Recent rumors that the Chicago Bears were finalizing stadium plans in Arlington Heights seem to be just that—rumors.
The last time we heard from Kevin Warren and the Bears during the NFL postseason, they clearly stated that their goal remained focused on building along the lakefront. However, just because the rumors about officially finalized plans are not true does not mean that there aren't things in motion between the Bears organization and Arlington Heights.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the Arlington Heights stadium plan appears to be moving in the right direction. The Village Board is scheduled to meet with the Bears Real Estate Development consultants on Monday to assess the Bears’ traffic and economic impact studies, which are expected to be completed in the next week.
The Village has been asking for these studies for some time, but the Bears decided to wait until the property tax issues were resolved. This suggests that the Arlington Heights project may be more viable than recently thought. The Bears' management has stayed committed to their stated goal of developing in the city, particularly along the lakefront, but perhaps recent shifts within the ownership group have prompted a change of heart?
It's difficult to make any definitive statements until more information is made public, however, one thing remains clear: Kevin Warren and the Chicago Bears continue to consider all options and keep their cards close to their chest when it comes to where the franchise will ultimately decide to play football in the future.
