Chicago Bears’ Stadium Talks Progress in Arlington Heights, No Deal Deadline Set, Says Kevin Warren

An Illinois legislator remains optimistic that the Arlington Heights bid is still ahead of Indiana’s in the race to host the Chicago Bears. Recent statements from the team’s leadership indicate they’re taking a measured approach with Springfield’s decision-making process.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Pro Football Talk,” Bears President Kevin Warren addressed concerns about a looming deadline for the Arlington Heights stadium project, dismissing the idea that time is slipping away.

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“We don’t have a firm deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring or summer, we’ll have a clearer picture,” Warren remarked.

His comments emerge amidst efforts to urge Springfield lawmakers to pass legislation by the month’s end that would ensure property tax stability and infrastructure financing for the Bears.

The urgency stems from concerns that the team might grow impatient and pivot to developing in Hammond, Indiana, where local lawmakers have already approved their own stadium initiative.

“What the Bears said today is important. They did not come in with an artificial deadline. They came in with seriousness,” said Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago.

Buckner has been leading negotiations with the Bears, which he says continue and are progressing.

“There’s large agreement on most parts of this, which is, you know, makes me feel very optimistic about the path forward,” Buckner said.

Buckner says some of what is still being negotiated has nothing to do with the Bears. The megaprojects bill would apply to any developer investing more than $500 million.

“There’s questions about what kind of businesses, industries can use this. There are some of my colleagues who are concerned that data centers and battery farms may run roughshod on this,” Buckner said.

Lawmakers return to Springfield April 7, and Buckner says he is confident that a bill will be passed before the spring legislative session ends on May 31.