CHICAGO | General Developments

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Not until we see something serious to indicate this is more than a negotiating tactic. Renderings, financing discussions for Arlington Heights etc. Chances are pretty good that this just ends with a low 9-figure renovation to Soldier Field.

i pray you're right.

but i'm ready to torch my jersey at a moment's notice.

[ardecila]

If the Bears were a wealthier team I would try to get a deal for a domed stadium at Armour Square just north of Sox Park. Those stadiums are roughly 800' squares, so there is room if you can relocate the park.

This would be similar to the land swap that the Yankees did in the Bronx where they switched places with Macombs Dam Park... the community actually ended up with more parkland than they had before. Normally you'd think parkland would be off-limits for a stadium but if it could get done in NYC's crazy politics I'm sure there's a way in Chicago. The lakefront is a different story, which is part of the problem with Soldier Field now.

[nomarandlee]

I've always wondered why, other than loads of money of course, the Bears and City would not try to work out something just south of 55/LSD as a southward extension of McCmorkc place. There is a McDonalds, Storage Locker, and Advocate clinic there but I would think there would be space if one could build over the truck yards/IC tracks. As part of the deal, there could be a pedestrian bridge over LSD.
Maybe the Bears would have a complex similar to Lucas that being literally west of LSD may as well be 20miles inland from the lake.

If the Bears move I would be excited about what could hopefully eventually be done. Hope the Fire/MLS would throw in some millions to tear down the west grandstand, explore the western colonnades once again, tear down the 200 levels in the North End in order to have a clear vista to the Field Museum. It would be the nicest MLS stadium I would think, even if it was effectively reduced to 30k.

And while I think the AH idea has some merit at the end of the day I think the Bears will decide it is too far away from their Chicago fans along with their Northbrook/Naperville/Orland Park etc fans not located near the NW suburbs. It is being advertised as a great location but other than the Metra Line it is not all that it is being cracked up to be. I would argue that Soldier Fields is far better for the majority of the Metro's fan base. Plus, the Bears are not going to get any kind of regular SB rotation if located in AH. Maybe, they still wouldn't get more than one if located near downtown Chicago but the chances are way higher to see more than one SB if you built a state-of-the-art, enclosed stadium, near downtown.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

If the Bears move I would be excited about what could hopefully eventually be done. Hope the Fire/MLS would throw in some millions to tear down the east grandstand, explore the eastern colonnades once again, tear down the 200 levels in the North End in order to have a clear vista to the Field Museum. It would be the nicest MLS stadium I would think, even if it was effectively reduced to 30k.

A person can dream. Personally, I'd love to see the western toilet bowl grandstand get chopped down or eliminated.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

A person can dream. Personally, I'd love to see the western toilet bowl grandstand get chopped down or eliminated.

Doh, that is exactly what I meant. I actually kind of like the contrast and sweep of the glass suites on the east side.

[west-town-brad]

There really is no realistic way to realize the full potential economic value of the Bears franchise at the Soldier Field Location.

I don't think Arlington Heights helps that much in the long run but maybe it does.

Regardless the Bears need a stadium that they own and control - hopefully that ends up within the city limits of Chicago.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

Regardless the Bears need a stadium that they own and control - hopefully that ends up within the city limits of Chicago.

SouthWorks?

[Chi-Sky21]

Southworks is kinda far out of the way. I really do not see the Bears moving. Anyone really believe the Mccaskeys are going to fund a new stadium on their own? No way they pay the 60+ million to buy out the lease, 5 to 600 million AT LEAST (newest stadium was over 1 BILLION!) to build a stadium not to mention the land cost whatever that is. The state sure is not going to pony up that kind of money. And unfortunately I really do not think there are a ton of great upgrades you can do to the current stadium very easily. It will be interesting to see. They would at the very least have to sell part ownership of the team.

[Busy Bee]

Like mentioned before, a lakefront stadium at South Works would look awesome, but wouldn't necessarily be ideal for a number of reasons nor meet the Bears other goals or requirements, largest of which is their need for year round revenue from a stadium being part of a multi-use campus. South Works has wonderful potential, but I'm not sure its isolated location, geographically surrounded by economically struggling neighborhoods is at all the kind of site that would be desirable for sports, entertainment, convention, amusement or retail activity.

It's for this reason that I've mentioned the concept of a stadium anchored mega-development being near O'Hare, specifically at a completely redeveloped area adjacent to the Cumberland Blue Line bounded by the Kennedy, Cumberland, Higgins and River Rd. With a little imagination you could see how the ramp cloverleaves of the interchange could be capped with parking to fulfill the tailgate culture aspect of football with maybe a short gondola to other lot areas or even a gondola over the forest preserve to Rosemont. The entire thing could be an integrated mega-development and do wonders to fix the suburban mess that is currently haphazardly developed in the area.

Another potential site would be Rosemont itself, with transit connections from both Blue and Metra North Central Service. This would require huge multi-partner cooperation to dramatically redevelop much of the nonsense north of Balmoral built in the last 30 years. But just imagine the potential if this area could be radically changed to be a more urban mixed use attraction anchored by a new stadium, convention, retail, entertainment, hospitality, etc.

