Bears $2 billion stadium request facing major obstacle

The Chicago Bears’ saga for a new stadium just keeps on going. The team hoped they had a solution when they announced a $5 billion stadium proposal back in April that would create a state-of-the-art new domed stadium on the banks of Lake Michigan. New reporting suggests that fans will have to be patient for any further updates on the proposed project.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the Bears’ stadium proposal is on hold until at least the fall, according to high-ranking Democratic lawmakers.

State lawmakers are still grappling with the state budget and confirmed on Saturday that there would be no action on the Bears’ request during the spring session.

State Rep. Kam Bucker of Chicago, a member of the House Democratic leadership, confirmed it was not on the agenda in the final few sessions of the season.

“It’s fair to say that there won’t be any Bears action … in this legislative session, which I think is fine,” Buckner said Saturday at the state Capitol. “I think a proposal of this magnitude deserves sunlight and scrutiny. And very often what has happened in this building is that things get rammed through at the last minute without much public input or transparency.”

The Bears are undoubtedly irked by the slow process. President and CEO Kevin Warren used urgent messaging to pressure lawmakers when stadium plans were revealed in April.

“If we are approved in May, then that will allow us to be able to start construction, to put people to work, next summer,” Warren said in response to a question about whether the team’s proposal could wait until the legislature’s fall session. “And that would allow us 36 months later to open our building in 2028. So this is truly one of those adages that time is money.”

What would the new Bears’ stadium look like?

On April 24th, the Chicago Bears announced the Burnham Park Project.

According to the proposal, the Bears intend to build a state-of-the-art fix-roof stadium right on the Chicago lakefront. The proposal suggests that the site could be used year-round for recreational and community events. The proposed 14-acres of land could host athletic fields and recreational park spaces that the public could use for youth sports programs.

The proposal included a video with concept art of the proposed stadium.