It's been a little over a year since the Bears closed on the Arlington Heights property. Despite the challenges, the team has steadfastly committed to its desire for a revamped, state-of-the-art stadium. While many expected the team to follow through on its initial goal of developing the site into a multi-faceted project, a litany of hurdles have prevented the Bears and team President Kevin Warren from following through with their initial plan.
On Monday, the Bears announced they would pivot from Arlington and keep the Bears within Chicago's city limits. The team's decision to privately invest over $2 billion into a stadium project is not just a relocation, but a promise of a better future for the team and its fans. The proposed new domed stadium, located south of the current location of Soldier Field, will create 20% more space on the museum campus for public use year-round, offering a more immersive and enjoyable experience not just on game day but throughout the year.
A pretty significant non-free agency story, as the #Bears now appear set to build a new stadium near Soldier Field in downtown Chicago. https://t.co/bFC81pBVvh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
Currently, Soldier Field's capacity ranks last in the NFL at 61,500. This limitation has been a challenge for the team and its fans, and the decision to invest in a new stadium project is a testament to the Bears' dedication to providing a better experience for their supporters. Kevin Warren oversaw the construction of US Bank Stadium with the Vikings (capacity 66,200), and it's more likely the Bears will follow suit with the Los Angeles Rams'/Los Angeles Chargers' SoFi stadium, which houses 70,000 fans and hosts other various events.
It's been reported that if the Bears were to proceed with building a stadium in Chicago, they would put the Arlington property back on the market.
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