New Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights is 'the plan,' Kevin Warren says
Warren said the Bears have had weekly meeting with Arlington Heights leadership to discuss their plan.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said in a news conference Friday that building a new stadium in Arlington Heights is "the plan."
The writing has been on the wall for quite some time now, and fans heard the most firm answer yet from Warren as he says Arlington heights is their top priority.
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"We are still extremely focused on Arlington Heights, on building our stadium there," Warren said.
Warren said the Bears have had weekly meetings with Arlington Heights leadership to discuss their plan, and said they've been making excellent progress. He said they hope to proceed forward this year.
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Warren was joined by Bears chairman George McCaskey as they made the announcement, updating the progress in discussions to move the team to Arlington Heights at the former racecourse property, which the team owns.
Warren said the team believes Arlington Heights is the only location in Cook County that will work with their design plan, including a fixed-roof.
Last month, the team asked fans for input on things like parking, tailgating and other fan experiences in a survey.
All of this points to the team shifting away focus from renovating the stadium on Chicago's lakefront as Warren says they're just about ready to break ground.
"The goal would be to be in position to move dirt this year... Break ground next year officially, but move dirt this year, and be ready to play in our new stadium," Warren said.
"I am glad to hear that, because internally in our office when we meet with them, that's how we feel about it and we agree with that," Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said.
While the team is ready to make this move happen now, Warren also says they're hoping for some help from the state legislature this fall in passing a tax relief bill that would help the team's move to Arlington Heights. That money would not go to the stadium, just the surrounding infrastructure for restaurants, retail and various public spaces.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has shut the door on any state financial help that goes directly to the stadium, but he has told ABC7 that he may be open to the idea of state dollars helping the infrastructure surrounding the stadium.
Village leaders in Arlington Heights are ready to help make that pitch.
"Everything else that has to happen around that can start gearing up and those organizations, collaborations and partners can start looking at as, 'Yeah, they're coming to town, and we need to be at the table to make this the best it could be,'" said Jon Ridler with the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce.
There may be some clarity now on the Bears' future plans, but some fans are still disappointed.
"History... when you drive past here you smell the bears you can hear the roar, and it's not even a game," Bears fan AJ Horn said. "No. I don't want them to move. I really don't."
The Bears have a lease at Soldier Field through 2033, but there is a possibility to break that lease in 2026 if they pay a hefty fee.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office declined to comment on the Bears update.
