ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — The Chicago Bears are giving top priority to Arlington Heights for their new stadium plans, according to a statement released by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office on Friday.
Johnson spoke with Bears executive leadership, who indicated they intend to prioritize the Arlington Heights site, the statement said.
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Johnson said the door remains open to the Bears in Chicago.
Arlington Heights recently approved a deal to open a formal review of the Bears’ $5 billion plan to build a stadium in the suburb.
The Bears have been in possession of the 326-acre site of the former Arlington racetrack for over a year. While they have shared conceptual drawings for a stadium and entertainment complex there, they also shifted their focus briefly to a potential new stadium in downtown Chicago.
While a new downtown stadium has a lot of supporters, no one has yet figured out how to pay for the extensive infrastructure improvements needed.
The team has also indicated that they remain open to the idea of staying on the Chicago lakefront by constructing a new stadium adjacent to their current venue, Soldier Field.
Arlington Heights officials say the financial analysis as well as traffic impact studies could take several weeks or even months.
But, if the numbers work out, they are hoping to see construction equipment on the property sometime soon.
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.
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