Mayor of metropolis in Illinois says Bears are ‘significantly contemplating’ a transfer out of Soldier Discipline and to his city


The Chicago Bears have been taking part in at Soldier Discipline since 1971, however that is one thing that could possibly be altering within the close to future. The Bears are apparently excited about relocating to Arlington Heights, which is a suburb that sits roughly 30 miles exterior of Chicago. 

For the Bears, the attract of Arlington Heights comes from the truth that the town is about to have 326 acres obtainable the place a brand new stadium could possibly be constructed. The land is presently occupied by the Arlington Park race monitor, however that constructing is probably going going to be offered within the coming months with the expectation that the brand new purchaser goes to tear it down and re-develop the location. 

Throughout an interview final week, Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes revealed the the Bears have been “significantly contemplating” a transfer to the location. 

“Definitely, the Arlington Park web site is offered and we’d think about the Chicago Bears an excellent match for that individual web site,” Hayes stated, through Fox 32 in Chicago. “I feel the Bears are significantly contemplating it as a result of it is such a singular piece of property. It has a lot going for it by way of its location within the northwest suburbs the place a variety of their viewers is.”

A Bears government did not deny that the staff was mulling a potential transfer when requested about it by Crain’s Chicago Enterprise final week. The race monitor in Arlington Heights is about 30 miles away from Soldier Discipline, so Bears followers in Chicago would nonetheless be inside simple touring distance of a possible new stadium.

Even when the Bears need to transfer although, it is not going to be really easy. As Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lately identified, the staff has a lease at Solider Discipline for at the least the following 13 seasons.  

“I’ve seen a few studies [of a possible move] however a few knowledge factors that I feel you ought to be conscious of are the Bears have a lease with Soldier Discipline till 2033 and the NFL would not let any groups break their leases,” Lightfoot stated.

Even supposing there is a lease in place, Hayes is not discounting a potential transfer earlier than 2033. 

“I do know there’s contracts concerned and lease agreements,” Hayes stated. “However a great lawyer will let you know, you may all the time get out of these. There could be a major worth concerned, however I’d assume in the event that they needed to make it occur, they might make it occur.”

It appears the Bears are hoping to get some renovations carried out at Solider Discipline and it is potential they need the town to assist pay for the mission. Lightfoot admitted to speaking to the Bears in current weeks, however did not specify whether or not the staff requested the town to assist with something. 

“It is an excellent, iconic web site,” Lightfoot stated of Soldier Discipline. “However it’s a difficult web site, and I feel it is incumbent on us as a metropolis to step up and take a look at methods wherein we are able to ensure that the Bears followers, but additionally the Bears as a company, have the perfect alternatives to maximise the fan expertise and, in fact, maximize revenues.”

Soldier Discipline opened in 1924 and hasn’t undergone any kind of main renovation since 2003. The stadium solely seats 61,500 and attributable to spacial constraints, it is unlikely that quantity will ever be expanded by a lot, which could be one motive why the Bears finally make the transfer to Arlington Heights. 



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