Tag: Arlington Heights

Bears president Kevin Warren says intention is to build new stadium on lakefront

Bears president Kevin Warren spoke at the owners meetings on Tuesday and says he intents to break ground on a new stadium on the lakefront.

The Chicago Bears’ stadium saga continues to roll on, with little action taking place. The team is at an impasse with Arlington Heights and the 326-acre property they purchased over a year ago, and reports came out two weeks ago that indicate they have their sights set on a new stadium near Soldier Field.

On Tuesday, president Kevin Warren confirmed that the team intends to build a new stadium on the lakefront.

Warren met with reporters during the 2024 NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Florida, and was asked by CHGO’s Adam Hoge whether the Bears intended to build a new stadium in Chicago if everything came together. Warren didn’t mince words.

“The plan would be to put a shovel in the ground on the lakefront,” he said.

Ever since he was hired as team president and CEO, Warren has expressed his affinity for the city of Chicago. Last August, in an interview with Peter King, Warren talked about the possible options for a stadium location and couldn’t stop gushing about Chicago and its lakefront.

“God really kissed downtown Chicago with that lakefront,” Warren said via NBC Sports Chicago. “I don’t think there’s any place in the country that has that beauty of a city right upon a beautiful lake in Lake Michigan.”

The vision for a new stadium just south of Soldier Field comes after the difficulties the Bears have had with the Arlington Park property. Disagreements surrounding the proposed tax assessments have stalled progress, and even after the village recently proposed a fair compromise that would lower the current tax rate, the Bears are making their intentions clear.

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Arlington Heights proposes tax cut for potential Bears stadium

Don’t look now, but the Bears to Arlington Heights stadium isn’t dead yet.

Don’t look now, but Arlington Heights has put themselves back in the race for a new Chicago Bears stadium site.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Arlington Heights is proposing a tax cut compromise for a potential new domed stadium at the former Arlington International Racecourse, which was purchased by the Bears last February.

Arlington Heights proposed an agreement to accept the Cook County Board of Review’s assessed value of $124.7 million for the 2023 and 2024 tax years. This is in response to the disagreement between the Bears and local school districts involving the property tax bill.

Here are additional details from the Chicago Tribune about the tax breakdown:

The property would be assessed at the 25% commercial rate for half of 2023 and the 10% vacant property rate for the other half, resulting in a total tax liability of $6.3 million, according to Arlington Heights’ Feb. 27 proposal, which the village released publicly late Monday after an open records request by the Tribune.

For the 2024 tax year, the property would be assessed at the 10% rate, resulting in a tax bill of $3.6 million, according to the proposal. Both figures would be a big cut from taxes currently estimated to be near $10 million.

This move comes shortly after the Bears shifted their focus to building a new stadium on the Chicago lakefront just south of Soldier Field — where the organization announced they would commit $2 billion toward the stadium. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears remain interested in the Arlington Heights property, but their main focus remains the lakefront.

Could this have been a power play by Warren to use leverage for a secondary stadium site to get the original site he wanted all along? Or does Warren really have his sights set on a lakefront stadium? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Bears aren’t getting tax relief for Arlington Heights property valuation

The Bears are approaching a pivotal point in their new state-of-the-art stadium project.

The Chicago Bears are approaching a pivotal point in their new state-of-the-art stadium project.

According to WGN and the Daily Herald, the value of the 326-acre Arlington Heights property (which the organization purchased for $197.2 million in a year ago) was set at $192 million, which means the Bears would have to pay about $15 million in taxes.

The Bears have until Saturday to reach an agreement with three school districts about the appraisal for the Arlington Heights property as they seek tax relief for the potential new stadium site.

On Thursday, we learned that the Bears are not going to be given tax relief for the valuation. The decision reportedly isn’t final but this is the initial decision. The Daily Herald had the report first: The three-member elected Board of Review unanimously endorsed County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s valuation of $192 million for the undeveloped land, according to the report. That valuation carries a yearly tax bill of about $15 million, the reports says, which is much higher than the Bears believe the land is now worth.

According to a Chicago Tribune report late last month, the Bears presented two appraisals of the property, one for $60 million and one for $71 million, to the Board of Review.

Three suburban school districts, however — Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15, Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214 and Palatine-based Township High School District 211 — have had the land valued at $160 million, the Tribune reported.

