For the first time, the Chicago Bears confirmed on Tuesday that the stadium the team plans to build in Arlington Heights would have a dome – but the team also called for taxpayer funding for part of the project, noting that the plan has yet to be funded be provisional.
Illustrations of the proposed project released by the Bears and a statement that was the most detailed yet on their proposal to purchase Arlington International Racecourse. It said the stadium is a “best-in-class enclosed stadium that offers Chicagoland a new home worthy of hosting global events such as the Super Bowl, College Football Playoffs and Final Four.”
The 326-acre development would also include restaurants, office space, a hotel, fitness center, new parks and open space.
The team said construction of the proposed project would create an estimated 48,000 jobs, an economic impact of $9.4 billion for Chicagoland and an annual economic impact of $1.4 billion. The team would not use taxpayer money to build the stadium, but would seek public funding for the remainder of the project given the economic impact.
“We remain under contract to purchase the property but there are conditions that must be met in order to be able to complete,” the team wrote in the statement. “If we close the property, it doesn’t guarantee that we will develop it.”
Illustrations released Tuesday show a map indicating the stadium would be along Route 53 and the Metra commuter tracks. A mixed-use neighborhood would be located southeast of the stadium.
Two other figures show aerial photos of the complex, which would include several buildings in addition to the stadium.
The team has played at Soldier Field for half a century.
The Bears will hold a community meeting in Arlington Heights Thursday to discuss the plan.
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Gregory Pratt of the Chicago Tribune contributed.