CHICAGO | Da Bears | Now these shitheads wanna drive their clown car over to Indiana?

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by 2PRUROCKS!

New render of the Chicago Bears stadium design for Arlington Heights on Manica's website. Looks like they took the design for the Lake front south of Soldier Field and plopped it down in AH.

https://manica.global/page/new-chicago-bears-stadium

I think that’s exactly what they did lol.

[ardecila]

Hmm - I don't love the changes to the site plan compared to the previous version. The lakes and lagoons previously separated the stadium from the neighborhood, I thought this was smart to help encourage residential growth. It keeps the drunk fans at arm's length and the lakes could serve as park space for new residents on non-game days. This is how SoFi works in LA (which everybody in the NFL is obsessed with), and seemed like real urban planning.

Now the lakes are between the stadium and the parking lots, so they just feel like the generic suburban retention ponds they are. And the stadium is much closer to the residential - I'm sure the McCaskeys have visions of sportsbars dancing in their heads for pre and post-game fun, but that's not a great basis for an actual neighborhood. Nobody lives ON Clark St in Wrigleyville.

I'm guessing they fired Hart Howerton (or demoted their original vision) and let the Manica sports guys make the urban planning decisions. Ugh.

[nomarandlee]

Perhaps it's just due to my own preference for the barn or warehouse style indoor NFL stadiums compared to the highly symmetrical, comparatively nondescript stadiums like Las Vegas (which I went to when Wisconsin played Arizona State in 2021).

This design does little for me. The (proposed) Browns, Vikings, and Lions asymmetrical setups are much more pleasing to the eye.

[southoftheloop]

If that's what they are planning, it is uninspired and just not special...

[Steely Dan]

The good news is that, with this thing being stuck way the fuck out in Arlington Heights, and my advanced age, it almost doesn't matter what it looks like because I'll likely only have to see it in person about 5 times before bidding my final farewell to this world, based upon an average lifespan.

This isn't like a lakefront stadium where the design would be critically important.

(I'm nearly 50, and have been to about 10 bears games in my life, for an average of roughly one game every 5 years. I'd like to go more often, but I'm a cheap-ass bastard.)

[Busy Bee]

Cheery LOL

[Danillo]

I wouldn't form too many opinions based on that rendering. I'd bet the stadium and site designs will change more than once before anything is built. Then again, I don't believe anything sports teams say publicly until something actually happens.

[MorganChi]

Originally Posted by Danillo

I wouldn't form too many opinions based on that rendering. I'd bet the stadium and site designs will change more than once before anything is built. Then again, I don't believe anything sports teams say publicly until something actually happens.

That’s what I actually believe as well, I really don’t believe the Bears will head to Arlington Heights. I just feel that that there is some type of leverage being used on Chicago.

[MorganChi]

Here y’all go


https://x.com/mikegarafolo/status/1973050527165423679?s=61

[nomarandlee]

Maybe catch ya in northwest Indiana Bears

New Bears stadium in Arlington Heights would generate billions, but could cost taxpayers $855M for infrastructure

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/3...ium-arlington-heights-economic-activity/

...Infrastructure such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metra train line would cost $855 million in public funds, the team’s consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HR&A Advisors, Inc....

The team’s consultant, HR&A Advisors, Inc., estimated the economic impact of the stadium’s construction to about $6.6 billion statewide, with 33,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs, as well as $220 million annually from stadium operations. The overall mixed-use project, which would take years to complete, would generate an estimated $11 billion in initial economic activity, plus more than $1 billion each year in economic impact, not counting the taxes generated, the consultant projected.....

“This isn’t a ‘study,’ it’s purchased propaganda,” Keenesaw State University Professor of Economics J.C. Bradbury said in an email to the Tribune. “It does not use established economic methods for analyzing economic outcomes, and thus its conclusions are not credible…This is a fantasy document.”....

...

[pilsenarch]

I'm guessing that most Chicagoans are like me and can't wait to bid the Bears good riddance... (BTW, I've lived within walking distance of Soldier Field for the last 30+ years).

It's telling that there's been no outcry from fans in the city about the move... can you all imagine the outcry if the Sox or the Cubs (!) moved to AH!?

[dreamy-developer]

I was just reading Chicago YIMBY's piece on the recent renderings and had questions lol.

The one thing that stood out to me ultimately was the capacity for this new stadium. I thought that one of the biggest points of this entire charades of a new stadium was to host a Super Bowl? But I just read that the proposal is 60,000 seats - "but would be expandable to around 70,000 which is the minimum required to host a Super Bowl"

Why build something that won't reap the benefit of such a large event and bet on expanding it in the future? I get cost is a huge reason why, I get they also would have an indoor stadium that could host other big events like they've said.

Just doesn't make much sense to make it 1k seats smaller than SF and expand it in the future, just do it now and rip the band-aid off.

[left of center]

Repeating mistakes of the past I guess. Just like how 25 years ago they didn't want a dome, and now they can't live without one.

