Introduction to the Bears’ Stadium Search
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights — and no longer Illinois. In the team’s latest change of heart in a years-long quest for a new home, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren sent a letter to fans saying the team will explore other locations for their planned new domed stadium — including northwest Indiana.
Background on the Stadium Search
Warren wrote that Arlington Heights remains “the best and only path forward in Cook County, given there are no other viable alternatives,” and vowed to explore taking the team elsewhere. “We need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” Warren wrote. “This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights.”
Reaction from Governor Pritzker
Gov. JB Pritzker blasted Warren’s thinly veiled threat to leave the state. “Suggesting the Bears would move to Indiana is a startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season,” a Pritzker spokesman said in a statement. “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.”
The Arlington Heights Proposal
In 2023, the Bears paid $197 million to buy the 326-acre former Arlington International Racetrack site, pitching a massive, $5 billion mixed-use development anchored by a 60,000-seat stadium. But the team has said it’s not financially feasible without legislation allowing them to negotiate a discounted property tax rate in Arlington Heights — and state lawmakers have shown zero willingness to throw any blocks on their path out of Soldier Field.
Exploring Other Options
Stymied in Springfield, the Bears have publicly shifted their stadium focus several times among sites on the lakefront, in Arlington Heights and the ambiguous field of suburban possibilities that the team is hinting at once again. The Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session closed in October without consideration of the so-called megadevelopment legislation the team seeks — not even after the Bears told lawmakers they’d commit to sending $25 million to the city of Chicago to rebuild or improve public parks and playing fields if they skip town.
Potential Locations
Warren wrote that the Bears “have been told directly by state leadership, our project will not be a priority in 2026.” With construction costs rising, Bears sources told the Sun-Times last month that the lack of progress in Springfield might force them to consider looking at stadium sites outside Cook County. A host of other municipalities have publicly courted the Bears, including Naperville, Waukegan, Aurora, Richton Park and Country Club Hills.
Bears rendering of their proposed Arlington Heights stadium.
Economic Projections and Taxpayer Concerns
The Bears have committed to investing more than $2 billion into the stadium wherever it goes, while touting flowery economic projections for the region. Pritzker and other Democratic legislative leaders who pull the levers in Springfield have suggested the team needs to find a mechanism to pay off the $500 million-plus that taxpayers still have left to foot from Soldier Field’s 2003 renovation. “We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership,” Warren wrote.
Conclusion
The Bears’ search for a new stadium continues, with the team exploring options outside of Arlington Heights and Illinois. The team’s lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, though they could break it early. As the team weighs its options, fans and lawmakers alike will be watching closely to see what the future holds for the Bears.
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of the Bears’ stadium search?
A: The Bears are exploring options outside of Arlington Heights and Illinois, including northwest Indiana.
Q: What is the proposed cost of the new stadium?
A: The proposed cost of the new stadium is $5 billion.
Q: How much has the team committed to investing in the stadium?
A: The team has committed to investing more than $2 billion into the stadium.
Q: What is the current lease situation at Soldier Field?
A: The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, though they could break it early.
