CHICAGO — The Bears are shifting their focus to remain in the City of Chicago with plans to build a new stadium south of Soldier Field, a source familiar with the team's plan told ESPN.
The news comes nearly 13 months after the Bears closed on the 326-acre property that formerly housed Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The team signed an agreement in 2021 to purchase the property for $197.2 million but has not begun developing the site that was expected to feature a multibillion-dollar stadium project and include restaurants, retail space and real estate.
The Bears are planning to invest more than $2 billion in private money into a publicly owned domed stadium and park space that would feature year-round community amenities, a source said.