Irvin Says Bears Would Enhance Aurora's 'Bold Vision'

AURORA, IL — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is the latest municipal official to throw his city into the ring of consideration for a new stadium for the Chicago Bears, the city announced late Tuesday.

Irvin sent a two-page “letter of interest” to new Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren on Monday, pitching the team on coming to Illinois’ second-largest city when it builds a new multi-billion stadium, business and entertainment district.

Warren said at a meeting with Arlington Heights residents and stakeholders Monday night that he had received another notice of interest from another municipality while traveling from Lake Forest. Aurora joins Naperville, Waukegan, and Chicago as the communities that have contacted the Bears after the team announced that Arlington Heights is no longer its singular focus for a new football home.

“The opportunity to partner with the historic Chicago Bears as you search for the perfect new home is one we are eager to take on,” Irvin wrote in the letter, a portion of which was released by the city on Tuesday night. “Welcoming a historic organization such as the Chicago Bears would enhance our bold vision for Aurora and will provide the Chicago Bears with a new home to begin the next phase of your storied history.”

Irvin said the city's proximity to I-88 and to Metra lines would make Aurora a suitable destination as the team considers leaving Chicago's Lakefront, where it moved in 1971. An Aurora city spokesman said that the Bears responded "quickly and positively" to the mayor's letter.

The city said that in addition to access to major expressways and public transportation, Aurora city officials recently approved plans for a $360 million Hollywood Casino Aurora and pointed to development projects happening at the Fox Valley Mall and the current construction of the Del Webb community.

The letter says that the opportunity to provide the Bears with a "perfect" new home is one the city is "eager to take on" and says that Aurora wants to throw its hat into the proverbial ring.

" . . Turning a vision into reality is not always easy," Irvin wrote. "It requires the right resources to make dreams come true. Aurora offers unparalleled key resources to take a vision and make dreams come true. Our professional team of government and development professionals has a proven track record of getting big things done."

Despite closing on a $197.2 million purchase agreement for the 326-acre Arlington Park Racecourse property earlier this year and beginning demolition at the site, the Bears have opened up discussions for other possible sites for a new domed stadium as talks in Arlington Heights have slowed.

Warren said Monday night that the team and Arlington Heights are at a stalemate, partially due to a lack of communication. The Bears said earlier this year that their hopes of building the largest single-use development in Illinois history at Arlington Park are “at risk”. The team said earlier this spring that it "is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club, and the State of Illinois.”

Warren said Monday night that he has a fiduciary responsibility to find a “legitimate partner” to work with to build a new stadium. In addition to housing the Bears, Warren said he wanted to open a facility that would draw major events like Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, concerts, and other major events 365 days a year.

The Bears have previously flirted with leaving the City of Chicago and even the state of Illinois in the past. In 1995, then-team President Michael McCaskey said the team was looking at other possible homes and the team mentioned the possibility of moving to suburban Hoffman Estates before eventually remaining at Soldier Field.

The team’s lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033 but could leave as soon as 2026 with a penalty it would pay to the Chicago Park District for breaking its lease. Warren said on Monday night that he still believes something can be worked out in Arlington Heights, which remains the front-runner given the team’s financial investment at the former racecourse property.

However, when asked directly about considering other locations such as Naperville, Waukegan, and now Aurora, Warren said “We have to” as a way of finding the best possible partner to build a new stadium and entertainment and business district.

Warren said opening up conversations is not a negotiating ploy, but instead “strictly business.”

“Once we have a legitimate partner, we will move forward,” Warren said Monday night. “If that’s in Arlington Heights, great. If it’s somewhere else, that’s great too.”