The Bears Hopes Of A Chicago Lakefront Stadium Faces A Steep Challenge

The stadium issues are suddenly silent. The Chicago Bears are hoping to work with the city of Chicago to build a publicly-owned stadium to be built just south of Soldier Field. Kevin Warren and the village of Arlington Heights are still jockeying positions with the original plan to build a mega-complex in the northwest suburb still on the table.

Recent revelations on both sites came to light in March. The Bears announced a grand plan to provide $2 Billion in funds to help build a lakefront stadium. Our lead writer, Erik Lambert, wrote about last month's lakefront stadium plan. You can read his article here.

Arlington Heights Still in the Mix

In what could easily be explained as a last-ditch effort to save the project in the suburbs, the mayor of Arlington Heights announced a series of tax breaks to help the Bears if they would return to the original plans of their stadium that would be constructed on the 326-acre parcel where Arlington Park Race Track once stood. Had the proposal been brought forward 6 months sooner, it could have been enough to get construction started in the summer of 2023.

Major Opposition Looming For The Lakefront Stadium Idea.

When Kevin Warren first announced the idea of the lakefront stadium project, the Friends of the Park Organization immediately voiced their objection to the project. They suggested the team should consider the property located several miles south of Soldier Field where the Michael Reese Hospital complex once stood.

The bigger concern is the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance.

The ordinance limits what new construction would be allowed in the area where the city and the Bears want to build the new stadium.

Several years ago, there were plans to construct the Lucas Museum in the Grant Park area. Restrictions due to the restriction provided by the Protection Ordinance and the interference from the Friends of the Park caused the Lucas Museum plan to relocate from Chicago to Los Angeles.

When Kevin Warren was hired in April of 2023 he said that he hoped to have a final decision in approximately one year. This past January, he reiterated that timeline. It is April now, so we are expecting to hear a definitive answer to a stadium location at any time.