Bears exhausted – The Chicago Bears say they have “exhausted every opportunity” to stay in Chicago and are now weighing stadium sites only in Arlington Heights, Illinois, or Hammond, Indiana, as their current lease runs through 2033. The team’s decision timing is still uncertai
For the Bears, the argument has never been abstract. For nearly a century, the franchise has measured its seasons in Chicago neighborhoods and stadium schedules. Now. in a statement made May 21. the team says the city route is effectively over—and that the next step is looking north and east. beyond Chicago’s borders.
“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said in a statement obtained May 21 by the Associated Press. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
The two locations sit outside Chicago’s city limits: Arlington Heights. an Illinois suburb about 25 miles northwest of Chicago. and Hammond. Indiana. The Bears’ message is blunt about the narrowing of options. but it’s also clear about what comes next—planning for a new stadium somewhere else rather than staying put.
The Bears have been based in Chicago since 1921, when the Decatur Staleys relocated to the city. Their early home included Wrigley Field, an arrangement that lasted through the 1970 season, before the franchise moved to Soldier Field. Since 1971, the Bears have played at Soldier Field in all but one NFL season.
That exception came in 2002, when the team played at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium while Soldier Field underwent significant renovations.
Still, even with Soldier Field as the familiar backdrop, the Bears don’t control the property. The team doesn’t own the stadium; it leases the facility, which is owned and operated by the Chicago Park District.
That matters because the Bears are not free to walk away whenever they want. They are currently locked into a lease agreement through the 2033 NFL season. An early exit is possible, but only with a penalty. Calculations performed by the Chicago Sun-Times in 2021 put the cost of exiting the lease early at about $90 million if the team does so in 2026.
What remains unclear is how that penalty could change if the Bears wait—continuing to play at Soldier Field while construction timelines move forward. Team leaders have not said how much the figure would drop, if it does.
Even the schedule for a final choice is not fixed. It’s not yet clear exactly when the Bears will announce their stadium location. Team president and CEO Kevin Warren offered a tentative timeline during the NFL’s owners meetings in March.
“We don’t have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring-slash-summer, we’ll know,” Warren told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and Chris Simms. “I mean, we have to know because we will have completed the due diligence in Indiana and we’ll see what happens in Illinois.”
Warren also sounded a confident note about fan reaction to the decision. He said Bears fans will be happy with the new stadium whether it ends up in Arlington Heights or Hammond.
“Fortunately, both of those sites are great locations,” Warren said.
Chicago Bears stadium move Arlington Heights stadium Hammond Indiana stadium Kevin Warren Soldier Field lease Chicago Park District NFL owners meetings NFL stadium options