Member-only story
Bad News (About the) Bears
Da Bears may soon be leaving their historic home in downtown Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is enduring a barrage a criticism this week for proposing $2.2 billion dollars in spending to upgrade Soldier Field.
“Mayor should put a lid on billion-dollar Soldier Field dome plans,” opined the Chicago Sun Times editorial board on July 26, 2022. “With so many far more pressing issues around town and in the parks that are in need of public funding, taxpayers shouldn’t be made responsible for a billion-dollar stadium renovation.”
Longtime home of the iconic Chicago Bears football team, Soldier Field has endured in downtown Chicago for five decades.
But the Bears franchise, “who have a deal in place to explore a site in the suburb of Arlington Heights,” according to Yahoo Sports, “appear disinterested in the proposal.”
“The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park,” said the organization in a statement. “As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of the property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or sites, including renovations to Soldier Field, while we are under contract.”
“We have informed the city of Chicago that we intend to honor our contractural commitments as we continue our due diligence…