Where things stand with Soldier Field, Arlington Heights heading into 2024

Bears stadium: Where things stand with Soldier Field, Arlington Heights heading into 2024 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

It’s been quite the year for the Chicago Bears organization. Trading the No. 1 overall pick, a mysterious coaching scandal and a mid-season quarterback debate chronicle the bulk of the team’s 2023. One storyline, though, continues to define the current era of the franchise.

Where will the Bears build their new stadium?

On October 3, The Dailey Herald reported that a demolition at Arlington Park ordered by the Bears had been completed.

This, however, doesn’t necessarily indicate the Bears will reside there in the future. They’re currently at an impasse with Arlington Heights over property valuation, as it affects future tax bills for the Bears.

After deliberating with Arlington Heights — the 326-acre land the Chicago Bears bought for $197.2 million — about developing a stadium at Arlington Park, the Bears seemingly pivoted off the location when Bears’ CEO Kevin Warren stated publicly back in August that “everything is on the table.”

“We had that period where we were focused on Arlington,” Warren told Peter King on his podcast. “We have some issues to work on. There’s a possibility there. But one of the things I promised myself and promised the McCaskeys is that I would come in and take a fresh look at what’s the right thing to do.

“And if it turns out to be Arlington, it turns out to be Arlington.”

How did the Bears get here? What does the future look like?

Let’s take a look at how the Bears and their stadium endeavors have unfolded so far.

What has happened

On Feb. 15, the Bears released a letter saying they closed on the purchase of the 326-acre plot of land in Arlington Heights and the Arlington Park property “to secure the potential of beginning a new and exciting chapter for the Bears, our fans, the Chicagoland community, and the State of Illinois.”

The Bears first put a purchase agreement on the property in September of 2021. One…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-stadium-where-things-stand-184936242.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2023-12-08 18:49:36

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