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The report by real estate consulting firm HR&A Advisors Inc.
says the $855 million would “set the stage” for a mixed-use
development anchored by a stadium on a 326-acre tract of land in
Arlington Heights that the team owns. That would cover costs for
roads, sewers and changes to an adjacent commuter rail line.
In a letter to fans three weeks ago, team president Kevin Warren
said “this is the year” to finalize plans so the team could bid
to host a Super Bowl “as soon as 2031.” He said the stadium
would “require zero state money for construction,” but the team
would need the legislature to pass a bill in October to start
construction this year.
That bill would freeze property taxes for large-scale
construction projects such as the stadium. Warren maintains the
bill could help create 56,000 jobs during construction and 9,000
permanent jobs.
The Bears’ focus for a new home has fluctuated between a tract
of land they own in Arlington Heights to the city, and then back
to the suburb.
In September 2022, they unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan for
Arlington Heights that also called for restaurants, retail and
more, when they were finalizing the purchase of that site 30
miles from Soldier Field. Their focus moved toward building a
new stadium next to Soldier Field after Warren was hired as
president two years ago to replace the retiring Ted Phillips.
The plan to transform Chicago’s Museum Campus got an
enthusiastic endorsement from Mayor Brandon Johnson but a tepid
reception from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and state legislators
when it was announced in April 2024.
Last spring, the team announced it was turning its attention
back to Arlington Heights, citing “significant progress” with
local leaders.
Since moving to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned
their stadium, whether playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to
1970 or Soldier Field since then.
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