Bears move closer to leaving Soldier Field
The Chicago Bears took a major step toward moving out of their longtime home at Soldier Field — one of the most recognizable stadiums in the country — and into the suburbs by signing a purchase agreement for Arlington Park about 30 miles northwest of the city.
“We are excited to have executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Arlington Park property,” Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips said in a statement Wednesday. “Much work remains to be completed including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction.”
Churchill Downs Incorporated, which owns the property officially known as Arlington International Racecourse, announced that the sale price was $197.2 million.
At a press briefing, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she will “do what I can to keep (the Bears) here in the city of Chicago and I don’t think the door has closed by any means.”
But she said she first needs to hear from the team, saying Bears officials have declined to meet with her office, most recently as Tuesday when the team canceled a planned meeting with city officials.
“The bottom line is they’ve got to come to the table,” she said.
Lightfoot, who said the city is prepared to work out a deal that maximizes revenue for both the team and the city, also made clear that if the Bears do decide to move, the price tag of the land in Arlington Heights may not be the only thing the Bears pay for.
“I know they’ve got a contract with us that runs through 2033 and as I told (team chairman) George McCaskey, I’m not about breaking that contract, and if they want to get out of it early, they’re going to have to pay us for it.”
The Bears, who have played at the lakefront stadium since 1971 after moving from Wrigley Field, have raised the possibility of moving over the years. One big factor is that the stadium, which is owned by the Chicago Park District, holds fewer fans — 61,500 — than any other stadium in the NFL.
If the Bears do move, they would be able to develop more than 300 acres around the stadium with dining, shopping and entertainment — something other teams such as the Rams, Chargers and Raiders have done to add revenue.
■ BROWNS: Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback
Greg Newsome II will miss this week’s game at Minnesota with a calf injury.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday the 21-year-old starter is “week to week” but that he will not have to go on injured reserve, which would have meant he would miss at least three games.
A first-round draft pick from Northwestern, Newsome has looked comfortable in his first three games as a pro with the Browns. Stefanski isn’t sure when Newsome got hurt in Sunday’s win over Chicago. He played in the fourth quarter before leaving the game.
■ RAIDERS: Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been suspended for six games for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
McCoy is out for the season after hurting his knee in the season opener and can serve the suspension handed down Wednesday while he is out this season.
McCoy said in a statement that the positive test resulted from something he was prescribed to help deal with a previous injury. He called it an “honest mistake” that he takes full responsibility for.
The 33-year-old McCoy is a six-time Pro Bowler. He missed all of the 2020 season with a quadriceps injury in Dallas.