
Developers Present New Chicago Bears Stadium Proposal
Clip: 3/17/2025 | 6m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
It's one more Hail Mary to keep the Bears in Chicago and ditch their suburban plans.
Farpoint Development released renderings of a new lakefront stadium, located at the former Michael Reese Hospital site.
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Developers Present New Chicago Bears Stadium Proposal
Clip: 3/17/2025 | 6m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Farpoint Development released renderings of a new lakefront stadium, located at the former Michael Reese Hospital site.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> One more Hail Mary attempt to keep the Chicago Bears in the city and to ditch their suburban plans.
Far point development Group has released renderings of new Lakefront Stadium located at the former Michael Reese hospital site in Bronzeville in an effort to convince the Bears to stay in the city of Chicago.
The team purchase the former Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights.
2 years ago for 197 million dollars.
But plans have yet to kick off.
Also in the mix, a new plan or a plan to build a new lakefront stadium just south of Soldier Field.
But that plan has stalled in Springfield over the proposed cost to taxpayers.
Joining us now is Marc Ganis, president and co-founder of Sports business consulting firm Sports Corp. Mark, Welcome back.
Thank you for joining us.
Thank you for having the brand So what were your thoughts on this most recent proposal from 4 point?
Well, I'd much of it before.
>> And so wasn't surprised at what they laid out.
The one piece of was quite surprised that was that point said that they have not had discussions with the Bears.
That actually is a very telling statement.
That means the bears and not really had great level of interest in that site.
And and that that is, I think, entail what results the term.
The Hail Mary past that they're trying to throw by putting this out there for the public and for the politicians after all, see and react to.
>> That's right.
Well, because it's been reported today that, of course, these plans have been in the works for some time, but far point had been keeping them close to the vest.
Obviously probably hoping to have that meeting.
But now they're taking their shot before they lose it.
You know, so it's something of a last-ditch.
Could this work?
>> Well, could it work?
Sure, but a lot of things have got to fall into place.
None of which appear to have happened so far.
One of the most important things that would need to have happened is for some political leadership, particularly with in Springfield who stepped up and said, hey, this now makes sense.
Let's see if this is the best way to keep the Bears within the city of Chicago.
That hasn't happened.
You've Kam Buckner making some comments said it's a good idea.
He represents the district.
But other than that, you haven't seen the politicians who control the purse strings.
Stay that this is something that should be should be looked at very carefully.
And that's really what was needed either the Bears or the politician, the political leadership or both needed to step up and say this is a good idea.
Let's take a look at it.
And so far we've heard crickets.
Well, and as you mentioned, a state Representative Kam Buckner, a whose district includes that site location.
He's come out in support of it.
We haven't heard much from anyone else.
>> But this proposal supposedly comes with a price tag of about 600 million dollars for taxpayers compared to something billion.
that number is still seen several different numbers estimated for the lakefront proposal would not that price tag difference make this more palatable to lawmakers.
>> You think that it would, but they don't forget that the price for the area south of Soldier Field also included paying off the bonds that the city has refinanced.
Alright, least once a more often since they were first issued for the for the renovations at Soldier Field.
And includes a lot of infrastructure improvements in parks and and things like that.
But the real the real key point here is if the Bears are interested in this site, if they're not interested in it, then, Frank, not going to be interested in it if they're not interested in City Hall star could be interested in that.
That's really who we need to hear from.
And if we don't hear from them, I think that's an answer as well.
>> And Bears.
President CEO Kevin Warren, he's previously said that the Michael Reese, it is too narrow for the teams and missions.
What do you think their main focus is or should be in figuring out their next location?
>> Well, they clearly made it clear that their preferred site is the south of Soldier Field location.
They had a big press conference ahead.
The mayor and board that a lot of people show up for the announcement and unfortunately among the people who work there were were some important people from Springfield and those people said this is not something they want to pursue.
That claim is not what they want to pursue.
Haven't heard that.
There's been a lot of progress since then on that site.
But we have heard that there's been a lot of progress in Arlington Heights since then.
Finally, the Arlington Heights, taxing authorities, political leadership got together and said, look, this is a once in a generation once maybe multi generational opportunity.
And so we better not blow it.
Just a question trying to, you know, feed at the trough, which is a time honored Illinois tradition, of course.
But just for us, we're all trying to feed at the trough here.
Let's see if we can work partners.
And that's what they seem to have found a way to do with the bears work together as partners rather than one trying to take advantage of the other.
And since then they've looked looks like it made a lot of progress.
>> And of course, there are, you know, there's going to be benefits and to moving to Arlington Heights.
What are some of those for the Bears?
>> Well, that the the first challenge, of course, is changing is any kind of change in location creates logistical change.
Certain people have to change their mindsets to where they are, where they're going to go.
Watch the games, what they're used to coming downtown.
But they're also used to it being very difficult to get to soldier Field.
It's a beautiful picture.
Postcard shot the the The old good you're Blake.
visual is just fantastic.
But that only goes so far.
Read the the reality is that Arlington Heights is an exceptional site.
It is get their season ticket holder spending.
But it did heat map of the region.
It's actually a pretty good location.
Full bear season ticket holders.
It's easy to get to highway access rail access and I and that's really important because she got of people be able to get to and leave the building pretty quickly, not just for bear's cage, but for all the other events that they'd like to work, that there's like to have take place in the new stadium.
It also has a lot of land, the land so that they can do other activities and events in and outside the stadium, the tailgating, of course, but also enough land so that there can be development rights that can be granted or sold off to help defray some of the costs associated with building and operating the Stadium.
>> Okay.
So obviously we're still watching this one.
We're going to have to leave it
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