Chicago Bears: Agreement could move team out of Soldier Field and city limits
The Chicago Bears are synonymous with Soldier Field, but the future home of the franchise could be on the move outside of the city limits after a massive land purchase by the franchise was announced Wednesday.
The Bears released a statement on their official team website stating they have entered a purchase agreement buy the Arlington International Racecourse property, which is located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb that sits roughly 35 miles outside of downtown Chicago.
Chicago Bears official statement
Here is the official article and statement from the Bears’ franchise released on Wednesday:
The Chicago Bears and Churchill Downs Inc. have signed a purchase agreement for the Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights, Ill., according to a release from the club. The move signals the franchise’s interest in the possibility of leaving its longtime home at Soldier Field.
“We are excited to have executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the Arlington Park property,” Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said.
“We are grateful to Churchill Downs Incorporated for their efforts to reach this point. We also appreciate the support of Mayor Tom Hayes and the Village of Arlington Heights. Finalizing the PSA was the critical next step in continuing our exploration of the property and its potential. Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction. Our goal is to chart a path forward that allows our team to thrive on the field, Chicagoland to prosper from this endeavor, and the Bears organization to be ensured a strong future. We will never stop working toward delivering Bears fans the very best experience. We will continue to provide updates on our progress at the appropriate time.”
While nothing is imminent and these deals can take years to come to fruition, it’s natural to assume the Chicago Bears brass has a long-term plan in store.
Located near the Southside of Chicago, Soldier Field has obviously been a staple of the city and has been the home of the Bears since 1971. It is currently the oldest stadium in the NFL, as it was originally constructed in 1924 as a soccer venue. The stadium underwent a significant renovation in 2002.
As NFL.com pointed out, the Bears’ lease for Soldier Field runs through 2033, but the organization can break that lease by paying a fee of $84 million as early as 2026, per the Chicago Tribune. WBEZ Chicago reported there has been disagreements between the Chicago Bears organization and Chicago Park District, the owner of Solider Field. The issue of renovations, repairs and the natural ware and tear to the 97-year-old venue has reportedly been at the forefront of the rift between the NFL franchise and the city.
Multiple reports state that Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot has been firm on her commitment to keep the franchise in the city.
On Tuesday night, Lightfoot took to social media to say that her stance remains the same, despite the new development.
“My statement still stands on the Bears: my admin remains committed to continuing the work to keep the team in Chicago,” Lightfoot said via Twitter. “As I have said numerous times, our door in City Hall remains open.”
For the foreseeable future, the Chicago Bears will continue to play at Soldier Field, and while today’s announcement doesn’t confirm a future move, this will certainly be a story to follow closely as new developments play out.