This is big news in the NFL world as one of the biggest money-making teams is set to build a new state-of-the-art stadium. While the belief was Arlington Heights would be the new home, the taxing issues continue to make it difficult.

Recently, a report indicated a newfound focus to the Chicago lakefront for the Bears’ new stadium, which would be on the Soldier Field south lot with the goal of hosting Super Bowls, Final Fours and other events, which was the plan in Arlington Heights, as well.

“The Arlington Heights property is incredible,” Bears president Kevin Warren said, via WGN. “Any time you have 326 acres near the city – and now we’ve cleaned everything so it’s a vacant piece of land – it’s a great piece of property.

“That said – to be able to have optionality with Chicago – I’ve made it very clear how I feel about Chicago. I think it’s the finest city in the world. I can’t think of another major metropolitan area that has beautiful lakefront that you can swim in, that’s clean, near a downtown. The architecture is phenomenal and just the history and tradition. It’s just something that feels right about the Bears in Chicago. But, this is a long journey and we’ll continue to work on it.”

There’s no doubt the Bears will construct a new stadium. Whether that’s in Arlington Heights or Chicago (or elsewhere) remains to be seen. But it certainly feels like all signs are pointing to the Bears staying on the lakefront.

Bears still determining if Arlington Heights is ‘viable option’ for new stadium

Kevin Warren said the Bears are still working to find a legitimate partner when it comes to their new stadium.

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It’s been an eventful few months when it comes to the Chicago Bears’ stadium development. While Arlington Heights was believed to be the odds on favorite for the new stadium, there have been some obstacles, most notably tax issues, and the team made it known that it was no longer the singular focus.

Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren appeared at an invitation-only meeting at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights on Monday night, where he discussed the latest with stadium plans. While Arlington Heights could very well be the new site of the stadium, it doesn’t sound like things are close to resolved.

“We do need a new home for the Chicago Bears,” Warren said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “We have to figure out if Arlington Heights is legitimately a viable option or is it not. This has nothing to do with personal feelings. This is strictly business. And I just want to make sure that we’re all on the same page and figure out if this is something that will work.”

The Bears have started demolition on the Arlington International Racecourse, but they’re reiterated that doesn’t mean a stadium will be built. If Warren’s comments are any indication, any resolution still feels a long way away. But Warren assured everyone they’re doing their due diligence when it comes to finding the best partner.

“This is not about the Chicago Bears trying to come in and take advantage of everyone,” Warren said. “It’s the opposite. It’s about the Chicago Bears finding a partner.”

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

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Bears begin exterior demolition on Arlington Heights property

The Bears started the second phase of demolition on the Arlington International Racecourse on Friday.

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The Chicago Bears have started the second phase of demolition, this time exterior focused, at Arlington International Racecourse on Friday.

The organization bought the Arlington Heights property for $197.3 million back in February with the intent on building a new state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment district. But they’ve been unhappy with the expense of its property tax assessment.

With that, the Bears announced that Arlington Heights was no longer the sole focus of their stadium efforts. Since then, they’ve also met with Naperville city officials about a potential stadium, and the city of Waukegan has expressed interest in building a stadium.

While Arlington Heights is still in play to be the site of the new stadium, the team release did note that the demolition doesn’t mean the property will be developed.

Here’s a glimpse at the demolition under way at Arlington Heights:

The Bears started interior demolition on the property on May 30, and the entire demolition is expected to be completed by the end of the summer, per the Sun-Times. Demolition of the grandstands is expected to take about two weeks.

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Bears now considering stadium in Naperville as they look outside of Arlington Heights

In a statement released by the Bears, Arlington Heights is “no longer our singular focus” to build a stadium.

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The Chicago Bears are now looking at additional stadium options outside of Arlington Heights. Team officials met with Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli on Friday to discuss possible options for a new stadium in the suburban city while demolition work on the Arlington Park property continues to take place.

In a statement released by Scott Hagel, senior vice president of marketing and communications, via NBC Sports Chicago the Bears say they’re looking at additional options outside of Arlington Heights.

“The Chicago Bears goal of building the largest single development project in Illinois history led by billions of dollars in private capital investment, and the jobs and economic benefits generated, is at risk in Arlington Heights. The stadium-based project remains broadly popular in Arlington Heights, Chicagoland and the state. However, the property’s original assessment at five times the 2021 tax value, and the recent settlement with Churchill Downs for 2022 being three times higher, fails to reflect the property is not operational and not commercially viable in its current state. We will continue the ongoing demolition activity and work toward a path forward in Arlington Heights, but it is no longer our singular focus. 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.”

