Bears president talks up Arlington Heights as potential stadium site

Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren has talked up the possibility of the NFL team building a new stadium in Arlington Heights, describing the site as an “absolutely fantastic piece of land”.

The Bears last year unveiled plans to build a new fixed-roof stadium south of the team’s current home, Soldier Field. Work was slated to start this summer, but the Bears have been keeping their options open.

In February 2023, the Bears acquired a 326-acre plot of land in Arlington Heights and commenced demolition work on Arlington International Racecourse a few months later.

The team later revealed that Arlington Heights was no longer its singular focus for a new stadium, and last year’s announcement of a new stadium near Soldier Field appeared to confirm the Bears’ intention to remain in downtown Chicago.

However, in November the Bears reached a tentative agreement with the village of Arlington Heights and local school district leaders over a property tax bill for a potential new venue at Arlington International Racecourse.

The deal effectively leaves the Bears with two viable options in terms of a new stadium, and Warren has this week dropped a hint that the Arlington Heights site could be the preferred approach. “The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights,” Warren said, according to The Athletic.

“Now the pace will definitely pick up and we’re fortunate to have optionality and … downtown from a museum campus standpoint, there’s been some discussion about the Michael Reese (Hospital) site, but then also Arlington Heights is, I keep going back to it, it’s an absolutely fantastic piece of land.”

The Michael Reese proposal mentioned by Warren is being led by Farpoint Development, the company behind regeneration efforts for a plot of land on Chicago’s South Side.

Farpoint last month revealed its vision for an enclosed stadium for the Bears, with renderings showcasing a privately-funded 75,000-seat venue. While Warren has cited the project as an option, it would appear to be below the other two proposals in the pecking order.

“To be able to find 326 acres that close to a wonderful city is difficult to do,” said Warren, in reference to the Arlington Heights site. “I don’t know if it exists anywhere in the country. I feel really good with the options downtown and then especially with Arlington Heights.”

He added: “Arlington Heights is unique. I don’t think there’s another piece of land like this in the world. Because the biggest thing for me as I represent the (McCaskey) family’s interests, I not only look at this generation, but I really say it and I seriously mean it – this is a decision that will impact this franchise for the next 100 years. And my biggest thing that my focus will continue to be on is the fan experience.”

Warren added that the designs the Bears released for a stadium near Soldier Field could be incorporated into the Arlington Heights site.

With a capacity of 61,500, Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL. The Bears’ current lease deal at the stadium is due to run until 2033.