Kevin Warren: “There’s just something about the Chicago Bears that feels right.”
Dave Wannstedt joins Football Night in Chicago to discuss Adam Schefter’s report indicating that Mike Tomlin, the coach of the Steelers, is considering quarterback Justin Fields of the Bears.
The Bears bought a piece of land in Arlington Heights for $197.2 million less than a year ago, so last month’s report from Crain’s Chicago Business that the team was now concentrating on constructing a brand-new lakefront stadium confused fans.
Ever since the team made an offer to purchase the land in 2021, the fans have been talking about a stadium in Arlington Heights. The arrival of Kevin Warren as the Bears’ new president and CEO in January 2023 appeared to signal the start of the team’s transition toward a new stadium in downtown Chicago. Despite this, the Bears proceeded with the Arlington Park demolition in October 2023, but Warren has stated in a number of statements that they were still looking into other possible sites for a stadium.
In a recent interview with WGN’s Jarrett Payton, Warren acknowledged his slight obsession with owning a stunning new stadium on the city’s waterfront.
Warren exclaimed, “The Arlington Heights property is incredible.” “Anytime you’re close to a big city and have 326 acres,
“Having said that, I’ve made my feelings about Chicago very clear in order for me to be able to have optionality with it. It’s the best city in the world, in my opinion. There isn’t another large metro area that has a lovely, clean lakefront for swimming close to downtown. Chicago features amazing architecture. And only the customs and history. Thus, there’s just something about the Chicago Bears that feels correct.”
The Bears were reportedly investigating the South Lot at Soldier Field for possible stadium site, according to reports that surfaced last month. When directly questioned about it, Warren avoided the subject, but stressed that if the Bears were to stay in downtown, acquiring land along the lakefront would not be negotiable. There are “a handful of options” for a city stadium, he added.
“We’re still kind of running those [options] to the ground,” he stated. “But I would just say that we need to make sure that this is close to the lake from because I think that’s what brings it all together, if we’re fortunate enough, if we can stay in Chicago.”
“When I consider Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and Super Bowl hosting, those are the moments that always cross my mind. When I picture the day we win a Super Bowl in our Chicago stadium, I picture the downtown area and the lake as well as that stunning city. If that’s possible, I believe we should see and investigate.”
According to Warren, a choice about the new stadium’s location will be made in 2024.
“In a perfect world, I would like to have clarity in this legislative session is coming up,” he stated.
An ongoing dispute over property value is another factor in the decision to leave Arlington Heights. According to testimony given at a hearing on the dispute in January, the team and the nearby school districts are still $100 million apart in their assessments of the site.
Warren remarked, “I hope it comes here the next months,” regarding the selection of a new stadium location. Sooner rather than later, we must be able to declare that this is the area in which we wish to perform to the best of our abilities.
