Arlington Heights VS. Chicago: What is the Right Move?
The Chicago Bears have been one of the easiest teams in the NFL to make fun of for a long time, and for many reasons. One of which is their longtime stadium, Soldier Field. This stadium has been home to the Bears for almost fifty-two years now, but that era may come to a close sooner than expected.
Real estate company, Landmark Development, and its president Robert Dunn created a completely new renovation of Soldier Field and proposed it to the team on Sunday, January 8th. It included a multitude of public transit options to get to and from the stadium, more food options than the imagination can fathom, and a terrific amount of entertainment alongside the game itself. The proposal was absolutely remarkable in that it makes going to watch the Chicago Bears an experience rather than just a football game, but there are some glaring issues.
It was not specified in the proposal how the new stadium would be paid for, and the Bears still would not be able to own it. Soldier Field is currently owned by the Chicago Park District, which leaves a lot of problems out of the team’s control and is pushing them away from staying there. With the agreement put in place to buy Arlington International Racecourse this year, it seems like now more than ever that one of the NFL’s oldest franchises is due for a change.
Moving into the suburb of Arlington Heights would allow for the team to finally own its stadium and easier access for local suburban fans to attend games. It is the only thing on the minds of Bears’ executives right now. The sign-and-buy contract guarantees that the team will not pursue or explore other stadium options as long as it lasts. Arlington Heights continues to appear as a more realistic and viable option, especially when it can be the only option for the time being, despite it costing around $1 billion more than the most recent proposal.
The potential relocation has gotten much support from social media and the team as well. Only time will tell what will happen to the historic franchise’s home stadium, but a permanent change of residence seems all but confirmed, regardless of the numerous attempts that the city of Chicago has made and will continue to make to keep the team.