The Chicago Bears’ President & CEO Kevin Warren has written an open letter to fans spotlighting Arlington Heights as the only possible site for a new world-class stadium for the NFL team.
He said the Bears have not taken the decision to move out of the Chicago City Limits lightly, but that it is the only option for the team.
In the letter to Chicago Bears fans, Warren says that as the franchise marks its 106th season, the team has played almost 1,500 regular season games since its first game as the Decatur Staleys in 1920, 180 miles to the south in Decatur, Illinois.
Warren writes, “Since our inception, we have played under different names, with different uniforms, in different cities, at different venues. That said, one critical component has remained constant – the Chicago Bears belong to more than just Chicago. We belong to the entire state of Illinois. The Nation. The World.”
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago (US). The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference North Division.
The 62,500-capacity Soldier Field is a multipurpose stadium on the Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1924 and reconstructed in 2003 the stadium has served as the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) since 1971.
Warren tells fans, “We are at a pivotal juncture of the Chicago Bears franchise to build a new stadium, our future home in Arlington Heights, which will require zero state money for construction.
“This is the year to finalize our stadium plans so we can officially bid to host a Super Bowl as soon as 2031. This is the moment to begin moving toward that future, and we want you with us. The 2025 season marks an exciting time to be a Bears fan.”
Warren said since he was hired as President & CEO of the Chicago Bears in April 2023, the team have invested significant time, energy, and resources to strengthen football operations, business operations, and stadium planning.
He adds, “In evaluating options for a new stadium, the focus of the McCaskey family has been clear: build a world-class stadium that requires zero money from the State of Illinois for its construction.
“We are partnering with political, labor, business, and community leaders across Illinois to develop a plan for property tax certainty and a fair contribution toward essential infrastructure that will benefit the entire community.
“Arlington Heights is the only site within Cook County that meets that standard. It allows us to better serve our fan base and deliver a truly transformative and elevated gameday experience.
“Our new stadium, with a fixed-roof and the corresponding mixed-use development, will be worthy of the most passionate fan base in the NFL and capable of hosting marquee events year-round – from the Super Bowl to the Final Four to global soccer games to concerts to community events to youth sporting events.”
After purchasing 326 acres in Arlington Heights in 2023, the Bears thoroughly evaluated other sites within Chicago’s city limits, but Warren said none were viable.
He adds, “Moving outside of the city of Chicago is not a decision we reached easily. This project does not represent us leaving, it represents us expanding.
“The Bears draw fans from all over Illinois, and over 50 percent of our season-ticket holders live within 25 miles of the Arlington Heights site. The project provides us the opportunity to build a stadium and mixed-use development that will benefit our fans, our region, and our future together.
“Most importantly, the new stadium will elevate the fan experience with easy access, whether by Metra train directly to the site or a short drive with ample parking and tailgating, creating a vital connection between Chicago and the broader Cook County community, ensuring every fan feels at home.”
The Bears believe the new stadium and mixed-use district will generate lasting benefits for residents, workers, families, and fans in Arlington Heights, Cook County, and the State of Illinois.
This development will create more than 56,000 construction jobs, and 9,000 permanent jobs. Forecasts are of $10 billion in economic impact attributed to statewide construction, and $256 million in annual statewide new business and tourism impact.
Warren said Chicago currently only has 10 cranes in the sky, which pales in comparison to other major cities and he hails the move as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Chicago, its surrounding communities, and the state of Illinois to become the pinnacle of sports and entertainment destinations.
He said, “This is the type of venue and destination that you all have deserved for years, and we are working every day to make progress. This stadium will allow us to have the best home field advantage in the National Football League.
“While we do not yet have all the answers, we are optimistic about working with the Village of Arlington Heights to obtain necessary approvals and begin building our new home.
“For more than 50 years, Soldier Field has been our home. But so too were Wrigley Field, Memorial Stadium, and Staley Field. We hope Arlington Heights will soon join that list – not because of its steel, brick, or glass, but because it will house what is irreplaceable to this franchise: You. Our Fans. Our Family.”
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