Honestly, I believe its due to their cash poor position. They cannot afford the stadium as planned right now, let alone one with the capacity to host a Super Bowl. My guess with all this posturing and back and forth between the city and AH is to position the team for a sale, either in part or in full, to someone with deeper pockets. The McCaskey's simply do not have the money to build anything without state or outside investor help, even if the NFL puts up funds for half the build. This is why there has been so much talk and very little to show for it.

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

I'm guessing that most Chicagoans are like me and can't wait to bid the Bears good riddance... (BTW, I've lived within walking distance of Soldier Field for the last 30+ years).

You and me both, brother. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, guys.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by left of center

Repeating mistakes of the past I guess. Just like how 25 years ago they didn't want a dome, and now they can't live without one.

Honestly, I believe its due to their cash poor position. They cannot afford the stadium as planned right now, let alone one with the capacity to host a Super Bowl. My guess with all this posturing and back and forth between the city and AH is to position the team for a sale, either in part or in full, to someone with deeper pockets. The McCaskey's simply do not have the money to build anything without state or outside investor help, even if the NFL puts up funds for half the build. This is why there has been so much talk and very little to show for it.

You and me both, brother. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, guys.

They aren't the kind of high rollers who should be embarking on this. Chicago will end up with a lesser stadium development as a result. But if the plan is to sell, that should already be in the works. Can't see how anyone buying would want to be saddled with decisions of the prior owner.

[BrinChi]

^ Yeah I am flabbergasted by the stadium size. I think it was the same situation with the Lakefront proposal. Why even bother without increasing capacity by at least 20k? Otherwise they might as well as stick with SF and redo the field if they aren't happy with the surface. They could pursue the residential development of their AH site, make some money, invest it, and then build their dream stadium in 10-20 years.

[aaron38]

New Bears stadium in Arlington Heights would generate billions, but could cost taxpayers $855M for infrastructure

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/...omic-activity/

...Infrastructure such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metra train line would cost $855 million in public funds, the team’s consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HR&A Advisors, Inc....

This doesn't make any sense. Route 53 and all the interchanges are being rebuilt right now. There is no need to rebuild them again. Zero dollars.

Metra is 3 tracked past the site, no changes are possible within the right of way. Zero dollars.
So that leaves what, the Metra station building itself? $5 mil tops.

There, I just saved the taxpayers $850 million.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by aaron38

This doesn't make any sense. Route 53 and all the interchanges are being rebuilt right now. There is no need to rebuild them again. Zero dollars.

Metra is 3 tracked past the site, no changes are possible within the right of way. Zero dollars.
So that leaves what, the Metra station building itself? $5 mil tops.

There, I just saved the taxpayers $850 million.

Well the costs must be coming from some expected infrastructure... Otherwise they wouldn't be putting these numbers into articles.

Can anyone chime in where these costs are expected to come from?

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

Maybe catch ya in northwest Indiana Bears

...Infrastructure such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metra train line would cost $855 million in public funds, the team’s consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HR&A Advisors, Inc....

The team’s consultant, HR&A Advisors, Inc., estimated the economic impact of the stadium’s construction to about $6.6 billion statewide, with 33,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs, as well as $220 million annually from stadium operations. The overall mixed-use project, which would take years to complete, would generate an estimated $11 billion in initial economic activity, plus more than $1 billion each year in economic impact, not counting the taxes generated, the consultant projected.....

“This isn’t a ‘study,’ it’s purchased propaganda,” Keenesaw State University Professor of Economics J.C. Bradbury said in an email to the Tribune. “It does not use established economic methods for analyzing economic outcomes, and thus its conclusions are not credible…This is a fantasy document.”....
...

Don't let them get away with the spin. It needs to be repeated over and over that these things mostly just rob Peter to pay Paul. Most money spent here is money that would have been spent somewhere else - like at Soldier Field, for example.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by aaron38

This doesn't make any sense. Route 53 and all the interchanges are being rebuilt right now. There is no need to rebuild them again. Zero dollars.

Metra is 3 tracked past the site, no changes are possible within the right of way. Zero dollars.
So that leaves what, the Metra station building itself? $5 mil tops.

There, I just saved the taxpayers $850 million.

They probably want to create direct access into the site from the Northwest Highway exit - gotta build a flyover ramp over the Metra tracks.

For the Metra station, they are talking about a pedestrian underpass or overpass so that gameday crowds don't need to cross the tracks which could create a safety issue - Ravinia has something similar and the station at Meadowlands in NJ.

Personally I don't think they need to build a lot of new road infra for 9 home games a year - just hire a bunch of traffic aides at major intersections to make the existing roads work more efficiently at peak times, do access and parking restrictions in the surrounding neighborhoods, etc. The Metra thing could be a legitimate safety issue, but I don't know how many fans will actually ride the train. Soldier Field is also next to a Metra Electric station, and fans never use it.

[nomarandlee]

I speculate that $850 million is the amount allocated for 80-100% of the infrastructure for the entire site's street grid, including potential residential and commercial areas, as well as electric, gas, and water lines. That is the only way that number begins to make sense.

I'm totally unfamiliar with the percentage that is publicly subsidized for the streets and utilities of a private mixed-use development of this size. Anyone who does know, I'd love to hear what is typical practice.