The Chicago Bears have expressed their desire to leave Soldier Field, but their plans continue to evolve. The latest plan involves the team staying in Chicago rather than moving to the suburbs. The new plan involves building a domed stadium along Chicago’s lakefront.
In a statement today, the Bears said that city officials agree and will be part of an upcoming announcement regarding the plans for a state-of-the-art, publicly owned indoor stadium. The proposed location is the Museum Campus, which will also feature additional green and open space with lakefront access for families and fans.
Previously, the Bears purchased land in Arlington Heights with the intention of building a stadium there. However, they changed course when they were informed that property taxes on the Arlington Heights land would be much higher than expected. It is uncertain what kind of tax breaks and taxpayer funding the Bears are hoping for with their proposed stadium in the city. This topic will be a key issue for the team as they work to finalize their stadium project.