News coming for the possible Bears relocation
The Chicago Bears' future at Soldier Field has been up in the air for a while now. The team has hinted at a possible move from their old stadium. One popular location often linked was Arlington Heights. The Bears have a pending acquisition of the Arlington Heights Racecourse. The $197 million agreement has been signed in September. The site has the potential to offer a new state-of-the-art stadium that could contain at least 75 000 people. The current Bears' stadium only holds 61 500 fans, which is the lowest total in the NFL.
The Bears have been playing at Soldier Field for more than 50 years now. However, the current lease is not set to expire until 2033. Reports are that the Bears would need to pay over $80 million in fees to leave Soldier Field after 2026.
Yesterday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she plans to present the Bears with a compelling financial case for the team to stay in the city. She told during an interview that she could potentially look into putting a roof on the Soldier Field. She said this was just an idea, but she will come up will more detailed things that would make the amenities more hospitable for the Bears. She also mentioned that the Bears could go to "plenty of other spots" to build a stadium in the city instead of going to Arlington Heights.
This will be a very interesting subject for years to come.
