Bears Listen To New Pitches As Details Stall Arlington Heights Deal

Frustrated over property tax valuations in Arlington Heights, the Bears have renewed dialogue about a new stadium with the city of Chicago while opening doors elsewhere in the suburbs.

In the meantime, however, they have begun work at the 326-acre Arlington Park horse track site, which they purchased from Churchill Downs
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Inc. Some funding details remain to be resolved but the team still seems to be working toward a move to Arlington Heights.

Bears president Kevin Warren met with new Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday, and the city has not abandoned interest in meeting the team’s needs at Soldier Field. Afterward Johnson and Warren released a joint statement.

“Today we met and discussed our shared values and commitment to the City of Chicago, the importance of deep roots and the need for equitable community involvement throughout the city,” read the statement. “We are both committed to the idea that the city and its major civic institutions must grow and evolve together to meet the needs of the future. We look forward to continuing the dialogue around these shared values.”

Before losing her bid for re-election as mayor, Lori Lightfoot laid out plans to update Soldier Field, including a model to add a retractable roof. Johnson has inherited the effort to persuade the team to stay in the city.

“I grew up with the ‘Super Bowl Shuffle,’ “ Johnson said earlier in the week. “As I would say, as older people would say to young people, when I was young, ’85 Bears, Super Bowl shuffle, y’all don’t know nothing about that. We want to make sure we can keep shuffling here in the city of Chicago with the Bears.”

Warren met last week with Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli, who presented the team with possible stadium sites. Following that meeting the Bears said in a statement that their plan is “at risk” in Arlington Heights but remains the first option.

“We will continue the ongoing demolition activity and work toward a path forward in Arlington Heights, but it is no longer our singular focus,” the team said. “It is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club and the state of Illinois.”

The Chicago Tribune reported that the Bears have been pushing to have the Arlington Heights site assessed at $37 million while the school districts that receive taxes from the site believe it should be valued at $95 million.

Warren and other Bears officials have scheduled a June 26 meeting with a group of Arlington Heights community leaders.

The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033 but the team could buy its way out of the lease as early as 2026 for $84 million.