Ahead of Team’s Game in London, Bears President Says He Remains Steadfast on Proceeding with Plans for New Lakefront Stadium
Team Remains Focused on Lakefront Location
The Chicago Bears remain committed to building a new stadium on the city’s lakefront, according to team president and CEO Kevin Warren. Warren made the comments during a news conference at the team’s hotel outside London ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Proposal Details
A proposal unveiled earlier this year calls for an enclosed stadium next door to Soldier Field, the Bears’ current home, as part of a major project that would transform the lakefront. The plan includes a $3.2 billion stadium, $1.5 billion in infrastructure, and potentially a publicly owned hotel. The proposal requests $2 billion from the Bears, $300 million from an NFL loan, and $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
Resistance from Local and State Lawmakers
However, the proposal has met stiff resistance from local and state lawmakers, including Gov. JB Pritzker, who has expressed his disdain towards public funding for new stadium projects. Pritzker recently stated that “there isn’t a proposal on the table right now that would be acceptable to anyone that I know in the legislature.”
Warren Remains Steadfast
Despite the opposition, Warren remains committed to moving forward with the lakefront stadium plan. “The status is we’re continuing to make progress,” he said. “We stay focused, still, to be able to be in the ground, start construction sometime in 2025. We’re having regular meetings with key business leaders, key politicians, just staying focused and on course.”
Comparison to Previous Experience
Warren, who oversaw plans and development of U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings’ CEO, noted that great projects take time and effort. “Anything that’s great in life, anything that lasts 50 years, takes a lot of energy and effort,” he said. “I’m confident in the political leadership, the business leadership, our fan base, that we’ll be able to figure this out. It will become a crown jewel for the National Football League.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the lakefront site imminent or inevitable?
A: “I don’t know (about) saying imminent or inevitable. I think it’s the best site as of now.”
Q: Will the plans be generic enough to fit more than one site?
A: “You want to build a stadium where it really becomes agnostic from a location standpoint, because it takes so much time from a planning standpoint.”
Q: What’s the timeline for construction?
A: “We’re aiming to start construction sometime in 2025.”
Conclusion
Despite the challenges, Warren remains committed to bringing the Bears’ new stadium to the lakefront. As the team’s president and CEO, he is confident in the project’s potential to become a crown jewel for the NFL.
