According to a source familiar with the plan, the Chicago Bears’ efforts to construct a new stadium have now centered on a publicly-owned domed stadium located on Museum Campus, near Soldier Field on the city’s lakefront. The Bears intend to inject over $2 billion of private funding into the project, which, as per the source, would also result in a 20% increase in open space in the vicinity.
The expansion of open space would encompass plazas, pathways, landscaped zones, lakefront access, and additional amenities. This initiative, which emphasizes the augmentation of public spaces in the area’s redevelopment, seems directed at appeasing the preservation group Friends of the Parks. Notably, this organization had previously thwarted George Lucas’s efforts to erect a museum along the lakefront. Furthermore, Friends of the Parks has expressed opposition to any proposals for constructing a new stadium project on Museum Campus by the team.
According to a source knowledgeable about the Bears’ strategy, a recent poll revealed that 66% of Chicago residents favor the idea of a Museum Campus stadium over the team relocating to the suburbs. Historically, the Bears had been leaning towards a suburban move, evidenced by their acquisition of 326 acres in Arlington Heights in February 2023, with plans to establish a stadium district on the premises.
Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Bears, affirmed the team’s decision to remain in Chicago in an official statement, expressing their commitment to investing “over $2 billion to construct a stadium and enhance open spaces for families, fans, and the community to relish in the City of Chicago.”
Warren emphasized the transformative potential of the future Bears stadium for the region, anticipating economic growth, job creation, hosting mega-events, and substantial tax revenue generation. He concluded by noting that more details would be shared once the plans are fully developed.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the Bears’ new proposal. “I have consistently emphasized the importance of significant private investment and a clear focus on public benefit in our city’s public-private partnerships,” the statement reads in part. “The Chicago Bears’ plans represent a positive stride in this direction and underscore Chicago’s robust economic strength.”
The complete cost of the development and the source of additional funding for the project remain uncertain at this stage. This change in direction occurs shortly after Illinois legislators directed both the Bears and the Chicago White Sox, who are also pursuing public funds for a new stadium, to collaborate on formulating a single proposal for state funding.
Governor J.B. Pritzker recently expressed skepticism regarding the extent of public funding available for either stadium.