Bears have 'exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago' despite mayor saying new meetings held
ABC7 Chicago • • sports
Key Points:
- The Chicago Bears have held meetings with Chicago's Corporation Counsel about a potential new lakefront stadium, but the team insists there is no viable site in Chicago and is only considering Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Hammond, Indiana.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson is advocating for the Bears to remain in Chicago, conflicting with Governor JB Pritzker, who supports the team's move to Arlington Heights.
- The Bears clarified that recent discussions with the city were limited to legal counsel and focused on their existing lease at Soldier Field, with no substantive changes or negotiations on a new stadium location.
- Illinois lawmakers face a deadline to pass a megaprojects bill that could enable an Arlington Heights stadium, but key issues remain, including the Bears' failure to provide a required traffic impact study.
- Senator Bill Cunningham warned that without increased efforts from the Bears to work with legislators, the session could end without approval of funding, potentially delaying or derailing the stadium project.