Brian Ernst/Sun-Times
The Bears’ sole focus for a new stadium is no longer Arlington Heights.
In the team’s latest change of heart in a years-long quest for a new home, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren sent a letter to season-ticket holders Wednesday evening saying the team will explore other locations for their planned new domed stadium.
In 2023, the Bears paid $197 million to buy the 326-acre former Arlington International Racetrack site, pitching a massive, $5 billion mixed-use development anchored by a 60,000-seat stadium. But the team has said it’s not financially feasible without legislation allowing them to negotiate a discounted property tax rate in Arlington Heights — and state lawmakers have shown zero willingness to throw any blocks on their path out of Soldier Field.