Chicago Bears, Arlington Heights reach tentative agreement over tax dispute

The Chicago Bears have reportedly taken another step in building a new stadium in one of the first areas it originally planned to build on to begin with.

The Bears have reached a tentative agreement with three Arlington Heights-area school districts over a long-running property tax dispute, the team announced in a statement on Monday.

This dispute kept the Bears from pursuing a new stadium in the area where the Arlington Heights racetrack used to be.

The team, however, is still committed to building a publicly owned stadium on Chicago's lakefront.

"The Chicago Bears remain focused on investing over $2 billion to build a publicly owned enclosed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront while reevaluating the feasibility of a development in Bronzeville," the Bears said in a written statement. "That being said, we remain significant landowners in Arlington Heights and establishing a framework for potential future development planning, financing and property tax certainty has been a priority since the land was purchased.  We continue to have productive conversations with the village and school districts and are aligned on a framework should we choose to explore a potential development."

The Bears purchased the 326 acres of land in 2023. The franchise paid $197 million and announced plans for a $2 billion enclosed stadium as part of a $5 billion development shortly after.

Then, Bears CEO and President Kevin Warren was hired and said the school district tax disputes halted plans to build a new stadium on that land.

The Bears have been publicly committing to building a stadium on Chicago's lakefront since, but have run into issues securing public funding from Illinois state government.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have not offered support for public funding. State lawmakers have consistently said Illinois has priorities that need tending to.

That hasn't stopped the Bears from seeking multiple options near the lakefront.

Recently, the Bears were reportedly looking into the area of land previously occupied by the Michael Reese Hospital in Bronzeville near Lake Michigan. The Bears originally dismissed the area, saying it was too small.

In April 2024, the Bears publicly proposed contributing $2 billion toward a $3.2 billion publicly owned stadium to replace Soldier Field. That figure does not include the $1.5 billion needed for infrastructure work and upgrades needed to complete the state-of-the-art stadium.

However, the main pitfall the Bears have cited as a non-starter in Arlington Heights is no longer an issue.

"We continue to believe Arlington Heights remains an incredible opportunity for the Chicago Bears Football Club," the village of Arlington Heights and the school districts said in a written statement. "The Village and the School Districts have a common understanding with the team on how to create a framework for potential future development planning, financing, and property tax certainty in Arlington Heights that works for all parties. We look forward to future conversations."

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