Disclaimer: This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.
Last Thursday, Chicago’s NFL team, the Chicago Bears, announced an informational community meeting to discuss the potential purchase and development of Arlington International Racecourse.
If this move actually happens, it will be a big hit to the city of Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has an initiative to try and keep the team from leaving.
“An improved Soldier Field will deliver a world-class visitor experience,” said Mayor Lightfoot.
“Furthermore, any of these proposed renovations will allow Soldier Field to retain its role as an economic engine for Chicago for years to come, as these changes will allow us to keep bringing sports, music and other exciting events to our city.”
The options include:
- Option 1: Fully enclose the stadium by rebuilding both endzones with columns that can support a dome structure.
- Option 2: Rebuild both endzones with columns to make the stadium dome ready.
- Option 3: Modify Soldier Field to be a multi-purpose stadium better suited for soccer while improving its flexibility to accommodate major concerts and a range of events.
She also proposed to expand the capacity from 61,500 to 70,000.
Lightfoot has put forward a list of potential upgrades to the early 100-year-old stadium. These include adding a dome to Solider Field. This would cost city taxpayers an estimated cost between $400 million to $1.5 billion.
The Bears, however, are very focused on building a new venue in Arlington Heights, a suburban area northwest of downtown Chicago. The Bears signed a $197.2 million purchase agreement with Churchill Downs Incorporated in fall 2021 to begin pre-development on the former 326-acre racetrack property.
The Chicago Bears released a statement regarding its dismissal of the city’s proposals saying, “The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park. As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or sites, including renovations to Soldier Field, while we are under contract.”
The Bears currently have an agreement with the stadium until 2033, but they could leave as soon as 2026 by paying a large $84 million penalty. Lightfoot’s recommendations of a dome for the venue comes as part of a large effort to upgrade the Museum Campus that she discussed in February.
Solider Field hasn’t been updated or renovated since 2002 and it currently holds the smallest capacity for NFL stadiums.
Chicago has not flourished under the leadership of Lightfoot, and it is no surprise that The Bears would want to move their venue.
Chicago has seen the fewest number of arrests of suspects in at least 20 years, amid a crime wave that has been exponentially growing since 2020.
According to Fox News, police made arrests in 12% of criminal cases in 2021, which is the lowest rate since 2001.
Homicides have skyrocketed in the city since 2020. Fox News also reported that there were nearly 770 homicides in 2020 in Chicago, up 50% from 2019.
Da Move
Good for the bears but I believe if I was them and both baseball teams I would move completely out of the state of Illinois and leave that fat governor and Beetlejuice mayor behind to play tiddywinks with each other
I am amazed they stay in Illinois
I don’t blame them at all for leaving! If Chicago won’t clean up it’s act, I’d leave too. That ignorant ugly C can just kiss their butts!
Elect a clown expect a circus
Bill b. And that is washington, D.C.Every pick Joe made has turned out to be useless , a liar, or a fool!