The Chicago Bears had recent meetings with Chicago’s Corporation Counsel regarding the terms for a new lakefront stadium, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Office said.
However, the NFL team put out a statement Thursday afternoon, saying “The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal. There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
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Mayor Johnson has been pushing for the Bears to consider staying in Chicago, clashing with Governor JB Pritzker, who favors helping the Bears move to Arlington Heights rather than losing them to Hammond, Indiana.
The Bears issued a statement in response to the mayor’s office saying, “Any meetings between the City of Chicago and the Chicago Bears were limited to counsel-to-counsel engagement. There were no conversations with team management. Such exchanges are subject to heightened confidentiality and routinely encompass a wide range of matters related to the Chicago Bears’ tenancy at Soldier Field.
“Consistent with longstanding practice, these discussions covered a variety of topics and will remain confidential. No substantive changes resulted. There are only two sites under consideration, Arlington Heights and Hammond.”
This comes as Illinois’ megaprojects bill, which could pave the way for an Arlington Heights stadium, is still in limbo.
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Lawmakers in Springfield have just a week left to pass it.