The Joe Pomp Show The Chicago Bears new stadium could generate billions in revenue (before it even opens)
Sep 10, 2025
The Chicago Bears are shifting their stadium plans to Arlington Heights, abandoning the downtown site. This $2.5 billion project aims to be completely privately funded. The team anticipates making over $1 billion in revenue even before the stadium opens, driven by sales of personal seat licenses, luxury suites, and naming rights. The discussion highlights financial inconsistencies and the promising financial benefits of this modernized venue.
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Public Costs Hid The True Price
- The downtown Chicago stadium proposal hid large public costs like $1.5B for infrastructure and $900M for construction.
- Adjusting for debt and prior renovations pushed the true price toward nearly $7B, far higher than marketed.
Arlington Heights Land Purchase
- The Bears purchased 326 acres in Arlington Heights for $197M before the downtown announcement.
- After back-and-forth on property taxes, Arlington Heights lowered the land tax to about a third of prior requests, easing the deal.
Arlington Move Is Official And Strategic
- The Bears shifted officially to an indoor Arlington Heights stadium and claim no state construction money is needed.
- Ownership projects thousands of jobs and notes half of season-ticket holders live within 25 miles of the site.