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

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by ardecila

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.

I would assume the train would get a fair amount of ridership from the center of the city, including those coming from further south. How would game-day trains operate? For instance, I would imagine extra trains would be needed at the completion of a game. But would they then need a location to idle?

[JK47]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

I would assume the train would get a fair amount of ridership from the center of the city, including those coming from further south. How would game-day trains operate? For instance, I would imagine extra trains would be needed at the completion of a game. But would they then need a location to idle?

That's heavily dependent on the Union Pacific since they own the tracks and run freight trains over them. I believe Metra has priority during rush hours weekdays but that likely doesn't apply on weekends and neither party really gets along with the other ... so negotiating for more space is likely going to be fraught.

[Steely Dan]

How much freight is still run over the UP-NW tracks?

Anyone have a good source to find out how much freight is run over various metra route tracks? I know some see virtually none, and some see a lot, but it would be interesting to see the actual numbers.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

How much freight is still run over the UP-NW tracks?

Anyone have a good source to find out how much freight is run over various metra route tracks? I know some see virtually none, and some see a lot, but it would be interesting to see the actual numbers.

I posted this map before. 1-3 freight trains per day on the outer portion of UP-NW until Deval (Des Plaines) and then 0 freight trains inside of Deval.

It doesn't really matter though because UP-NW is triple-tracked out to Palatine. Freight traffic would likely not be an obstacle to adding service.

Originally Posted by VKChaz

I would assume the train would get a fair amount of ridership from the center of the city, including those coming from further south. How would game-day trains operate? For instance, I would imagine extra trains would be needed at the completion of a game. But would they then need a location to idle?

Metra would have to come up with a service plan and then determine what new investments are needed to accommodate that, if any. Remember that UP-NW is triple-tracked and has the rolling stock and staging yards to run very high frequencies during rush hours including a mix of express and local trains; a Bears game or concert is basically like a mini rush hour on a Sunday (weeknight games would be more complicated).

Metra does offer Ravinia event service, but Ravinia's capacity is around 13000 people. The Bears stadium will be 5x that so that suggests a more robust service is needed. You can look at what Metra already does on Metra Electric, which is kind of ho-hum... that line runs hourly on Sundays, and Metra adds one extra inbound and one extra outbound train to bump it up to 30-minute headways before and after the game.

[2PRUROCKS!]

Some new details about the stadium proposal are in this article:
https://talksport.com/nfl/3604811/new-chicago-bears-stadium-arlington-heights-plans-update/

Including some information about how the AH design has been modified from the Lakefront proposal.

"According to Manica's president and owner, David Manica, the move to Arlington Heights allowed a redesign that will see visitors access the stadium from all different angles, which was an issue with the downtown location, adjacent to Soldier Field."

“When we changed sites, there was some redesign required, primarily having to do with access to the building and the site,” Manica said.

“The building is going to flow more smoothly and efficiently now, people will be able to get into the building now from different angles.”

Facing southeast, the new stadium will capture views of downtown Chicago in the distance, as well as the development in the foreground.

The 326-acre Arlington Heights site has also allowed for large glass windows on both the east and west sides of the building. Only one side had windows in the downtown plans.

According to a report from Sport Business Journal, the east window measures 235ft wide at the base, 200ft wide at the top, and has a height of 125ft. The west window is 240ft wide at base, 185ft wide at the top and 85ft tall.

“The biggest changes were really what happens outside the building now,” Manica added.

"We had a lot more breathing room and elbow room, so it’s more gracious in terms of the surroundings, the secure perimeter, VIP parking -- all those things we could incorporate into the project.”

What does the new Chicago Bears stadium look like inside?
New renderings of the proposed building confirm the shape of the seating bowl and its proximity to the field, as well as plans to include a unique concourse pedestrian bridge in one end zone, which is a nod to Chicago’s architecture.

Manica added that compared to Soldier Field, the level of comfort will be huge, with 'wider seats and more legroom, but also more concourse area, more toilets, and more circulation space'.

Similar to other stadiums the firm have designed in recent years, the Bears’ Arlington Park venue will feature an Ethylene-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene (ETFE) roof, which is a lightweight, durable, and highly transparent alternative to glass.

