Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is trying everything in her power to get the Chicago Bears to stay in town after she attempted to call their bluff and found out they were, in fact, not bluffing. Wednesday, Lightfoot proposed the city make its own renovations to Soldier Field to keep the team in town.
A mayoral committee is set to recommend Chicago “explore the feasibility” of adding a dome to the stadium. A dome would likely require taxpayer contributions with costs estimated between $400 million to $1.5 billion. Other updates the committee will consider includes rebuilding parts of the nearly 100 year old stadium and potentially selling or granting naming rights to the venue.
The Bears can exit their Soldier Field lease in 2026 and the team last fall finalized a purchase agreement for the Arlington International Racecourse, a 326 acre property with eyes on construction of an entirely new complex that would also include an on-site sportsbook. From the sounds of things, the Bears would be attempting to create their own version of Ballpark Village in the Chicago-land area, should their plans be approved.
The sale will be finalized in 2023 after the Bears’ plans are approved by the city of Arlington Heights – which will be presented in Fall 2022.
Photo taken by Darron Cummings/ Associated Press
