Officials in Arlington Heights, Illinois, have given the green light for a formal evaluation of the Chicago Bears’ proposal to construct a $5 billion stadium within the municipality. This move was sanctioned by the Arlington Heights Board of Trustees on Monday, according to a report from the Daily Herald, a news partner of ABC7 Chicago.
Arlington Heights officials call it a “significant milestone” in their push for a new Chicago Bears stadium.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The team recently submitted the study that projects what the proposed stadium and surrounding campus would mean for the local economy.
It also looks at what infrastructure improvements would be needed to support it.
RELATED: Arlington Heights mayor-elect Jim Tinaglia speaks on possible Bears stadium
This is considered a key step in the process to move the team to the northwest suburb.
The move to the suburbs was stalled with the Bears amid a property tax dispute between the team and three local school districts.
The Chicago Bears have held possession of a 326-acre plot in the area for over a year. Initially, they revealed blueprints for a stadium and leisure facility at this location. However, their focus shifted towards establishing a new stadium in downtown Chicago.
While a new downtown stadium has a lot of supporters, no one has yet figured out how to pay for the extensive infrastructure improvements needed.
A bill designed to lure the Chicago Bears to northwest Indiana was heading to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk last week, as well.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
