The Chicago Bears have signalled their long-term commitment to Arlington Heights, with team president Kevin Warren telling fans in a letter Monday that the franchise’s “future home” will be in the suburb rather than the city.
“Moving outside of the city of Chicago is not a decision we reached easily,” Warren wrote. “This project does not represent us leaving, it represents us expanding. The Bears draw fans from all over Illinois, and over 50 percent of our season-ticket holders live within 25 miles of the Arlington Heights site.”
The announcement came just hours before the Bears’ season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Warren emphasised that the team is determined to move forward this year, saying “this is the year” to finalise plans so Chicago can bid to host a Super Bowl “as soon as 2031.” He stressed that the stadium “would require zero state money for construction,” though the organisation is seeking legislative approval for a property tax freeze in October to launch construction. The proposed bill, according to Warren, could generate 56,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent positions.
The Bears’ search for a new home has shifted over recent years. In September 2022, they unveiled a nearly $5 billion vision for Arlington Heights — including a stadium, restaurants, retail and more — as they closed on the purchase of the site 30 miles from Soldier Field. After Warren took over as president, attention briefly turned back to the city with a proposal to redevelop the Museum Campus, a plan endorsed by Mayor Brandon Johnson but met with a cooler response from Governor JB Pritzker and state lawmakers in April 2024.
By spring 2024, the team confirmed its focus had returned to Arlington Heights, citing “significant progress” in talks with local leaders.
Since relocating to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned their home venue — first playing at Wrigley Field until 1970 and at Soldier Field ever since. The Arlington Heights project would mark the first time in franchise history that the team controls its own stadium.