Report: Bears, Arlington Heights begin stadium zoning talks originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Less than one month after reaching a deal on a purchase agreement to buy Arlington Park, the Bears have reportedly begun taking the next steps towards moving out of the city and into the suburbs. According to the Daily Herald, the Bears and Arlington Heights have started talks regarding local zoning and approval processes.
"I know they're going through their due diligence process and this is part of that due diligence一 understanding what they need to do to get approval from us in order to feel comfortable where they could close on the sale," said Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes via the Daily Herald.
To be clear, these are still preliminary steps in a possible deal. There is still a lot of work to be done before closing.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has made it clear she’s working to keep the Bears in the city.
The Bears first moved into Soldier Field in 1971. Before that they played at Wrigley Field. Soldier Field was last renovated in 2002.
The team has a lease to remain at Soldier Field until 2033. According to the Chicago Tribune, they can break that lease in 2026 with an $84 million penalty.
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