Kevin Warren Explains Why Bears Stadium Plans Shifted Back To Chicago

When Kevin Warren arrived last year, it felt like the writing was on the wall. The Chicago Bears had closed the deal on the Arlington Park 326-acre property. Everybody thought it was only a matter of time before they began the process of building a new stadium on the land. Warren was brought in to keep the process going and help avoid hiccups. His experience with U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota was one of the big reasons he got the job. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Bears would have a new home within the next few years.

It's amazing to see how much things have changed since then. Over less than 12 months, the Bears reached an impasse with Arlington Heights schools over property taxes and began listening to offers from other cities around the state interested in hosting the new stadium. Then, almost out of nowhere, word began to spread that Warren was talking with Mayor Brandon Johnson about a possible new location inside Chicago. The belief was that the tax standoff wasn't the only reason this shift occurred. It was spearheaded by Warren himself. Jarrett Payton of WGN TV asked him what brought it about.

The emotion behind the Bears president's answer was telling.

"The Arlington Heights property is incredible," Warren said. "I mean, anytime you have 326 acres near a major city, and now we've cleaned everything, so it's a vacant piece of land. Just a great piece of property.

"That said, to be able to have optionality with Chicago, I've made it very clear what I feel about Chicago. I think it's the finest city in the world. I can't think of another major metropolitan area that has a beautiful lakefront that you can swim in that's clean near downtown. The architecture in Chicago is phenomenal. And just the history and the tradition. So [there's] just something that feels right about the Bears in Chicago."

Kevin Warren having this stance is no surprise.

He's a city boy by birth, having grown up in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to college in Philadelphia. When he helmed the stadium project for the Vikings, one of his primary objectives was keeping them in downtown Minneapolis. It worked out beautifully. Chicago is one of the largest metropolitan locations in the country. They have a beautiful skyline, loads of public transportation, and are a great tourist destination. Besides, the Bears have played home games inside the city limits since George Halas renamed them in 1922. It doesn't feel right to change that tradition after all these years.

Kevin Warren deserves admiration for wishing to take this approach. Most others likely would've stayed with the Arlington plan. The obvious challenge is navigating the shark-infested waters of Chicago politics. First, he must find a viable location and then work with city leadership to let the franchise build on it. Warren stated he hopes to get a resolution by the end of 2024. The South Lot adjacent to Soldier Field is the most recently discussed location. They could also look at the South Works, McCormick Place, and the Lincoln Yards.