The Chicago Bears are inching closer to turning their long-discussed stadium dreams into reality - and all signs point to Arlington Heights as the future home turf.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker confirmed that negotiations are heating up between the state and the Bears, with meaningful progress being made behind the scenes. While Pritzker made it clear he’s not on board with using taxpayer dollars to directly fund stadium construction, he did leave the door open for public investment in infrastructure surrounding the proposed site. That could include roads, transit access, utilities - the kind of support that makes a stadium project viable without writing a blank check for the building itself.
“There’s a lot of discussion, a lot of ongoing conversation with the Bears, and indeed, frankly, progress that’s been made. So I’m pleased about that,” Pritzker said. “But I’m going to let the Bears talk about what it is that they want to get done and how they want to get it done.”
Translation: the state’s involved, the talks are serious, and while the Bears are holding their cards close to the vest, the wheels are clearly in motion.
Pritzker’s team, along with members of the state legislature, are actively engaged in negotiations. And this isn’t just a back-channel operation - it’s getting attention at the highest levels of the NFL.
According to the governor’s official January schedule, Pritzker had two separate 30-minute conversations with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Those calls came right around the time Goodell was in town for the Bears-Packers playoff game and took the opportunity to visit potential stadium sites.
That’s not nothing. When the commissioner is personally touring locations and dialing into talks with the governor, it’s a strong indicator that the league is invested in what happens next.
Meanwhile, there’s been chatter across state lines. Officials in Indiana have reportedly tried to entice the Bears with a stadium deal of their own, hoping to lure the franchise out of Illinois.
But based on everything we know, the Bears remain focused on staying put - just not at Soldier Field. Arlington Heights continues to be the frontrunner, and the franchise’s preference to remain in-state is holding strong.
This is a pivotal moment for the Bears - and for Chicago-area football fans. A move to Arlington Heights would mark a seismic shift in the team’s identity, geography, and game-day experience. But if the infrastructure deal comes together and the Bears get the green light, this could be the beginning of a bold new era for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.