The Bears’ plan to leave Soldier Field for a new, domed stadium has hit a road block in Illinois. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears’ stadium project remains stalled. Momentum from within the government arms needed to move things forward continues to be nonexistent. And now, two weeks before the calendar year ends, the organization’s stated vow to “move dirt” and “break ground” for a new stadium on the 326-acre property the Bears own in Arlington Heights in 2025 appears dead.
In an open letter to fans posted on the team website Wednesday evening, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren shifted away from the sentiment that he has expressed for most of this year that Arlington Heights was the Bears’ primary focus for their new stadium and instead introduced the idea of exploring a move across state lines.
“We need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” Warren wrote. “This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights.
“Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.”
Wednesday’s letter served as a new concession that the Bears’ desired path to getting their stadium project moved forward has been obstructed, most significantly by a legislative blockade in which a “mega project bill” that would limit the team’s tax responsibilities on a new stadium has gained little traction.
This story will be updated.