(Arlington Heights) The Bears bought land on the outskirts of Chicago on Wednesday, as they see a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
The Bears bought the 300-acre property for $197.2 million.
The team, however, warned that the purchase does not mean plans for an indoor stadium will materialise. The new stadium would be part of an entertainment district.
“There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to determine if building a state-of-the-art indoor stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is feasible,” the Bears said in a statement.
The Bears currently play at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago.
Economic analysts predict that the creation of an entertainment district would create more than 48,000 jobs and generate $9.4 billion for the local economy.
“The Bears will continue to work closely with Arlington Heights, surrounding municipalities and their residents to solicit extensive feedback on how best we can engage Bears communities and fans across Illinois,” the statement said.
“This planning will include a strong diversity, equity and inclusion program that prioritizes local hiring at every stage of development. »