Arlington Heights Stadium – design description

What does the Arlington Heights stadium project look like in brief?

Although Soldier Field underwent a major reconstruction in the early 21st century, today – without a roof and with the smallest capacity in the NFL – it no longer meets the expectations of the Chicago Bears, a team representing the third-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

When the opportunity to purchase land in Arlington Heights, on the northwestern outskirts of Chicago, arose in 2021, the Bears took advantage of it and began working on plans for a new stadium.

At the time, however, there were many alternative options. The city of Chicago wanted to keep the Bears downtown and proposed a modernization of Soldier Field, while mayors of other suburbs also made offers to the team.

For a period, the Bears leaned toward staying in the city center and in April 2024 unveiled a plan for a modern arena to be built next to Soldier Field. The concept was designed by the architecture firm Manica.

Ultimately, the decision was made in favor of Arlington Heights, as announced in September 2025 by Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren in an open letter to the team’s fans. Shortly afterwards, the first renderings of the new stadium in Arlington Heights were published, which… are almost identical to the design presented in April 2024.

According to this vision, the stadium will have a dynamic, oval shape, with its most distinctive feature being a large “window” facing downtown Chicago. The design is highly futuristic, and one of its key features is full coverage, with a roof extending over both the stands and the playing field.

Why do the Chicago Bears want a new stadium?

In the 21st century, a trend has emerged in the NFL of building extremely expensive, ultra-modern stadiums, such as the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, both opened in 2020. Modern venues increasingly feature full roofs that cover not only the stands but also the playing field.

Since 1971, the Chicago Bears have played at Soldier Field, located close to downtown Chicago. The stadium opened in 1924 and underwent a complete reconstruction in 2002–2003, which initially made it one of the most modern venues in the league. Today, however, it lags behind its competitors – it has no roof, and with a capacity of 61,500, it is the smallest stadium in the NFL.

Moreover, Chicago – the third-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. – has never hosted a Super Bowl, and without a larger, modern stadium, the chances of doing so are minimal. For this reason, the Bears have been considering the construction of a new venue for some time, even though the lease agreement for Soldier Field runs through 2033.

When did the Chicago Bears purchase the land for the new Arlington Heights stadium?

In 2019, the owners of the Arlington Heights horse racing track (a far suburb of Chicago, about 25 miles / 40 km from downtown) announced plans to close the track in 2021 and put it up for sale.

In 2021, the Chicago Bears expressed interest in purchasing the site, with the intention of building a new stadium there. One of the advantages of this location is its proximity to the Arlington Park Metra station and the highway junctions along Illinois Route 53.

The agreement was signed on September 21, 2021. The final race at Arlington International Racecourse took place on September 25, 2021. The purchase was completed in February 2023, with the Bears paying $197.2 million.

The Bears had already considered building a stadium in Arlington Heights in the early 1970s, after leaving Wrigley Field, which no longer met the minimum capacity requirements. However, at that time, they chose to move to Soldier Field instead.

Could renovating Soldier Field have been an alternative to building a new stadium?

In response to the Bears’ plans to move to the distant suburbs, then-Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot presented proposals for renovating Soldier Field on July 25, 2022. Three options were proposed. The most ambitious (and most expensive – estimated at $2.2 billion) involved covering the stadium with a massive glass roof supported by four columns.

The Soldier Field renovation plans can be viewed on a separate page

When was the preliminary concept for the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights project presented?

The Chicago Bears, however, remained committed to their Arlington Heights relocation plans. On September 6, 2022, shortly after the Soldier Field renovation plans were unveiled, a vision for the development of the Arlington International Racecourse site was presented.

The concept was preliminary and did not reveal many details about the stadium itself, focusing instead on the other facilities planned for the site. The plans were prepared by Hart Howerton, while the new stadium design was to be developed later by architects from Manica Architecture.

What did the Chicago Bears’ preliminary plans for the Arlington Heights project include?

The land purchased by the Chicago Bears included the Arlington International Racecourse and its surrounding areas, totaling 326 acres. In place of the racetrack, a large residential and entertainment complex was planned, while the stadium itself was to be built a bit further to the northwest.

Initially, not many details about the stadium were released, but it was known that the venue would be fully covered and have a capacity of 65,000–70,000 spectators.

What actions did the Chicago Bears take on the purchased Arlington Heights site?

In May 2023, the Bears began demolishing buildings on the site, including the grandstands at the racetrack. The work was completed in October 2023. The demolition aimed to prepare the land for future development, as well as to reduce the property tax the Bears would have to pay as owners.

When did the Bears start considering alternative locations for their new stadium?

By mid-2023, the Bears began signaling that the Arlington Heights option was not yet final. The team was dissatisfied with the property tax they would have to pay after building a new stadium, and negotiations on this matter were not producing satisfactory results.

Meanwhile, mayors from other suburbs (Aurora, Waukegan, Naperville, Richton Park) started reaching out to the team, offering support for building a new stadium on their land. The Bears began evaluating different possibilities.

By the end of 2023, reports emerged that one of the options under consideration was a site near Soldier Field, where a new stadium could be built. Early in 2024, additional reports confirmed this location as the team’s preferred choice.

When did the Chicago Bears present the concept for a new downtown Chicago stadium?

On April 24, 2024, the Bears unveiled a completely new stadium design, which, according to earlier reports, was planned to be built next to Soldier Field. The spectacular vision by Manica Architecture proposed a fully covered venue with a capacity of over 65,000 spectators.

The architectural concept for the new downtown Chicago stadium can be viewed on a separate page

When did the Chicago Bears ultimately decide to build the new stadium in Arlington Heights?

Despite presenting an impressive downtown stadium concept, the Bears continued to consider various options, including Arlington Heights, where the team had already purchased land for a potential project.

Ultimately, on September 8, 2025, Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren published an open letter to the team’s fans announcing Arlington Heights as the location for the new stadium.

Shortly afterwards, Manica Architecture presented the first renderings of the stadium in Arlington Heights. Interestingly, the design closely follows the concept previously planned next to Soldier Field in April 2024, with the main difference being its new location.

According to this vision, the new stadium will have a dynamic, oval shape and be fully covered. A large central section of the roof, made of transparent ETFE material, will be encircled by a giant “C” – the Bears’ recognizable logo.

Inside, the stands will be divided into multiple levels, with the stadium’s most distinctive feature being a large “window” facing downtown Chicago. The design is highly futuristic, yet it also includes references to the neoclassical architecture of the Museum Campus and the historic Soldier Field.