Bears resume talks with Chicago to stay in the city after previously releasing plans to flee to the suburbs
- Bears president Kevin Warren sent a letter to season ticket holders this week
- Soldier Field is one of the smallest NFL stadiums, seating up to 61,500 fans
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The Bears have revived talks with city officials to remain in Chicago despite releasing previous plans to flee to the suburbs ahead of the team’s first game of the season, as fans remain optimistic about the franchise’s future in the area.
In a letter addressed to season ticket holders, Bears president Kevin Warren said the franchise recently revised discussions with the city of Chicago, bringing back an idea once considered dead in the water: a modern, indoor stadium complex in the greater metropolitan area Chicago.
“Over the past few months, we have reconnected with the City of Chicago, and we are grateful for the vision Mayor Brandon Johnson and his leadership team have provided during discussions about the Chicago Bears remaining in Chicago,” the letter reads.
“We have also continued to engage with officials in Arlington Heights and other suburban locations to discuss the possibility of making our plan a reality. We emphasized the need to tell these leaders that any effort at the stadium would be supported by significant private investment that would lead to significant economic impact and job creation throughout Chicagoland.
“In both cases, we also emphasized the need for stability and predictability, together with an appropriate partnership commensurate with the long-term public benefits of the project. A public-private partnership will enable regional improvements while providing a long-term investment in the community.
The Bears are once again discussing their plans to leave Soldier Field as the new NFL season begins
A letter from Bears president Kevin Warren confirmed the team’s intentions for the near future
Talks to have a brand new, indoor stadium complex built in Arlington Heights are underway
Arlington Heights, considered a wealthy suburb of Chicago, is featured in the tam’s next home
“We are encouraged by the progress to date and we look forward to refining and defining our location in the near future.”
The Bears currently play at the iconic Soldier Field, which can seat up to 61,500 people. However, the venue is one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL.
What’s more, Chicago’s average game attendance ranked second-to-last in 2022 (59,823), surpassing only the Washington Commanders during Dan Snyder’s final season as franchise owner, according to Front office sports.
Bears president Kevin Warren is leading the charge on the franchise’s plans for a new stadium
The new NFL season hasn’t brought much joy to the Bears in terms of ticket sales, as all tickets are currently at a nominal price, according to the team’s official website.
The Detroit Lions, Chicago’s rivals, celebrated the sale of all their season tickets before defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, on opening night.
Warren, who previously worked as a front office manager for the Minnesota Vikings, is responsible for consolidating the Bears’ stadium plans, specifically an attractive stadium in Arlington Heights.
But it is widely believed he came into conflict with local officials earlier this year over recent proposals.
Since then, other suburbs around Chicago have tried to lure the Bears, although only Arlington Heights has managed to garner enough support for the team to consider whether to relocate significantly from the downtown area.