Today’s announcement from the Chicago Bears is disappointing news for Illinois
The Chicago Bears’ official public push for a new stadium began in June 2021, when the team submitted a formal bid to purchase the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse property in suburban Arlington Heights. Since then, elected officials, including the governor, have been on notice that the Bears may leave Chicago.
Unfortunately, the governor and the General Assembly could not come up with a package to keep the Bears in Chicago and in the State of Illinois. Today’s announcement is the clearest indication yet that the franchise is moving forward with plans outside our state.
I remain hopeful that the Bears can still be kept in Illinois, but today’s news is certainly not encouraging.