"It also allows controlled sunlight in," Manica explained.

"You can get a nice daylight atmosphere without having harsh shadows on the field, so it gives us a lot of light control.

“We specifically asked the Bears about that and that’s one thing they wanted to carry forward.”

[2PRUROCKS!]

More details in this article as well:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Ar...-stadiums-interaction-with-surroundings/

I'm not sure about seating capacity...I have heard 60K expandable up to 70K. I would be surprised if it is actually as low as 60K for normal Bears game as SF has taken flak for having only 61,500. I think the main idea is that the stadium proposal is designed to be flexible to have anywhere from 60K to 70K capacity depending on the event and demand. It will be built in to expand to 70K so there won't need to be any sort of renevation or anything like that to adjust between 60-70K.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by 2PRUROCKS!

Some new details about the stadium proposal are in this article:
https://talksport.com/nfl/3604811/new-chicago-bears-stadium-arlington-heights-plans-update/

Including some information about how the AH design has been modified from the Lakefront proposal.

"According to Manica's president and owner, David Manica, the move to Arlington Heights allowed a redesign that will see visitors access the stadium from all different angles, which was an issue with the downtown location, adjacent to Soldier Field."

“When we changed sites, there was some redesign required, primarily having to do with access to the building and the site,” Manica said.

“The building is going to flow more smoothly and efficiently now, people will be able to get into the building now from different angles.”

Facing southeast, the new stadium will capture views of downtown Chicago in the distance, as well as the development in the foreground.

The 326-acre Arlington Heights site has also allowed for large glass windows on both the east and west sides of the building. Only one side had windows in the downtown plans.

According to a report from Sport Business Journal, the east window measures 235ft wide at the base, 200ft wide at the top, and has a height of 125ft. The west window is 240ft wide at base, 185ft wide at the top and 85ft tall.

“The biggest changes were really what happens outside the building now,” Manica added.

"We had a lot more breathing room and elbow room, so it’s more gracious in terms of the surroundings, the secure perimeter, VIP parking -- all those things we could incorporate into the project.”

What does the new Chicago Bears stadium look like inside?
New renderings of the proposed building confirm the shape of the seating bowl and its proximity to the field, as well as plans to include a unique concourse pedestrian bridge in one end zone, which is a nod to Chicago’s architecture.

Manica added that compared to Soldier Field, the level of comfort will be huge, with 'wider seats and more legroom, but also more concourse area, more toilets, and more circulation space'.

Similar to other stadiums the firm have designed in recent years, the Bears’ Arlington Park venue will feature an Ethylene-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene (ETFE) roof, which is a lightweight, durable, and highly transparent alternative to glass.

"It also allows controlled sunlight in," Manica explained.

"You can get a nice daylight atmosphere without having harsh shadows on the field, so it gives us a lot of light control.

“We specifically asked the Bears about that and that’s one thing they wanted to carry forward.”

Why even have windows? Just remove them entirely and replace with jumbo LED screens. It’s not like windows will be looking out on anything..

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by 2PRUROCKS!

Some new details about the stadium proposal are in this article:
https://talksport.com/nfl/3604811/new-chicago-bears-stadium-arlington-heights-plans-update/

Facing southeast, the new stadium will capture views of downtown Chicago in the distance, as well as the development in the foreground.

I have a hard time believing that there will be much of a skyline view from inside the stadium. The site is very flat, the skyline does not stand very high above the horizon. Only from the top of the stadium would anything be visible above the trees and the buildings of downtown AH are in the way.

It's not going to look like this zoomed in view.
https://x.com/kevindoellman/status/1443209048183169031

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by aaron38

I have a hard time believing that there will be much of a skyline view from inside the stadium. The site is very flat, the skyline does not stand very high above the horizon. Only from the top of the stadium would anything be visible above the trees and the buildings of downtown AH are in the way.

It's not going to look like this zoomed in view.
https://x.com/kevindoellman/status/1443209048183169031

The skyline was quite visible from the upper levels of the old racetrack building (similar to the link you shared). But whether that view translates to the inside of a domed stadium is another question...

