The Chicago Bears may have stumbled upon a new landing spot for a stadium project that would keep the team in Illinois without leaving the city limits.
David Kaplan opens this video by saying, “I have a thought on the Bears and all the stadium news,” in the wake of reports that dropped on Thursday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other state politicians. He also said he’s heard chatter about the viability of the White Sox stadium property as a possible future home for a Bears stadium site.
“I’m hearing there is some discussion about whether that is a viable piece of land to build a new Bears stadium,” Kaplan says.
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“So, I have a thought and all the stadium news that broke yesterday that Commissioner Roger Goodell and the top Illinois politicians in the legislature and the governor, Governor Pritzker, and Pat Ryan, minority owner of the Bears but one of the wealthiest men in Illinois, and they had a meeting about keeping the Bears in Illinois. Did not say it was going to be in Arlington Heights. They did not say on the lakefront. They simply said they were trying to keep the Bears in Illinois.
And I’m hearing that, as White Sox advance their discussions with future owner Justin Ishbia about building in the South Loop, that would leave the Rate Field area open. And while there’s all this talk and consternation about the Amtrak facility going in, what if I told you they put a football stadium where Rate Field is? I’m hearing there is some discussion about whether that is a viable piece of land to build a new Bears stadium. And they can build all the infrastructure they need around it.
So that’s my thought. Rate Field. I think it makes sense. And I’m hearing there is some, some discussion about it. Arlington Heights remains the Bears’ No. 1 priority, so I found it very curious.”
What a plot twist this would be. Not only would they pivot from a move to suburban Arlington Heights (where they paid $197 million for the Arlington Park property) or Indiana (where they’ve been exploring the viability of Hammond as a stadium site), but they’d turn around, stay in the city, and move to a plot of land that could give the team everything it wants and needs.
Sep 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view of Soldier Field before Week 3. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn ImagesBears Stadium Watch: What If They Built on the Sox Park Property?
The idea of the Bears moving onto the land currently home to Comiskey Park U.S. Cellular Field Guaranteed Rate Field Rate Field, has been one I’ve been kicking around since at least 2021. I didn’t get much positive feedback when I first shared that angle, but I’m curious to know whether people’s opinions have changed. Building a football stadium on the Sox Park footprint makes sense logistically. The Dan Ryan Expressway is right there for transportation, and there is plenty of space for parking lots and tailgating. Red Line, Green Line, and Metra stations are also nearby for those who prefer public transportation.
Maybe the Bears and the State of Illinois, which owns Rate Field through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, can reach a sweetheart deal. We’re probably a while from figuring out if that is a feasible site for the Bears. After all, the White Sox need to build their downtown stadium and move out first. Their lease with the ISFA is up after the 2029 season. Meanwhile, the Bears’ lease with Soldier Field runs through 2033, but they can pay to break the lease early.
This isn’t an out-of-pocket idea. Moreover, this could blend what the Bears want from Indiana (renting a state facility for pennies on the dollar) and from Illinois (an accessible property to build on, with the possible addition of all the bells and whistles that other modern stadium projects around the league have). It seems like a long shot now. And while no one seems in a rush to get this across the finish line, the newfound involvement of billionaire minority owner Pat Ryan (who has a history of building stadium projects around town) suggests business is picking up.
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