[Kngkyle]

Seems to me there could be some arrangement with the OneCentral developers (who actually have experience with stadiums) and the Bears to create the kind of entertainment district they're looking for. Decking over LSD in that area would be difficult but not impossible. The city could even throw in a free casino license.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Chi-Sky21

Southworks is kinda far out of the way. I really do not see the Bears moving. Anyone really believe the Mccaskeys are going to fund a new stadium on their own? No way they pay the 60+ million to buy out the lease, 5 to 600 million AT LEAST (newest stadium was over 1 BILLION!) to build a stadium not to mention the land cost whatever that is. The state sure is not going to pony up that kind of money. And unfortunately I really do not think there are a ton of great upgrades you can do to the current stadium very easily. It will be interesting to see. They would at the very least have to sell part ownership of the team.

i dont know what they think it is theyre negotiating tho. the citys not gonna do another soldier field rebuild this soon, and it dosent have the funds to do so anyway.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

i dont know what they think it is theyre negotiating tho. the citys not gonna do another soldier field rebuild this soon, and it dosent have the funds to do so anyway.

I was confused about this too but Crain's provided a good summary of some things the Bears might ask for.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/comm...-soldier-field

This is paywalled, so basically:
-naming rights to the stadium
-signage and sponsorship rights within the stadium
-more parking
-non-seating stadium expansion for visitor center, full service bar/restaurant, hall of fame

Of course, the Bears can't really build a "stadium village" like Titletown in Green Bay or Patriot Place in Foxboro. That one would be controversial, at least if it's east of LSD... Friends of the Parking Lot would come out in full force. (In this case they're probably justified.)

Wearing my tinfoil hat I wonder if the timing on this isn't a coincidence as Landmark Development looks to build One Central right across the street. One Central is exactly the kind of stadium village that other NFL teams have or want to build, although in a denser, more urban format. Having the Bears threaten to leave the city could provide a LOT of leverage to Landmark, if they can somehow link up with each other. As far as I know, there is no formal business connection between the Bears and Landmark but they must have had some discussions with each other....

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Wearing my tinfoil hat I wonder if the timing on this isn't a coincidence as Landmark Development looks to build One Central right across the street. One Central is exactly the kind of stadium village that other NFL teams have or want to build, although in a denser, more urban format. Having the Bears threaten to leave the city could provide a LOT of leverage to Landmark, if they can somehow link up with each other. As far as I know, there is no formal business connection between the Bears and Landmark but they must have had some discussions with each other....

This thought has crossed my mind too. Check out Landmark's website, it's full of mixed-use complexes with stadium tie-ins.

[marothisu]

There is a new zoning app in to tear down the former DePaul College Prep HS at California & Addison and build:

1) New 6 story, 69'4" tall building with 269 units, and 3000 sq ft of commercial space.

2) 88 new townhouse dwelling units - 44 feet tall.

Total of 391 parking spots all together. The 6 story structure will go along California and Addison. The townhomes will stretch all the way up to California Park, just north of Grace St. This is along the Chicago River as well. Nice boost in density there and also nice potential boost in height in this intersection for the better. The developer is Lexington Homes.


Street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9466...7i16384!8i8192

https://chicago.legistar.com/Legisla...vanced&Search=

[brian_b]

My opinion, which is sure to be unwanted, is that the city should let the Bears go. Arlington Park is a good location for football, wish them well and be done with it.

Football is going to start a slow decline in 20 years or less; you know there is trouble when high schools in Texas can’t even field 11 man teams. The Supreme Court this morning basically begged a high profile soccer play to file an antitrust suit against the MLS, and when that succeeds and the teams can pay players international money, you’ll see the popularity increase even more. The city can remove the tailgating parking lot that the Bears require and reconfigure Soldier Field to be soccer-first.

It’s just the right thing to do.

[Chi-Sky21]

You will always have plenty of gladiators willing to sacrifice their bodies for football. There may be less of a pool to pull from but most of the people not starting are not the players that were going to make it to the pros anyway. Lacrosse is seeing a huge increase in participation though which is good. It is a great sport.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by brian_b

My opinion, which is sure to be unwanted, is that the city should let the Bears go. Arlington Park is a good location for football, wish them well and be done with it.

Football is going to start a slow decline in 20 years or less; you know there is trouble when high schools in Texas can’t even field 11 man teams. The Supreme Court this morning basically begged a high profile soccer play to file an antitrust suit against the MLS, and when that succeeds and the teams can pay players international money, you’ll see the popularity increase even more. The city can remove the tailgating parking lot that the Bears require and reconfigure Soldier Field to be soccer-first.

It’s just the right thing to do.

I don’t think letting one of the most valuable sports teams in history go without a fight is a smart play for the city.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

I don’t think letting one of the most valuable sports teams in history go without a fight is a smart play for the city.

Yeah, NFL franchises bring in huge amounts of revenue; anyhow, this is a moot point because the Bears are NOT leaving Chicago

[harryc]

Originally Posted by marothisu

There is a new zoning app in to tear down the former DePaul College Prep HS at California & Addison and build:

1) New 6 story, 69'4" tall building with 269 units, and 3000 sq ft of commercial space.

2) 88 new townhouse dwelling units - 44 feet tall.

Total of 391 parking spots all together. The 6 story structure will go along California and Addison. The townhomes will stretch all the way up to California Park, just north of Grace St. This is along the Chicago River as well. Nice boost in density there and also nice potential boost in height in this intersection for the better. The developer is Lexington Homes.


Street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9466...7i16384!8i8192

https://chicago.legistar.com/Legisla...vanced&Search=

Is the flavor place across the street still in business ? the nights they made banana - couldn't drive past fast enough.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

I don’t think letting one of the most valuable sports teams in history go without a fight is a smart play for the city.

maybe one of the most valuable sports teams in history can pony up for the "oh so necessary or we're totally going to go bankrupt" improvements they "need" and not rely on taxpayers to fund a stadium they already rebuilt once for them