The Bears are under increasing pressure to land a new Stadium in Chicago. Following the recent agreement to purchase the Arlington Racecourse site from Churchill Downs in 2022, they have had limited success in securing the necessary funding to build either the museum campus or the former-site of Michael Reese Hospital, known as Bronzeville. The team president, Kevin Warren, has decided to shift focus away from construction and instead invest in land adjacent to Soldier Field, closer to downtown Chicago.
Warren’s remarks at the NFL Owner’s Meeting last week highlighted his frustration with the state of public funding in Illinois and the city. Despite the agreement with Churchill Downs, he stated that the owners are becoming increasingly pessimistic about obtaining public funding, even as they continue to apply for funding for the new Stadium. However, he remained optimistic, emphasizing the possibility of constructing on one of their preferred locations in[subscript]Spider’smyscript tz-zp listar#0#],., subtext[.],[/subscript].[/mso-notation-top-shirt>.
The Illinois General Assembly is on the verge of adjourn, continuing under the current session with a schedule that calls for its expiration on May 31. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is handling the purchase of the Arlington Racecourse site, and the team has had limited success in securing the necessary tax valuation. Terrero Advance Tax Valuation Services was quoted stating “The purchase value is expected to be up to $30 million. This is within the allowed range for a medical compound,”Warren said, but the team has been cautious in negotiating both the purchase price and the property taxes.
Warren’s remarks reflected a shift in focus for the team. Earlier, he had expressed interest in a roofed Stadium on the(model for which the team’s ownership had been planning) museum campus, but now his priorities have shifted to the availability of a suburban Site. He noted that while the teams owned recreating this site from the day it closed as a và the city in their追逐 of a sustainable future could handle the construction.
“”The Bears can begin construction in 2025.”” Warren assured the media. He assured the impact of the new Stadium on various aspects of the city’s economy, including an increased provision for mixed-use development and the creation of a destination.
Warren described the Arlington Racecourse site as one of the “Awesome piece of land” and noted his gratitude to Mr. George McCaskey for the foresight that permitted such a location. He praised the team’s ability to design a new Stadium that would accommodate the lakefront design, bringing even more姑味rokerStatisticistics to the community.
Speaking of which, Warren described the site as a place that could host events such as the Super Bowl, College Football playoffs games, the Final Four, concerts, and other major gatherings, both within and outside the stadium. “The economic value that would bring to our communities is astronomical,” he said, emphasizing that wherever it is situated, it doesn’t exist on any other planet.
Warren proposed building the same roofed Stadium as designed for the lakefront site, marking a clear objective. He expressed confidence in the ability to begin construction in 2025, outlining the availability of a train stop efficiently surrounding the proposed site. He highlighted the site’s status as being ready, with ample acreage, good topography, and links to surrounding hotels and restaurants.
Warren also praised the team’s plans, emphasizing that while downtown locations have unique advantages, the site’s broader appeal is evident. He added that “this location is very much an advantage to [Downtown Chicago] and it’s worth voting for.”
