PHOENIX, AZ., — As the NFL league meeting rolls on in Arizona, the Chicago Bears stadium saga has been a talking point both locally and among the league. After Kevin Warren provided an update this week hinting that a decision will be coming sooner than later, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell echoed his thoughts on the situation.
Goodell was asked about the Bears' stadium situation in his open media session on Tuesday afternoon and it sounds like he's ready for this to be resolved.
"They have looked not only in Indiana but also in Illinois and other sites and have invested in a site (in Arlington Heights)," Goodell said. "So I think they have been responsible with that. And I think it's really important that they come to a resolution on this relatively soon. It's important. I've spoken to officials in Illinois that this is an important time to get this resolved."
The interesting part of that answer is that Goodell has spoken to officials in Illinois. The Arlington Heights property certainly feels like the end result here as the Bears are not only looking to build a state-of-the-art stadium but an entertainment district around it as well.
They already own the property in Arlington Heights, and it makes the most sense. While Soldier Field has some history to it, Goodell even admits that the Bears need an upgrade from it.
"They are still playing in Soldier Field, which has a lot of great tradition," Goodell said. "But as far as advancements in technology and advancements in the quality of the stadium for the fan experience, I would say it's not at the top of the list. So they need to find that resolution for a stadium."
The Bears aimed to have shovels in the ground in 2025 and then again in 2026, but neither happened. Getting this finalized needs to happen soon so that they can get going with this project. Until then, it will continue to be a big talking point with the fanbase.
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