CHICAGO | The Bears are (most likely) moving out to Arlington Heights

[SnowFire]

Originally Posted by bhawk66

What? Maxed stats? What?

Snow what?

Back when football games just gave a stat rank for the whole team instead of each player. Some games had historical teams you could use/unlock. Since you rented games back then and they saved to the cartridge, you would usually get a fully unlocked save file. The 85 bears often showed up as a team to pick which had all its off/def/special/ect stats at the max possible value.

[bnk]

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/8/...eaving-chicago

Slow down, Chicago Bears? Johnson won’t be rushed into deal to keep team in the city: ‘We’ll get there’

Mayor Johnson has not yet offered an alternative stadium site to the Bears if the team is determined to leave Soldier Field. He says he’s using this time for relationship building.

By Fran Spielman Updated Aug 2, 2023, 7:32pm CDT

Mayor Brandon Johnson has met twice with Bears President Kevin Warren in an effort to build trust and rapport that hasn’t existed before between the Bears and City Hall.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Mayor Brandon Johnson said Wednesday he has not yet offered a specific Chicago site for building a new stadium for the Chicago Bears and won’t be rushed into offering an alternative to Soldier Field.

The Bears stalled stadium touchdown drive in Arlington Heights has cracked the door open for Johnson to keep the team in Chicago, but only if he’s willing to spend the enormous political capital it would take to move the team to the front of a long line of political priorities that include the immigrant crisis and delivering on his campaign promise to make $1 billion worth of “investments in people.”

...

[Randomguy34]

Look who's crawling back to downtown

Bears revive Chicago stadium hopes as season kicks off

As the Chicago Bears kick off the 2023 NFL season hosting the division-rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Sunday, their fans can be newly optimistic about the team’s future in the city.

In a letter to season ticket holders, Bears president Kevin Warren said the team has reengaged with the city of Chicago, reviving an idea once believed to be dead — a new, indoor stadium complex in downtown Chicago.

In his letter, Warren acknowledged that Arlington Heights and other municipalities were still under consideration — but the focus was pointedly on the idea of building a new stadium in the city itself.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/spor...s-season-kicks

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Look who's crawling back to downtown

Bears revive Chicago stadium hopes as season kicks off

.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/spor...s-season-kicks

Slow news day? We already know the Bears had discussions with the city weeks ago.

But nothing new was indicated in the letter that hasn’t already been reported on, and the same complications for both Arlington Heights and Chicago remain.

https://twitter.com/AdamHoge/status/...898957631?s=20

[twister244]

I meant to post these from last weekend, but forgot to. I was on the UP-NW route from family back into the city on Monday and snapped a couple photos of Arlington Park. Sorry for the quality as it was from a Metra train. Kinda sad to see this if the Bears don't ultimately build a stadium there.

[Klippenstein]

^ Yeah, as I’ve said before, they should’ve encouraged them to incorporate the grandstand into their development. And even if that wasn’t the case, not allowed its demolition until they were actually planning on breaking ground. I guess the one incentive they could’ve provided was lowering the taxes if they kept the grandstand in place.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

^ Yeah, as I’ve said before, they should’ve encouraged them to incorporate the grandstand into their development. And even if that wasn’t the case, not allowed its demolition until they were actually planning on breaking ground. I guess the one incentive they could’ve provided was lowering the taxes if they kept the grandstand in place.

This whole thing is getting convoluted fast. I still think that the Bears will end up in AH for several reasons.

Most importantly, if the county's tax assessment remains firm, I am guessing any subsequent attempts for the Bears to sell to another buyer would likely take a decent financial hit on the sale.

Also, I think an essential priority is to own their stadium and, ideally, diversify their revenue streams with an adjacent commercial/retail ownership licensing agreement. Without selling their AH land, would they be able to afford any city parcels where they could theoretically do that? Namely, longshot and complicated purchase agreements at the Sox site, UC lots, Lincoln Yards etc., that would likely involve new zoning agreements?

From where I see things, it seems that the AH is holding all the cards, and the Bears are scrambling to get even marginally better terms somehow.

[Klippenstein]

I was mainly addressing the demolition of the grandstand. I think it could’ve been repurposed.

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

This whole thing is getting convoluted fast. I still think that the Bears will end up in AH for several reasons.

Most importantly, if the county's tax assessment remains firm, I am guessing any subsequent attempts for the Bears to sell to another buyer would likely take a decent financial hit on the sale.

Also, I think an essential priority is to own their stadium and, ideally, diversify their revenue streams with an adjacent commercial/retail ownership licensing agreement. Without selling their AH land, would they be able to afford any city parcels where they could theoretically do that? Namely, longshot and complicated purchase agreements at the Sox site, UC lots, Lincoln Yards etc., that would likely involve new zoning agreements?

From where I see things, it seems that the AH is holding all the cards, and the Bears are scrambling to get even marginally better terms somehow.

Valid points. I have no data to show but I remember reading something like the Packers make 20% of revenues off property incomes and parking. I mean that’s huge up against tv revenues. And that’s before they built the entertainment district. It’s probably much higher now. Think about the experiences the Cubs provide on their periphery with the hotel, restaurant / bar leases, sportsbook and rooftop bleachers.

Regarding the grand stand, it so specific to horse race spectating there’s no chance it could be adapted. It’s a customized structure that would require increased maintenance and could never see its optimal utilization. From a preservation standpoint, energy and capital should be focused elsewhere. And it’s not like a soldier field situation where you could save the facades and outfit a new stadium inside. It’s just a competent design couldn’t be afforded 20 years ago

[Klippenstein]

I understand why they wouldn’t keep it, but it’s similar to Chicago. Quick to demolish instead of thinking about historic character and placemaking. They’ll be fine without it, but I think the extra cost in maintenance would bring enough value to be worth the effort.

[Rizzo]

Looking at preservation broadly though. Federal. State. Regional. Preservation dollars should be funneled toward saving historic buildings in our historic neighborhoods in the city and older suburbs. It’s shocking to see intact 19th century buildings demolished. Entire business districts and neighborhoods could be saved for the price of renovating the grand stand. Because…you know any private entity would insist on public historic preservation grants and I really doubt it’s qualifying structure due to its age

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

I understand why they wouldn’t keep it, but it’s similar to Chicago. Quick to demolish instead of thinking about historic character and placemaking. They’ll be fine without it, but I think the extra cost in maintenance would bring enough value to be worth the effort.

Unfortunately there's incentive for the owners to demolish. The more they can "unimprove" a property, the lower the tax assessment falls, which makes the local govt all the more willing to hand out a big fat TIF.