Chicago Bears Announce Bid for Arlington International Property

The Chicago Bears, known as the “Monsters of the Midway,” have revealed that they recently proposed to purchase Arlington International Racecourse property from Churchill Downs Inc. It appears that the Bears may have to come up with a new nickname going forward.

Rumors regarding the NFL’s Chicago Bears interest in purchasing the Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights, Illinois had been swirling since Louisville-based gaming company announced their plans to sell the 326-acre development back in February. On Thursday, team President and CEO Ted Phillips confirmed rumors via Twitter, stating that the Bears had put in a bid for the property. This means that the highly touted rookie QB Justin Fields could potentially play in his prime at a new stadium, should the Bears purchase the property. Last month, Fields was seen working out during an offseason minicamp at Halas Hall.

We have an obligation to thoroughly investigate every option available so that we can make the most informed decision for the sake of our organization and its long-term success. If chosen, taking this step affords us the opportunity to further evaluate the property and what possibilities it may bring. The Chicago Bears are the second party to reveal their desire to acquire the property. On Tuesday, the day of the deadline for submitting a bid, Roy Arnold, a former Arlington Park track president, released a public statement outlining his group’s vision for the preservation of the historic racetrack, as well as other possibilities for the surrounding land including the potential for gaming.

Property Could Still Host Gaming

If Churchill Downs accept the Chicago Bears bid, it won’t end the property’s chances of being a gaming site. Football would take over for horse racing, and the Bears could look into getting a sports betting license. This move would be legal due to the Expanded Gaming Law Put in place by the Illinois State Legislature two years ago. It permits the state’s largest pro teams with arenas seating more than 17,000 people to apply for a license and set up a sportsbook on or near their stadiums, even though they must pay $10 million for it. This was illustrated last year when DraftKings joined forces with the Cubs for a sportsbook that will be at or near Wrigley Field. In Washington DC, William Hill has opened a sportsbook in Capital One Arena. BetMGM recently released its mobile sports betting app in DC. They have plans to open a physical sportsbook later this year. The Arlington Heights Mayor greeted the Bears interest with open arms.

Arlington Heights Mayor Welcomes Bears Interest

In recent years, there has been a strained relationship between Churchill Downs officials and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association due to Churchill Downs’ decision to skip out on getting a racino license. This left people in the village of Arlington Heights, who have adopted the track as a part of their own town symbol, feeling anxious about the future of the area with the possibility of the track closing. However, the mayor of Arlington Heights, Tom Hayes, expressed his enthusiasm and open-mindedness towards the idea of the Chicago Bears taking up residency in the area. He said “We welcome the Chicago Bears’ interest in the Arlington Park site. It is a unique location and we are delighted that the Bears’ ownership team recognizes its massive potential.” Hayes further noted that the village will collaborate with Churchill Downs and their real estate specialist CBRE to analyze the proposals.

Hayed reported to Casino.org, via email, that local officials did not know how many bids the property had received, apart from the ones sent in by the Bears and Arnold. He additionally added that Arlington Heights’ main priority is to utilize the Arlington Park area “to its highest and best use”. Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot was not pleased with the bid, as she is a Bears fan and season ticket holder. She released a statement specifying that the Bears are in the middle of a 12-year lease to play in Soldier Field, while describing the Arlington bid as merely a “negotiation tactic” for talks between the two sides concerning renovations to the existing stadium. She also shared that she will do anything to keep the team in Chicago, rather than have them venture out to the suburbs. Lastly, she quipped that she wants the Bears to “focus on putting a winning team on the field, beating the Packers finally, and being relevant past October”.

All other distractions are unimportant.