Bears Progress Further Towards Parting Ways with Soldier Field
The Chicago Bears are taking decisive strides towards potentially severing their ties with Soldier Field.
Earlier in 2023, the Bears made a significant move by acquiring a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, laying the groundwork for a potential new stadium in Chicago. In a recent update reported by Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, the team has been granted permission to commence the demolition of the Arlington Park racetrack located on their newly acquired land.
The demolition permit was issued on Friday, and the team is slated to kickstart the project next week. It's important to note, however, that this permit allows only for the dismantling of the racetrack's interior. To completely eliminate the exterior structure, the Bears will need separate approval from Arlington Heights and Cook County.
While the process may seem painstakingly slow, it's a significant move towards the Bears' ambition of establishing a new stadium and entertainment district in the area.
The hope is that the Bears maintain momentum with their new stadium project. As they pointed out in their February announcement, finalizing the purchase doesn't automatically imply development.
They added, "There's still a lot of due diligence that needs to be undertaken to ascertain if constructing a top-notch enclosed stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is viable."
The Bears' lease at Soldier Field extends till 2033, providing ample time before an actual transition is required. They can also negotiate an earlier move, provided the construction of the new stadium doesn't face significant delays.
| POLL | ||
27 MAI | 141 ANSWERS Bears Progress Further Towards Parting Ways with Soldier Field Will the Bears stay at Soldier Field past 2025? | ||
| Yes | 62 | 44 % |
| No | 79 | 56 % |
| List of polls | ||
