The Chicago Bears have confirmed plans to move out of their longtime home at Soldier Field for a new stadium outside of their city.
In an open letter, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren stated the team will be leaving its namesake city for Arlington Heights, a suburb approximately 25 miles from its current venue.
“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,” Warren wrote. “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.”
Warren stressed that despite its name “the Chicago Bears belong to more than just Chicago. We belong to the entire state of Illinois. The Nation. The World.” He insisted the team could not find a satisfactory site within Chicago for a new stadium and took a slam at the city’s leadership by observing that “Chicago only has 10 cranes in the sky, which pales in comparison to other major cities.”
Warren added the new facility will be financed with “a plan for property tax certainty and a fair contribution toward essential infrastructure that will benefit the entire community,” but he offered no budget and did not define the team’s financial input for the project.
“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,” Warren said.
The Bears’ lease on Soldier Field does not expire until 2033, but the Chicago Tribune reported the team would be able to break their lease in 2026 for $84 million.
