Bears Once Again Set Eyes on Arlington Heights for New Stadium

The Chicago Bears are honing in on Arlington Heights for their new domed stadium, placing the future of the franchise on this suburban locale. In a statement acquired by ESPN, the Bears underscored their commitment to Arlington Heights as the site for their much-anticipated stadium project, aiming for transformative economic development in the region.

This new focus on Arlington Heights follows the Bears' exploration of several options, including the Chicago lakefront, reinforcing their commitment to finding a sustainable solution for their current stadium issues. The team, having purchased the 326-acre property that was once home to Arlington International Racecourse for $197.2 million in September 2021, views this move as a pivotal step toward realizing their vision.

"Over the last few months, we have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality," the Bears stated. This comes despite previous challenges, including a $100 million impasse over property taxes that put the project at risk last summer.

Much of the excitement stems from the potential economic boon for Arlington Heights and surrounding areas, with plans for the $5 billion stadium project to include not just sports facilities but retail spaces, restaurants, and real estate developments.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson commented on the matter through a spokesperson.

“The mayor spoke with executive leadership from the Chicago Bears, who indicated they intend to prioritize the development site located in the Village of Arlington Heights. As the mayor has said several times, the door remains open in the city of Chicago,” a spokesperson for Johnson said.