Bears Held 6 April Talks With Chicago on Stadium Deal as Arlington Heights Bid Wavered
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 5
Bears Held 6 April Talks With Chicago on Stadium Deal as Arlington Heights Bid Wavered
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 5
Summary
At least six calls and virtual meetings took place between the Bears and Chicago attorneys from April 3 to April 22, indicating the team was still exploring a possible city stadium deal.
Those contacts came after Bears CEO Kevin Warren said in late March that Arlington Heights was the only Illinois option, suggesting Chicago was being kept alive as a fallback if that plan stalled.
April 22 also brought Illinois House approval of a bill that would sharply cut the team's Arlington Heights property-tax burden, a key factor in making that suburban site more attractive.
The Bears say the discussions were about the Soldier Field lease, but Crain's Chicago Business cited City Hall sources disputing that account and backing Mayor Brandon Johnson's claim that Chicago remains in contention.
The mixed signals leave the stadium search unresolved, with Arlington Heights, Hammond, Indiana, and Chicago all still part of an uncertain path forward.