A year after having declared the objective of building a new stadium on Lake Chicago, the Bears now say that a location in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is back on the table, said the president and chief executive officer of the Kevin Warren on Wednesday.
Warren made this assertion at the NFL annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
The Bears bought a property of 326 acres in Arlington Heights in 2021 which was to include a stage project of several billion dollars with restaurants, a retail space and real estate. During the summer of 2023, however, the team said that these plans were “at risk” due to standby negotiations on land taxes.
Instead, in April 2024, the Bears unveiled plans for a new point -shaped stadium with the intention of building it on the Museum campus in Chicago near the current team of the team to Soldier Field.
Warren said Wednesday that the final decision will include these two locations.
“The objective is now both in the city center and in Arlington Heights,” said Warren on Wednesday. “One thing about Arlington Heights, I always try to look for the positive elements. To have this beautiful piece of earth which has an excellent topography – you can really see the city center from there.
. ».. Arlington Heights is, I come back, it’s an absolutely fantastic terrain. I thank George and his family for having foresight. ”
Although the team said that the stadium construction would be funded by private members, concerns have presented themselves in Arlington Heights concerning the amount of cost of the infrastructure around the stadium would be taxpayers.
Warren noted “progress” in Arlington Heights, where in December, the board of directors voted unanimously to settle the annual land tax bill for the potential site of the Bears stadium at $ 3.6 million.
“These are not linear processes or projects. They take time, they take a lot of energy and efforts,” said Warren. “I am very, very satisfied with the place where we are. I think we, collectively in a group, are there that we thought we would be. ”
The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was not concerned about the duration of the decision of the Bears stadium.
“This is an important problem for the community and the team,” said Goodell in annual meetings, according to the Chicago Sun Times. “It is not uncommon for a two -year discussion. They started very early – their lease is not up (before the 2033 season). These discussions, you expect to be deepened.
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