According to Kevin Schmit of the Daily Herald, the meeting comes a little over a week after Wehrli contacted Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren about offering up Naperville as an option for the team’s new stadium. The two met on Friday to discuss the possibility.

The Bears entered into an agreement to purchase the Arlington Park property back in September 2021 for approximately $197.2 million. A year later, team officials unveiled their vision for a mixed-use entertainment complex that would include a domed stadium on the 326 acres of land and move the team out of Soldier Field.

The team closed on the property earlier this year and demolition on certain structures from the former racetrack began this past week. But with uncertainties such as Cook County’s high property assessment and public funding for the land development outside of the actual stadium, Warren wants to consider other options.

While the Bears have flirted with other suburban options outside of Arlington Heights decades earlier, their statement on Friday is the first time they have publicly entertained other options since they agreed to purchase the land. When former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed upgrading Soldier Field last summer, the Bears maintained their focus in closing on the Arlington Park property. But due to the risks, the team is doing their due diligence.

Naperville is the fourth-largest city in Illinois, just west of Chicago. The city is outside of Cook County and can be accessed via multiple interstates and railway routes. It is unclear where in the city the Bears might be considering for a stadium site.

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Bears look to begin demolition on remaining Arlington Park structures

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are taking another step towards moving to Arlington Heights.

The Chicago Bears took another step in their long road towards building a new home on Wednesday. The team filed paperwork with the village of Arlington Heights to begin demolition of the remaining structures of Arlington International Racecourse. The news was first reported by Robert McCoppin and A.D. Quig of The Chicago Tribune. 

It’s the next phase of the team’s desire to build a multi-purpose entertainment district on the property after they officially closed on the land earlier this year. The Bears entered into an agreement deal on the property back in September of 2021 to purchase the 326-acre land for approximately $197 million.

According to the team via the Tribune, demolition will begin with clearing out the interior of the grandstand before moving to other structures and eventually the grandstand itself. No timetable has been set for the demolition but, as Christopher Placek of the Daily Herald states, it could get underway in a matter in of weeks or even days.

The moves to buy and secure the property would seem to indicate the team’s desire to bring a new multi-purpose entertainment district, including a brand-new enclosed stadium, to the site. But team officials have emphasized time and again that any movement on the property does not mean they’re fully moving ahead with their desired plans.

There are still many more hoops to clear, including a battle to secure additional funding for the surrounding entertainment area not related to the stadium, as well as the increased property tax evaluation from $33.5 million in 2022 to $197 million by Cook County Assesor Fritz Kaegi, reported by Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business.

Tearing down the existing structures at Arlington Park is an important step, though. In order to build something new, the old pieces need to be brought down. It may seem slow but progress continues to happen as the Bears eye a new home.

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Kevin Warren: Arlington Heights is sole focus for new Bears stadium

After closing on the Arlington Heights property in February, Kevin Warren said it remains the main focus for Bears’ stadium development.

Kevin Warren doesn’t begin his tenure as Bears president and CEO until April 17, but he’s been in the transition process since being hired in January.

Warren’s biggest project will be the development of the Arlington Heights property, which is expected to be the site of a new state-of-the-art stadium. The Bears officially closed on the land back in February, which means potential stadium development can start moving once Warren steps in.

“Fortunately, I’ve been through this process before,” Warren said, via ChicagoBears.com.

“That was a big part, to be able to close on the land. That was a big step. That remains our main focus from a stadium development situation. There’s a lot of work to be done. I mean, when you close on land, that’s really when the work begins. And so I’m looking forward to April 17 and still just been trying to transition, gather information and stay up to speed. But I’ll really dive in once I start.”

Last fall, the Bears confirmed they’d reached an agreement to acquire the 326 acres of property — and they’ve already revealed initial plans for the property. After closing on the land, the Bears are one step closer to building a new state-of-the-art stadium.

But what’s the next step?

“Now you have to get all the legislation done, work through all the political elements, design the stadium, make sure it comes to life,” Warren said, via Adam Hoge.

Warren added that it takes typically about 36 months from the time you put a shovel into the ground to have it come to life.

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Bears officially close on Arlington Heights property

The Bears are one step closer to the development of a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

The Chicago Bears have officially closed on the purchase of the Arlington Heights property, they announced in an open letter.

