The Chicago Bears have a classic home in Soldier Field, but that may be coming to an end.
The organization is in the midst of determining a location for a new stadium, which would take the team out of Soldier Field. While Chicago has played its home games there for more than 50 years, Soldier Field is also the oldest active stadium in the NFL.
If the Bears do move out of Soldier Field, they would be the latest franchise to build a more modern home. Here’s a breakdown of why the Bears could be on the move.
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Are the Bears getting a new stadium?
While the Bears are determined to build a new stadium, the organization hasn’t been able to secure the necessary funding or location. The team did purchase land just outside Chicago in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but complications have prevented it from breaking ground.
The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, though the team appears prepared to buy it out if necessary.
Where will Bears new stadium be located?
The Bears still haven't been able to secure a location for their new stadium. While the team prefers Arlington Heights, they have not been able to find common ground with the state regarding the funds required to build the stadium.
Therefore, the team is exploring other options. Bears CEO Kevin Warren said in a letter to the fans that they have expanded their search outside of Cook County.
"In addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana," Warren wrote. "This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights."
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Why aren't the Bears moving to Arlington Heights?
In 2023, the Bears purchased a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with plans to build a new domed stadium. However, more than two years later, they have been unable to secure an agreement to move the project forward.
The Bears and Illinois lawmakers have not been able to agree on tax breaks and the public funding required to build the stadium.
“Over the past several years, we have worked in good faith with Illinois leaders and made clear our commitment and readiness to invest more than $2 billion by the Chicago Bears — one of the largest private investments in state and NFL history,” Warren wrote in a letter to fans.
Less than a year after buying the Arlington Heights property, the Bears revealed that there was a $100 million gap regarding property taxes that forced them to look for alternative sites. Among the issues the team has faced in securing funding include how to fund infrastructure around the stadium.
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Why are the Bears leaving Soldier Field?
The Bears hope a move away from Soldier Field would allow the team to build a more modern and attractive stadium. Soldier Field is currently the oldest stadium in the NFL, while many of its contemporaries are newer, domed venues with better surrounding infrastructure.
Bears CEO Kevin Warren has said he hopes the team could one day host a Super Bowl, something the NFL would be unlikely to consider for outdoor Soldier Field.
Bears stadium history
- 1920-21: Staley Field
- 1922-1970: Wrigley Field
- 1971-Present: Soldier Field
- 2002: Memorial Stadium
The Bears have played in four stadiums in franchise history. When the organization was the Decatur Staleys, the team played in Staley Field in Decatur, Illinois for two seasons, but the franchise then moved to Chicago.
That is when the Bears began playing in Wrigley Field, where they remained for almost 50 years from 1922 to 1970. While Soldier Field opened in the 1920s, the Bears only played a few games in the stadium before moving in full-time in 1971. They have remained in Soldier Field since except for in 2002, when the team temporarily relocated to Memorial Stadium while Soldier Field was renovated.