Lightfoot: Chicago will make 'compelling' case to keep Bears originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has not given up on convincing the Bears to stay in Chicago. The mayor appeared on 670TheScore on Friday to discuss the team potentially leaving Chicago for the suburbs, and acknowledged that if the city is to make a case for the Bears to keep their home at Soldier Field, they’ll have to make their case soon.
“Obviously, at some point later this year, they’re going to be locked into a contract which will make things more complicated. So I think we have a somewhat of a time deadline,” Lightfoot said on 670TheScore. “We don't know precisely when, but look, backing up from the Bears一and I've been very clear about this一 we need to re-envision how that space from Shedd to McCormick Place is utilized. When it comes to Soldier Field, it's no secret. I said we need to significantly enhance the fan experience.
“It takes too long to get there. It's too hard, and if you're on the west side of the stadium or in one of the end zones, frankly, it's a crappy fan experience. You know, it's a bunch of concrete, not enclosed. When the weather starts getting cold, it's not a pleasant experience, and I think whether the Bears stay or go一 and I hope they stay, and we're going to keep working on it一 we can do a lot more to enhance the quality of the fan experience and frankly, our assets and our revenue. I've been very clear, the deal that was struck 20-plus years ago doesn't work for the Bears, but it also doesn't work for the city. So we've got to rethink all of our options.”
Those are certainly things the Bears would want to hear if there was any scenario for them to stay in the city. But the question remains, if the Bears are holding out for a completely new stadium, who’s going to pay for it?
“I'm not in favor of the city spending a ton of dough on a brand new municipal stadium. I mean, there's plenty of opportunity across the city. If somebody wants to come in as a private investor and do that, I think working within the construct of Soldier Field, we can re-imagine it in a way that will maximize the revenues, whether it's the Bears or whether it's someone else who's utilizing this incredible iconic asset on our city’s lakefront.”
When pressed on whether a private investor has come forward to revitalize Soldier Field and the surrounding area, Lightfoot played it coy.
“We've got a lot of interest, and I'll just put it and leave it like that.”
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Bottom line, Lightfoot remained confident that the city could come up with a plan to make the Bears think twice about leaving for Arlington Heights.
“We've seen a couple of proposals that are very, very interesting that really kind of re-envision Soldier Field and re-envision the area around Soldier Field, keeping in mind the restrictions on the use of park land. But I think, you know, we can do this in a way that I think will be very economically enticing to the Bears. Again, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we've got plots and plans, and they will become public at some point. And then the Bears will have a decision to make.
“We persevere. We're going to continue to do everything we can to keep the Bears in Chicago, and working on some plans to present to them. I think we'll make a very, very compelling financial case as to why it makes a bunch of sense for them to stay in Chicago. You know, they're a tier one team in a tier one market, and tier one audience and fan base. And I don't think they can get that in Arlington Heights, but ultimately the decision will be theirs.”
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