According to Crain’s Chicago a Mayoral Committee is set to propose a feasibility analysis for a $1.5 billion Dome for Soldier Field. This is likely a last ditch effort to keep the Chicago Bears in the city of Chicago. The fight to keep the Bears in Chicago began earlier in the year when they entered into a purchase agreement for the now closed Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Heights Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. As a result, the site is widely believed to be the place for a new stadium. Although, the Bears have not yet confirmed they are moving out of Chicago. The official line from the Bears is they are exploring the option, however, they have engaged Manica Architecture for the design of a new stadium. This is the same firm that designed Allegiant stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ever since the possibility of the Chicago Bears moving out of the city became known Mayor Lori Lightfoot has attempted to keep the Bears in Chicago. She has tried everything from shaming them to offering to do major renovations to Soldier Field. So far nothing is swaying the Bears from what seems to be inevitable. The Bears will be moving to Arlington Heights.
What Mayor Lightfoot can’t offer is what the Chicago Bears are looking for, massive space. The Bears appear to want to build a new state of the art stadium along with an entire entertainment and leisure campus. This would include casinos, hotels, retail space, and restaurants. The area around Soldier Field just can’t support the entirety of the Bears’ vision. Mayor Lightfoot and her administration are likely fighting a battle that they just can’t win. No matter what they offer it won’t match what the Arlington Heights property can do for the Chicago Bears