Arlington Heights, the Chicago Bears, and the Great Tax Debate

The Chicago Bears maintain that their stadium focus remains on the museum campus in Chicago. But, there is always a but. A recent report from Mark Carman of CHGO has thrown more speculation on the Bears' future stadium intentions .

The Bears recently said many words about their desire to build a stadium on the lakefront. But the fact remains that they own a massive plot of land in Arlington Heights, and if the dollars line up right, then the suburbs could still be in play.

A part of me wants to write this off as negotiation tactics and word salad. But another part of me knows that there is a possibility that Arlington Heights and the School Districts that have held up negotiations could still play ball. Maybe this has all been for show as the Bears and Arlington Heights have played nice in the shadows. At this point, here is what we know:

• The Bears set their sights on building a new stadium.
• The Chicago Park District begins to plan for life on the lakefront without the Bears.
• They purchased a large plot of land in Arlington Heights and hired an architect .
• Loose plans were rendered for a large-scale development in Arlington Heights and presented to the public.
• The Bears requested that Arlington Heights and its school districts reduce the property tax bill on the land, but they did not budge .
• Other local municipalities made pitches to the Bears regarding a potential stadium project.
• The Bears ideally want to stay in the City .
• But really, they want to be on the lakefront .
• The Bears presented a loose structure on funding and plans for a new stadium on the lakefront in an even more public manner than before.
• Meanwhile, the Bears continue to work towards a property tax resolution with Arlington Heights and the school districts.

Ultimately, we are left in the same place we started. Maybe the Bears will play in the suburbs. Or, maybe they will remain on the lakefront. Heck, they might even find a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Waukegan . Until something more concrete is established, it is hard to lean in any particular direction. All we know is that everything is on the table, and ticket prices will continue to increase.

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