Chicago Unveils Solider Discipline Plans to Sway Bears from Arlington Park

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is not going to let the town’s beloved Bears go away for the suburbs with out a struggle. On Monday, she and different metropolis leaders unveiled their plans to re-renovate historic Soldier Discipline, the place the NFL staff has referred to as dwelling for greater than 50 years.

A rendering of a renovated Solider Discipline in Chicago that features a domed roof. Chicago officers unveiled the rendering yesterday as considered one of three choices for the historic soccer stadium. The town is hoping to maintain the Bears from transferring to the suburbs, the place it already has a deal in place to purchase the previous Arlington Worldwide Racecourse from Churchill Downs Inc. (Picture: Landmark Chicago Pursuits)

Lightfoot and the town probably face lengthy odds for now, because the Chicago Bears agreed to purchase Arlington Worldwide Racecourse in Arlington Heights for $197 million final September.They plan to tear down the historic thoroughbred monitor and construct a brand new stadium there.

However, she instructed reporters Monday the town will make a “compelling case” for them to not go away the town’s Museum Campus alongside the shores of Lake Michigan.

They need a tier-one stadium setting to maximise revenues, and we agree,” Lightfoot mentioned. “We’re going to hold making the case to the Bears, the NFL, and the general public {that a} revitalized Soldier Discipline makes essentially the most financial sense for that storied franchise.”

Two of the three choices Lightfoot introduced embody the Bears as its future major tenant. Seating would broaden from an NFL-low 61,500 to 70,000, and suites would enhance from 133 to 140. There are additionally plans for brand spanking new “experiential areas,” based on the town’s launch.

As well as, one of many plans requires turning the open-air stadium right into a dome, whereas the opposite may result in a attainable dome being erected.

The fee for the upgrades may run as a lot as $2.2 billion, based on metropolis figures. Nonetheless, metropolis officers mentioned that might nonetheless save the Bears as a lot as $1.5 billion than in the event that they constructed a brand new stadium at Arlington Park.

Contingency Plan in Case Bears Depart

Soldier Discipline was final renovated in 2003. Efforts to construct a contemporary stadium throughout the confines of the historic construction, specifically the rows of columns that flank the east and west sides of the stadium, backfired. Finally, that led the Bears to pursue a take care of Churchill Downs Included for the suburban race monitor.

The town has a 3rd plan if leaders can not get the Bears to remain. Soldier Discipline would nonetheless be renovated, however the work would concentrate on transitioning it right into a multi-purpose stadium that works higher for soccer. MLS facet Chicago Hearth FC additionally performs its video games on the stadium.

No matter which plan the town finally ends up using, Lightfoot mentioned the town would look to make Soldier Discipline a extra viable year-round vacation spot.

One attention-grabbing title talked about Monday by Lightfoot was Landmark Growth President Bob Dunn. His Landmark Growth agency conceived the three choices the town has laid out for the way forward for the stadium.

Dunn is a key determine behind One Central, a multi-billion-dollar mixed-use improvement undertaking that’s proposed for a 32-acre lot not removed from Soldier Discipline. One Central was additionally the location for Arduous Rock Worldwide’s proposed on line casino within the metropolis. In the end, metropolis officers selected to proceed with a $1.7 billion bid from Bally’s Corp. that will likely be constructed between the River North and the River West neighborhoods.

Extra Information Coming This Week?

After Lightfoot’s presentation, the Bears re-released a press release to native media it made practically three weeks in the past concerning its stadium search course of.

“The one potential undertaking the Chicago Bears are exploring for a brand new stadium improvement is Arlington Park. As a part of our mutual settlement with the vendor of the property, we aren’t pursuing various stadium offers or websites, together with renovations to Soldier Discipline, whereas underneath contract,” the staff’s assertion learn.

Lightfoot’s presentation might not be the one Bears stadium information this week. Churchill Downs will host a name with funding analysts to assessment its second quarter financials on Thursday morning. The Louisville-based gaming firm might have an replace on the sale at the moment.

When Churchill Downs introduced the Bears because the profitable bidder final 12 months, the corporate mentioned it anticipated the Arlington Park transaction to shut both late this 12 months or early in 2023.