Last week, the Bears from the NFL unveiled a concept for the development of a site in the suburbs of Chicago. The area, which is currently home to a disused horse racing track, is to feature not only a new stadium, but also recreational and retail facilities as well as housing.

In September 2021, the Chicago team's officials reached an agreement to buy 326 acres (132 hectares) of land in Arlington Heights to relocate their home base there. On Tuesday, September 6, plans and the first renderings of the new complex that would be built in the suburb of the Windy City were shown. Two days later, a meeting was held with the local community to discuss the details of the project and its impact on residents.

© Hart Howerton / Chicago Bears

The most important part of it was, of course, the new stadium which would replace Soldier Field. The Bears have announced that it will be fully covered. Their president, Ted Philips, has said that the roof will not be retractable, however, as the cost of such a venture would be too high and would certainly not be worth it. Manica Architecture is responsible for the design of the arena. It is still being prepared and is scheduled to be unveiled in February 2023, around when the Super Bowl will take place.

In addition to the stadium itself, an entire, mixed-use district is to be built in Arlington Heights. It will include office space, flats, restaurants and hotels. In addition, the concept envisages the creation of parks, a pond with a marina and perhaps a performance venue to host events. The entire project could take more than 10 years to complete.

© Hart Howerton / Chicago Bears

The Bears have announced that they will not be seeking public funding for the construction of the stadium itself, but given the long-term benefits that will result from the project, the club is hoping to work with various government bodies. The objective is to provide the additional funding and assistance needed to support the remainder of the development.

Once completed, the Bears expect to create more than 9,750 long-term jobs with annual salaries in excess of $600 million. It is also projected to generate $16 million in tax revenue for Arlington Heights, in addition to property taxes, plus $9.8 million in taxes for Cook County and $51.3 million for the state of Illinois.

When asked about the future of their existing stadium, Ted Philips said: Right now we don't have a plan B. Our singular focus is on this property. Soldier Field is currently the oldest stadium in the NFL, having opened in 1924, and its capacity of 61,500 also makes it the smallest in the league. The lease is set to run until 2033, but the Bears can terminate it for $84 million from 2026.

© Hart Howerton / Chicago Bears

In July, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled proposals for a major renovation of Soldier Field. At the time, three directions were shown in which redevelopment of the facility could go (we covered this in more detail here). The investment, depending on the option chosen, is estimated to cost between $900 million and $2.2 billion. Club representatives at the presentation said: We are taking serious steps to evaluate the unique opportunity presented to us. The Bears remain committed to Soldier Field and will honour the terms of its lease.