Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren confirms new stadium
By Peter Jurich
On Tuesday, newly hired Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren took to the stand in Halas Hall for his introductory press conference, and amongst many topics that were discussed, the prospect of a new stadium was front and center in the discussion.
How his history with the Vikings will help Kevin Warren build a new stadium for the Chicago Bears
Warren, who helped the Minnesota Vikings build a new stadium as COO in 2016, expressed the desire and plan for a new stadium for the Chicago Bears, and it seems increasingly likely that this venue will be built in Arlington Heights.
In his opening statement, Warren stated that one of his main goals and responsibilities is to help “shepherd a stadium development project” for the Bears. Later comparing the situation to his work with the Vikings, Warren continued, saying that “when we finished [U.S. Bank] stadium, the biggest thing I learned was to plan before you start building”. Obviously, there is much work to be done between the Chicago Bears, the city, and sponsorship partners to lay the groundwork for a new stadium, but Warren confirmed that in due time, the process will kick off.
Warren, who hammered home the importance of being detail-oriented multiple times throughout his press conference, repeatedly talked about the need to be “methodical and detailed”, as the team will examine every option for a new stadium, and the space in which it will reside.
When asked specifically about Arlington Heights as a potential suitor, Warren stated that not only has he driven up to the suburb by himself, but that the spot is a desirable location for an NFL stadium. Most importantly, Warren emphasized the unique space for the venue, as the 300-acre land that has been purchased is one of the biggest open spaces for a metropolitan NFL team. Warren, who called Arlington Heights a “very attractive, unique site” for a new stadium, seems very determined to supply the Chicago Bears and their fans with a top-of-the-line stadium that rivals even what he was able to accomplish with the Vikings in U.S. Bank stadium.
Warren also talked about going to his first Bears game as a fan in almost 30 seasons, as he attended the Bears vs Eagles game earlier this season at Soldier Field. Seeing the passion and history of the fanbase, it appears that Warren not only wants to bring this same energy to Arlington Heights but hopes to emphasize and magnify it as his tenure as President and CEO gets underway.
Kevin Warren emphasized the fact that he won’t officially be in action as the President/CEO until sometime in April. However, some of the conversations and planning have already apparently started, as he stated that the “stadium in Arlington Heights is a sole focus of the organization… 100%”. This is reassuring, to say the least, but there is still a lot of time between now and when the Chicago Bears would be moving out of Soldier Field.