Bears Might Build Stadium In Northwest Indiana: Team President

CHICAGO — With plans to build a new stadium at the former Arlington Park racetrack site seemingly on hold due to funding concerns, the Chicago Bears announced Wednesday that its search for a new home has expanded, with Northwest Indiana now in the mix.

"Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana," Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Bears, said in a letter to fans. "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."

Arlington Heights officials confirmed Wednesday night they're aware of the team exploring other options for building a new stadium. In a statement, officials said both the Village and team still believe Arlington Heights is the "best option" for the stadium and entertainment district.

"Due to restrictive legislation in Illinois, this exploration now includes moving to Indiana," Arlington Heights said. "The Village has been outspoken that a Megaproject bill is necessary to make a development project of this scale possible."

In February 2023, the Bears closed on a $197.2 million property agreement to buy the 326-acre property that housed the former racetrack.

In Warren's letter, he said the team is not asking for state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium at Arlington Park, "only for a commitment" to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements), which they say are "typical" of projects of this size, along with "reasonable property tax certainty" to secure financing.

"We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership," Warren said, adding that the Bears are ready to invest $2 billion into the project.

The Village of Arlington Heights announced in October that it could receive at least $15 million annually, or $510 million over 40 years, if the Bears move forward with redeveloping the former Arlington Park site with a modern NFL stadium and complementary mixed-use district. Officials said they have received two preliminary Economic Impact Reports submitted by the Chicago Bears Football Club.

The Village said the reports were also independently peer reviewed by its consultant, Hunden Partners out of Chicago, and the reports are now publically available here.

"We encourage our Illinois State legislators to move forward with the Megaproject bill," Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said. "This legislation will help to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, within the limits of Cook County, and ultimately – in Arlington Heights."

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