Last fall, the Bears confirmed they’d reached an agreement to acquire the 326 acres of property — and they’ve already revealed initial plans for the property. Now, the Bears are one step closer to building a new state-of-the-art stadium.

But, as the letter mentioned several times, closing on the property doesn’t guarantee that a new stadium will be built. Still, it’s an important step forward for the Bears to leave Chicago and Soldier Field for their own stadium.

This week, we took another step toward realizing that vision by closing on the Arlington Park property. Finalizing the purchase does not guarantee the land will be developed, but it is an important next step in our ongoing evaluation of the opportunity. There is still a tremendous amount of due diligence work to be done to determine if constructing an enclosed state-of-the-art stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is feasible.

The Bears hired new president and CEO Kevin Warren last month, and he’s expected to play an integral role in the development of a new stadium. Warren helped in the development of U.S. Bank Stadium during his time with the Vikings.

Here are other key points from the open letter:

  • If developed, it would become one of the largest mega-projects in Midwest history. Construction of the stadium is projected to create more than 48,000 jobs, provide $9.4 billion in economic impact for Chicagoland and include $3.9 billion in new labor income for workers. Long term, it would create more than 9,750 jobs and provide $1.4 bullion in annual economic impact.
  • If developed, the project would have substantial impact from a commercial and residential real estate aspect. Outside of the stadium, the property would provide a regional hub for entertainment, shopping and local events.
  • If developed, they will not seek taxpayer funds locally or otherwise. But it would require assistance to ensure feasibility, which includes securing property tax certainty and support for infrastructure commensurate with the public benefits the project will yield to the region.

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Justin Fields is adamant about the Bears getting an indoor stadium

The Bears quarterback isn’t a fan of the cold and windy conditions at Soldier Field and believes it slows him down.

Whether fans like it or not, the Chicago Bears are slowly inching towards a move to Arlington Heights to play in a climate-controlled stadium instead of the outdoor elements at Soldier Field. While some former players have pushed back on the notion of playing indoors, count Bears quarterback Justin Fields as a big fan of the idea.

Fields, speaking on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast this week, expressed his displeasure with adjusting to the bitter cold temperatures and howling winds that can be found at Soldier Field late in the season. “It is very difficult to adjust to it, especially with the wind,” Fields said. “That’s what it’s all about is the wind. It can be cold, it can be 10 degrees. With no wind, you’re fine but with that 15-20 mph wind, you can’t fight it. It’s tough.”

The cold and windy weather at Soldier Field, better known as “Bear weather,” has been considered a key factor for Bears games over the last 50 years. Defensive players love it, knowing opposing offenses will likely struggle. But Fields can’t stand it and even offers up why it puts him at a disadvantage.

“The thing is about that weather, when it’s that cold, you have to bundle up,” Fields said emphatically. “Put a bunch of layers on and stuff like that. Your body’s cold so you’re not warmed up. I feel way slower in that cold weather so it’s tough. You of course want to try and stay warm on the sideline but it’s hard to stay warm in that weather.”

In case he wasn’t clear by those answers, Fields made sure to spell it out. “I hope we just get a dome. I don’t care if we’re at Soldier Field, Arlington Heights, I hope we get a dome.”

It’s not surprising to hear a quarterback talk about wanting to play in warmer elements. But with speed being such an important part of Fields’ game, hearing that he even feels slower in the cold weather puts things in a different perspective. Fields is one of the fastest quarterbacks in the league and has broken multiple runs of 60 yards or more. If he were playing indoors more frequently, would his production increase? Would it improve his scrambling ability?

Fields already set multiple NFL records this past year and became just the third quarterback in league history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, totaling 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns. Interestingly enough, Fields totaled more than 70 rushing yards in all but one game at Soldier Field after the calendar turned to November, though his lowest output did come on Christmas Eve against the Buffalo Bills, one of the coldest games in Bears history. Fields had just 11 yards on seven carries the entire day.

Fields may need to wait a few years, but the Bears continue to move towards a move to Arlington Heights. They’re expected to close on the 326-acre property no later than the end of March and that date could even be pushed up according to ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan. Chairman George McCaskey already indicated last fall the team will look to build an enclosed stadium on the property should the deal materialize, erasing any doubt about any plans for an outdoor field.

For now, however, Fields will need to continue adapting to the cold weather. Hopefully it doesn’t slow him down too much but based on his production last year, he appears to be handling the elements well.

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