Bears Say They've Made 'Significant Progress' in Arlington Heights Stadium Talks

The latest development in the Chicago Bears' ongoing stadium saga has them looking at Arlington Heights once again.

In a statement provided to Robert McCoppin, Jeremy Gorner and Dan Petrella of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears said they have made "significant progress" with officials in Arlington Heights:

"Over the last few months, we have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality."

The Bears originally purchased the 326-acre property in Arlington Heights for $197 million in February 2023.

In April 2024, the Bears released plans for a fixed-roof stadium project in the lakefront area of Chicago that is just to the south of where Soldier Field is located.

When the lakefront stadium project stalled late last year, the Bears turned their attention to a third site at the former Michael Reese Hospital in Bronzeville.

During the NFL league meetings in April, Bears CEO and president Kevin Warren told reporters their focus was back on the lakefront plan and Arlington Heights:

"The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights. These are not linear processes or projects. They take time, they take a lot of energy and effort. I am very, very pleased with where we are. I think we, collectively as a group, are where we thought we would be."

One of the main reasons the Arlington Heights plan initially hit a snag was the difference in valuations of the site between the team and surrounding school districts.

NBC 5 Chicago's Shelby Bremer and Alex Maragos noted at a January 2024 testimony hearing over the dispute, the two sides were $100 million apart in their valuations.

The Bears' attorney argued the property should be valued at $60 million with a tax rate of 10 percent for the residential and vacant land. The appraisal submitted by the school district valued the land at $160 million.

Bears officials told Gorner and McCoppin in November they reached agreement with the Arlington Heights school district on a property tax deal that opened the door for them to build a stadium in the area.

Warren has said the Bears intend to fully fund the stadium and construction, but would require public subsidies "from an infrastructure standpoint, and that’s just roads and sewers and highways and transportation."

In January, Warren expressed confidence that the Bears would be able to break ground on a new stadium at some point this year. Friday's statement doesn't confirm that will happen, but the franchise seems to be moving closer toward a resolution to the situation.

Soldier Field is, by far, the oldest active stadium in the NFL, having opened in 1924. The only other stadium still in use that opened before 1960 is Lambeau Field (1957).

The Bears have been playing home games at Soldier Field since 1971 after moving from Wrigley Field.