Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren wanted shovels in the ground before 2026, but government and bugs could hold up the start of construction on the new stadium in Arlington Heights.
The Bears are moving ahead with the Arlington Heights location as the destination for the new stadium, which is expected to hold just under 70,000 fans.
The next step for the Chicago Bears could get buggy
Per Robert McCoppin of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears made their “next step” in the process to build the stadium by submitting required traffic and financial impact studies to the city of Arlington Heights, and that’s where things can get pesty for Warren.
On top of the studies, multiple facets of local government will review the Bears’ plans, including the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District.
“A Bears move to Arlington Heights will require much more than those plans. It will also require an extensive review by local school districts, a park district, and even, potentially, the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District,” McCoppin wrote.
“That’s because the team agreed to a complicated process that empowers a joint review board of all taxing bodies on the former Arlington International Racecourse to approve or reject any tax deal. Which means if the Bears want a new dome, they’ll need buy-in from those groups.”
The Bears have been stung by schools before
The Bears had issues with schools before, causing the team to consider building in Chicago. Warren and the Bears have been going back and forth since, pitting Chicago against Arlington Heights to try and grab a better deal.
The government still remains an obstacle.
While the Bears plan to pay for the stadium, the team is asking for the city’s help with infrastructure such as roads and utilities. And also subsidized property taxes.
The schools and mosquitoes could be an issue again.
“There’ll be a process that’s going to begin, and there’ll be an enormous amount of opportunity for every resident and every business owner to become educated and participate in all the dialogue that’s going to happen,” new Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said recently. “And this entire board, believe me, will all have something to say, and it will be wonderful, or it won’t be.”
Even if there are no bugs with the review process, the Bears face an uphill battle to begin construction by the end of the year.
But the biggest battle remains securing a location for the bloodsuckers. (Bears and government.)
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