Bears face lengthy approval process whenever they finalize $5 billion stadium deal

The Chicago Bears have yet to close on a proposed $197.2 million purchase of a 326-acre plot for a new stadium, but even when that does get finalized, the team still faces a likely years-long approval process for its new suburban home.

Arlington Heights, a wealthy town 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, outlined an approval process for the team’s proposed $5 billion stadium. The Bears will need to develop traffic and parking plans, economic feasibility guidelines, and detailed economic impact projects to show how the stadium will benefit the village and other local governments.

That process is expected to take months, or more likely, years, according to the Daily Herald, a newspaper in suburban Chicago.

The Bears previously entered a purchase agreement for the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse about 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field after owner Churchill Downs reached out to them about buying the land (pictured) 

A map of the proposed stadium project shows a ‘mixed use’ district adjacent to the field 

The proposed stadium would sit about 30 miles from the team’s current home, Soldier Field

In this rendering, the stadium is seen from the southwest in front of the Chicago suburbs 

The exact plans for the proposed stadium were not revealed on the latest renderings

‘We understand this flow chart is kind of busy, but this is a complex project,’ Village Manager Randy Recklaus said at the recent meeting.

‘I don’t think we’ll be in a position to have anything close to a final vote in 2023,’ Recklaus said. ‘I think this is a multiyear effort, and that’s if they’re interested in moving relatively quickly.’

The Bears previously entered a purchase agreement for the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse about 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field after owner Churchill Downs reached out to them about buying the land. 

President and CEO Ted Phillips Phillips said the deal would likely close late this year or in early 2023. 

Unlike building in a major city like Chicago, where highways and public transportation make attending games easier for fans, Arlington Heights needs to be sure that it can manage the influx of crowds on gamedays.

‘Can the market support what’s being proposed?’ Charles Witherington-Perkins, the village’s director of planning and community development, asked rhetorically. ‘Those studies need to be provided and all need to be evaluated.’

The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field — their home since 1971 — runs through 2033

The proposals will be reviewed by Arlington Heights, consulting firms, and government agencies. Potential zoning issues exist, and much of the plan could be reworked depending on the recommendations.

In September, the Bears said they will need taxpayer assistance if they are going to construct an enclosed suburban stadium that could host Super Bowls, Final Fours and College Football Playoff games and anchor a surrounding entertainment and residential complex.

Chairman George McCaskey said the team would not seek public funding to build the stadium itself if the Bears complete the purchase and decide to move from Soldier Field. But they would need help to complete the rest of a multibillion-dollar project.

The Bears envision restaurants, retail, office space, housing, a hotel, fitness center, new parks, ponds and open areas. McCaskey said the project could take more than 10 years to complete.

‘My family and I are not real estate developers,’ McCaskey said Thursday. ‘We are not financiers. We are privileged to own a beloved football team that is an important community asset. We take that responsibility to heart. It is our life’s passion. We do recognize what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’

Soldier Field, owned by the Chicago Park District, underwent a $690 million transformation in 2002 that forced the team to play home games at the University of Illinois in Champaign and ultimately led to the loss of its National Historic Landmark designation. The interior was demolished, replaced by a flying saucer-like, glass-dominated structure cantilevered over the famous Greek and Romanesque colonnades. The clash of styles drew widespread criticism, and the renovation reduced seating for Bears games to 61,500, lowest in the NFL

Soldier Field, owned by the Chicago Park District, underwent a $690 million transformation in 2002 that forced the team to play home games at the University of Illinois in Champaign and ultimately led to the loss of its National Historic Landmark designation.

The interior was demolished, replaced by a flying saucer-like, glass-dominated structure cantilevered over the famous Greek and Romanesque colonnades. The clash of styles drew widespread criticism, and the renovation reduced seating for Bears games to 61,500, lowest in the NFL.

The choppy condition of the surface at the stadium has also been a sore spot for players and coaches on the Bears as well as other teams. The lakefront location and harsh weather make maintaining the surface difficult for the Park District.

In July, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot presented three options for renovating Soldier Field. But the Bears said they were not interested.

Lightfoot proposed fully enclosing the stadium by rebuilding both end zones with columns that can support a dome; rebuilding both end zones with columns to make the stadium dome-ready; or modifying Soldier Field to be a multi-purpose stadium better suited for soccer.

The Bears will be forced to pay Chicago $84 million if they break their lease in 2026, but can reduce the penalty by doing so later, according to Front Office Sports. The current lease runs through 2033.

In July, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot presented three options for renovating Soldier Field. But the Bears said they were not interested