Should the Chicago Bears still move to Arlington Heights despite rumors?

Now that the Chicago Bears have locked in their new president and CEO, the team will be moving on with their plan to relocate their home stadium to Arlington Heights by building a state-of-the-art venue along with a new entertainment and shopping district in the nearby northwest suburb of Chicago. Or at least we thought. Now, reports are that Arlington Heights is not as big of a lock as we once thought and the Chicago Bears are looking at other options, including Naperville.

Rumors aside, let me be plain and simple with you: I hate Soldier Field. From the overcrowded concourses and lengthy concession lines to the disorganized entrances to the stadium, it has become one of the most hated stadiums across the NFL.

It was built in 1924 and was the home of the Bears for the majority of the time since then when the Bears also called Wrigley Field (the current home ballpark for the Chicago Cubs). But in 2002, Soldier Field went through a spaceship-like renovation, modernizing the field but, since then, it almost seems like those recent renovations didn't do the Bears and the city of Chicago any favors. Oh, and let me add that Soldier Field is the smallest stadium in the NFL capacity-wise, with just over 60,000 seats.

As a Bears fan who resides in the North Side of Chicago, my usual routine to get to the game includes a 25-minute train ride on the CTA Red Line, followed by a 20-minute walk to Soldier Field from the station. I don't use a car, and luckily for me, the parking situation around the stadium can also be a zoo and difficult to navigate.

If the Chicago Bears make their move to Arlington Heights, my transportation will look different. I will rely on Chicagoland's Metra trains, a transport system that connects suburban areas around Chicago with downtown and other popular areas in the city.

Considering that Arlington Heights is a distant suburb, transportation on the Metra could take anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour, depending on where you live in the city, and this can be a hassle. Add the fact that lots of other eager Bears fans will be using the Metra, and this could be a dreadful travel experience due to the crowdedness of the train and the possibility of no seats being available for the long train ride.

Overall, is the Chicago Bears planned move to Arlington Heights a good thing? My answer is an easy yes. Regardless of a difficult commute to the venue by most fans, the new Bears stadium and surrounding neighborhood will make for a world-renowned district that will surely have the opportunity to host lots of marquee events, which could include the NCAA's Final Four, the College Football Championship, more concerts, and heck, maybe even a Super Bowl.

NOTE: in order to make room for the new stadium and district, the Chicago Bears are actively demolishing the Arlington Park racecourse, a horse racing venue that seated up to 35,000 spectators.