The Chicago Bears made it fairly clear last week that the group is critically contemplating a possible transfer to Arlington Heights and this week, the Illinois suburb made it clear that it will be more than happy to welcome the Bears.
The Arlington Heights village board accredited a zoning change this week
that may enable a soccer stadium to be constructed on the 326-acre chunk of land that the Bears made a bid for back on June 17. If the Bears are going to move out of Soldier Field anytime soon, lots of issues are going to have to occur and this was one of those things. If there was no zoning change in place, the Bears would have had no use for the land, however now, the staff knows that a stadium may be built if they end up profitable the bid for the property.
The land is presently owned by Churchill Downs, which is the company that may make a decision on the profitable bid. That proven fact that Churchill Downs owns the land is notable, as a end result of the company just introduced a partnership with the Bears.
According to the Daily Herald in Chicago, the Bears have agreed to a multi-year deal with Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois. The controlling stake in the casino is held by Churchill Downs, which owns 61% of the property. Normally, the Bears signing a sponsorship with a on line casino would not be large news, however the fact that they only signed a take care of the corporate that will be selecting the successful bid for the 326-acres of land that the Bears need positively makes this notable.
Based on current events, it definitely looks like the Bears have one foot out the door in Chicago with their eyes on Arlington Heights, which sits roughly 30 miles away.
Of course, there is a minimal of one one who does not think the Bears are actually going to move and that particular person is Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot. The mayor thinks that is all a negotiation tactic by the group to be able to get the town to pitch in on the prices it’s going to take renovate Soldier Field.
“The Bears are locked right into a lease at Soldier Field until 2033,” Lightfoot said on June 17. “In addition, this announcement from the Bears comes within the midst of negotiations for enhancements at Soldier Field. This is clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used earlier than.”
In a battle of mayors, the mayor of Arlington Heights, Tom Hayes, isn’t backing down. Hayes thinks the Bears are actually serious about shifting.
“I do not suppose this is a negotiating tactic,” Hayes said this week, via the Chicago Tribune. “I do suppose the Bears are critical about this. It might not come to fruition, but I think they’re seriously considering this.”
The Bears are severe enough about transferring that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell didn’t shoot down the chance when requested about the state of affairs on Wednesday.
“I don’t know the answer to that question other than to know it is a really early stage to develop doubtlessly another,” Goodell told 670 The Score. “But I assume so much must be carried out here. I know their commitment to the Chicago space is 110 percent, and that’s the most important factor to me. We have a long lease at Soldier Field.”
As for that lease that Goodell and Lightfoot each talked about, Hayes is not very concerned about that.
“I know there’s contracts involved and lease agreements,” Hayes mentioned again in April. “But an excellent lawyer will let you know, you can always get out of those. There might be a big value concerned, but I would assume in the occasion that they needed to make it occur, they may make it happen.”
The Bears would not have bid on the property in Arlington Heights in the occasion that they weren’t severe about shifting and if they end up profitable that bid, there’s a good probability they will find yourself leaving Soldier Field, the place they’ve played since 1971.
