Scholarship table
Ok guys, I don't live in the Chicago area, but it seems the Bears are moving to Arlington Heights where they will build a new stadium.Do you think it will happen? I know many New Yorkers were unhappy when the Jets and Giants moved out of the city to play in Jersey, but that was so long ago no one cares anymore.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jul/26/chicago-bears-solider-field-renovations-plans-dome-arlington-heights-nfl
Yes, it will happen. Still years away, but it is a no brainer for the organization. The lack of owning their own stadium has always handicapped the Bears organization revenue wise. Arlington Heights is their opportunity to solve this.On the fan side, Soldier Field is not a good place to watch a game. Outside a few voices, I doubt it will be all that missed. Also, most of the STHs live in the suburbs anyway.
Will the the stadium be mostly paid for by the Bears or will the state kick in some dough? I know NY state is kicking in in excess of a billion dollars to build a new stadium in Buffalo where as the Jets and Giants paid for 90% of 1.5 billion for Metlife stadium. The Jets ownership wanted a retractable roof but the Giants nixed that part of the the deal, so no roof which I thought was a dumb move.
YEP. I'm a big Bears fan, have been since I was a little kid. In the decade I lived in Chicago, I actually turned down Bears tickets more times than I went to an actual game. By a comfortable margin. Not a great place to watch a game and once you get to late October/November, its downright uncomfortable.
There are unicorns, such as Green Bay but it wasn’t that long ago, there were plenty of Sundays in the 80’e when tickets could be gotten for cheap or simply couldn’t be given away.
On the fan side, Soldier Field is not a good place to watch a game.
When I'm in my seat, watching the game and weather isn't a major factor, Soldier Field is on par with the other handful of NFL stadiums I've been to. It's everything else about the experience that's worse. Concessions are lacking, the concourses are narrow and bland, the bathroom lines are awful, getting in and out of the stadium is bad, and getting in and out of the parking lots is worse.
And that’s why the move is a no-brained for them IMO. The game day experience is more than just the game now or has to be
I'm no expert, but I actually like the stadium to watch a game. This is the first time I've heard complaints about the stadium for actual game experience. Everyone I've talked to thinks it rates very high. Now it is on the small side which helps. Most everyone agrees it looks terrible and game day access & parking are not good. Compared to Denver where I've had lower level, club level, upper level and even a suite for one year, I prefer Soldier Field for watching a game.I'd be cool with Arlington Heights and I think I'd really only miss the lakefront.
More than that, between hosting other events and developing the surrounding land, moving to Arlington Heights will pretty much allow the Bears to print money. Most people don't realize how big that Arlington Park property is. Th land needed for the stadium and parking will take up only about a quarter of the site.
More than that, between hosting other events and developing the surrounding land, moving to Arlington Heights will pretty much allow the Bears to print money. Most people don't realize how big that Arlington Park property is. The land needed for the stadium and parking will take up only about a quarter of the site.
In Milwaukee, if I were the Brewers, that’s what they need to start doing around AmFam
Agreed and there is talk about developing areas of the parking lots like that.
I know this is the NFL thread, but the Sox may end up in Arlington as well. A lot of Sox fans don’t realize it, but come 2031, they aren’t playing at 35th & Shields any longer.
I'd like to think this is true, but I have a hard time believing Reinsdorf is going to fund a stadium on his own and I can't imagine there's any chance the state legislature or Cook County coughs up money to move a team out of Chicago.
The “planned obsolescence” clause in the original naming rights deal (pushed out to 2029, option for 2030 when Guaranteed Rate took over) all but assured the Sox are playing elsewhere in 2031. The last 3 years of the deal, ISFA has a clause where they’re not on the hook for any improvements. Either Reinsdorf thought he’d be dead by 2026/2027, or he plans on selling in the next few years. I agree with everything you said, but there is a definite showdown coming between the Sox and the city/state in some capacity. There’s no way MLB will host the 2033 MLB All Star Game at an “outdated” Sox park.