The Chicago Bears are considering a new home, and on Wednesday (Feb. 15) they completed the purchase of a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, Illinois for $197.2 million.
The team originally signed the agreement to buy the former Arlington International Racecourse in September 2021, and following through with the purchase is another step towards moving to the Chicago suburb. However, the team says this does not guarantee they will be packing their bags.
“Finalizing the purchase does not guarantee the land will be developed, but it is an important next step in our ongoing evaluation of the opportunity,” the Bears said in an open letter to fans. “There is still a tremendous amount of due diligence work to be done to determine if constructing an enclosed state-of-the-art stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is feasible.”
The plans for the property do include a new indoor, state-of-the-art stadium with an entertainment district to match. The hope is that this will allow the city to host mega-events like the Super Bowl and the Final Four as well as elevate the already existing Arlington Heights entertainment offerings.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been pushing back against the team’s move, unveiling plans for a $2.2 billion renovation to Soldier Field that would add a dome and increase seating capacity. Currently, the Bears have the lowest capacity of all the NFL stadiums at 61,500.
NEWS: "Today’s news about the closure of the Bears' option in Arlington Heights has been anticipated for some time. Nonetheless, all of us die-hard Bears fans, @chicagosmayor included, know and believe that the Chicago Bears should remain in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/7Z7Rt6aN8Q
— Ryan Johnson (@Ryan_Johnson) February 15, 2023
Fans, players and coaches have had complaints about Soldier Field in years past. Problems with the grass, the size and the access to the stadium have ruined people’s perceptions of the Bears’ 51-year home. The team has a lease agreement with the city of Chicago that runs through 2033, but they can pay a penalty and leave as early as 2026.
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