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by aaron38

I have a hard time believing that there will be much of a skyline view from inside the stadium. The site is very flat, the skyline does not stand very high above the horizon. Only from the top of the stadium would anything be visible above the trees and the buildings of downtown AH are in the way.

It's not going to look like this zoomed in view.
https://x.com/kevindoellman/status/1443209048183169031

True, but much of football season is in colder weather which usually has clearer air and towards the end of the season, the trees will have dropped the leaves. So there will be some views of it, at least from the upper seating levels, pending the final orientation of the seating bowl.

[sentinel]

The irony of leaving the city because the organization couldn’t get a tax handout, but still having views oriented towards downtown, even though they’ll be nowhere near the city anymore. Like what’s the point then? Why even call yourselves the “Chicago” Bears? What a fucking joke the McCaskeys are.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by sentinel

The irony of leaving the city because the organization couldn’t get a tax handout, but still having views oriented towards downtown, even though they’ll be nowhere near the city anymore. Like what’s the point then? Why even call yourselves the “Chicago” Bears? What a fucking joke the McCaskeys are.

Well, it does beat a vista opening up the other direction onto the 53 viaduct.


I will always wonder what the real reason is that they decided that the Reese site wasn't doable. I don't believe for a minute it is due to some Homeland Security regulations.

Is it out of spite? Did they just decide to pull a Lucas and want to build out of the city if they couldn't get their preferred plot? Was the asking price from the owner too much? Did they not feel they could get the tax "certainties" in the city that they could get out of AH? Did they warm up to the idea of taking a partnership or cut from the residential/commercial possibilities of the AH site? Likely a story will never be done on why they forgoed the site.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

Well, it does beat a vista opening up the other direction onto the 53 viaduct.


I will always wonder what the real reason is that they decided that the Reese site wasn't doable. I don't believe for a minute it is due to some Homeland Security regulations.

Is it out of spite? Did they just decide to pull a Lucas and want to build out of the city if they couldn't get their preferred plot? Was the asking price from the owner too much? Did they not feel they could get the tax "certainties" in the city that they could get out of AH? Did they warm up to the idea of taking a partnership or cut from the residential/commercial possibilities of the AH site? Likely a story will never be done on why they forgoed the site.

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

[Planeboy17]

I forget the number but the NFL requires a set number of seats in a stadium to be eligible for a Super Bowl so I’d be shocked if they don’t hit that number exactly but then again they might just be that cheap and have less seats.

[Jstange059]

Uhhh what?
Gary Bears I guess


“ Chicago Bears say they’re looking into building a new stadium in northwest Indiana”
https://trib.al/5t878C2

[Steely Dan]

Yes, all of their wealthy lake and dupage season ticket holders will just LOVE that Sunday morning drive.

This diseased organization is so full of shit.

Go pound sand (in the indiana dunes if you must), assholes.

[twister244]

I literally had to do a double take when I saw this headline pop up on my phone a bit ago......

This franchise is such a fucking joke...... They are so desperate now to suggest that threatening to move to Indiana will somehow cause Pritzker to cave. I really hope Pritzker holds his ground here and tells the Bears to fuck off.

These fuckers couldn't even maintain their momentum and lost to the Packers the other week - They deserve nothing until I see another Super Bowl win.

This is also coming from someone who has been a Bears fan all of my life - It's a fucking joke.

[twister244]

Btw - This is a super interesting read someone just sent to me - https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bears-1995-proposal-move-suburbs-gary-mayor-richard-m-daley/#

This isn't the first time they have threatened to go to Indiana. I wasn't paying attention in the early 2000s - So I have no idea what got the City/State to finally agree to the renovation. Was it an agreement that the Bears would eventually pay it off with fees over the course of the lease?

[ChicagoLVR]

And they assume Indiana is willing to pony up billions for it? F*ck it, move there then. Outside of f*cking over fans + Chicago + IL, they're also f*cking over their players. I seriously doubt their players, coaches or leadership live anywhere near Indiana. I'd understand proposing to move to Kenosha over this.

[sentinel]

The Bears organization/McCaskeys are drunk on perceived power and think they're gaining leverage because they've had a winning season so far. That's maybe somewhat true, but gotta keep going for more than one season to justify the substantial capital costs they're requesting taxpayers provide.