The Chicago Bears are reconsidering their stadium plans and now say Arlington Heights is once again an option. This update came from team president and CEO Kevin Warren during the NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
Originally, the Bears purchased a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights in 2021, with plans to build a multi-billion dollar stadium surrounded by restaurants, retail stores, and other developments. However, in 2023, the project faced issues due to stalled negotiations over property taxes, putting the plan at risk.
In April 2024, the team instead announced a new idea—to build a state-of-the-art domed stadium near Soldier Field on Chicago’s museum campus. Now, Warren says the team is considering both locations before making a final decision.
“We are focused on both downtown Chicago and Arlington Heights,” Warren said. “Arlington Heights has a beautiful piece of land with great topography. You can see downtown from there, and Salt Creek runs through it. It also has a Metra station at Arlington Park, which makes it convenient.”
Even though the Bears have said they will privately fund the stadium, some concerns remain about how much taxpayers would have to pay for infrastructure improvements around the stadium in Arlington Heights. In December 2023, the Arlington Heights Board of Trustees agreed to settle the property tax bill for the potential stadium site at $3.6 million. Warren said this was a sign of progress.
“These projects take time, effort, and energy,” Warren explained. “I am very happy with where we are in the process, and I believe we are right where we expected to be.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also addressed the situation, saying he is not worried about how long the decision is taking. “This is an important issue for both the team and the community,” Goodell said. “It’s normal for these discussions to take two years or more. The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field doesn’t end until after the 2033 season, so there’s still time to figure everything out.”
For now, the Bears will continue exploring both stadium options, with more decisions expected in the future.
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