The McCaskey family might decide in a few weeks they’d prefer to sell the team so who knows? What if they sell to someone in Indiana and the location is changed entirely LOL.