Bears exhausted – The Chicago Bears say they have exhausted every opportunity to remain in Chicago, calling there no viable sites inside the city and narrowing stadium options to Arlington Heights and Hammond as Illinois weighs support for a project on team-owned property.
The Bears’ stadium talks hit a new, sharper wall on Thursday, with the team issuing a statement that shut down any lingering belief they might stay in Chicago.
“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said in the statement. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
The wording changes the tone of the negotiations. It’s not just that the Bears are weighing alternatives. They’re telling Chicago—plainly—that the city itself is no longer part of the feasible plan.
That statement arrives after a Wednesday message carried by the Chicago Tribune that was more limited in what it declared. On Wednesday. the Bears said they were “clear with the city of Chicago and state leaders there are only two viable stadium locations under consideration. Arlington Heights and Hammond. ” and that a decision was expected “between the two later this spring or early summer.”.
Now, the team has gone further by insisting the search for staying in Chicago is effectively over. The consequences are immediate for the political and planning landscape around the stadium question. because the Bears are no longer asking Chicago to compete with two suburban locations—they’re arguing Chicago can’t.
Indiana is ready to roll. and Illinois is working on a package aimed at helping the Bears build a new stadium on property the team owns in Arlington Heights. The Bears. for their part. appear “very intent on building in one of those two locations. and nowhere else. ” after narrowing consideration strictly to Arlington Heights and Hammond.
Chicago Bears stadium Arlington Heights Hammond Illinois Indiana NFL
So they just don’t want to play in Chicago anymore? Wild.
I’m confused because I thought they were negotiating with the city still. Now it’s like they’re already done? Seems like a PR thing more than anything.
Wait, when they say “no viable site in the city” does that mean it’s literally impossible to renovate the current stadium or what? Like can’t they just do something with Soldier Field or is that too cheap for them?
This is what happens when politicians keep acting like they can control everything. They narrow it to Arlington Heights and Hammond like that’s the only choice and then Illinois “is working on a package” for team-owned property… sounds like they’re trying to force Chicago to pay for something even though the Bears say they’re not staying. Also I swear I saw headlines yesterday saying “only two viable locations” and now it’s “exhausted every opportunity,” so which is it, lol.