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* Chicago Tribune…
In a move sure to lend further credence to the view that the Chicago Bears will build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Kevin Warren, the team’s president and CEO, in May paid $2.25 million for a five-bedroom, 8,725-square-foot shingle-style mansion in Lake Forest.
Um, I’m not saying that the Bears are staying at Soldier Field. I’m just saying that Lake Forest is also where the Bears’ Halas Hall headquarters is located. All Bears players and coaches spend more time in Lake Forest than at Soldier Field.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:01 am
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Now to discuss the Tribune’s reporting and what it means for the Bears stadium it’s Marc Ganis you’re listening to The Score.
Comment by DS Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:04 am
Don’t care if it’s public information or not, printing what someone paid for their private residence, simply for conjecture’s sake, is tacky as all get out.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:21 am
The funny thing is it could be spun the other way too. I’ve heard rumors that Arlington Heights could seek to have the Bears’ HQ moved from Lake Forest to the new stadium location:
“Kevin Warren’s purchase of a home in Lake Forest a sign of Bears maintaining status quo and staying in City”
Comment by Sox Fan Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:35 am
@2.25M for 5 BR, 8,725 sq ft shingles in Lake Forest. Either he got a great deal or property values in Lake Forest are not what they used to be.
Comment by DEE Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:40 am
Ah, yes, because proximity to a stadium that is still years away from completion is the only reason a well-paid executive might want to live in famously undesirable Lake Forest.
Comment by Benjamin Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:49 am
I don’t know Rich. I don’t think you’re thinking this through. He said it’s “shingle-style” and I think that’s the key to the reporting as we all know that has strong Arlington Heights connections for decades. /s
(even in my snark, I had a hard time typing the word reporting)
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 9:58 am
I also think it’s a sign they are going to bring back the IL-53 extension. Maybe re-open the closed Jake’s pizza too! (sarcasm intentional).
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:00 am
My favorite Bears clickbait would be anything that hints at possibly returning the team to Decatur.
Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:06 am
Sometimes a shingle-style mansion purchase is just a shingle-style mansion purchase.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:07 am
If you drew a straight line from Lake Forest to Long Grove you would find that over 80% of Bears players, coaches, and management have lived in that area over the last 40 years. Heck I’m old enough to remember Walter Payton running “the hill” in Arlington Heights years ago. I guess he was anticipating the move as well.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:09 am
A lesson I learned when I started working in state government: the more you know about a specific topic, the more you realize how incomplete or outright misleading a lot of reporting is.
I’ve worked for a few different agencies that rarely are in the news. But when they are, there are always fundamental flaws in the reporting. Once I started realizing that about my field, I realized it must be true about everything else being reported on as well.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:30 am
It really makes you wonder, are they really that dumb? Or do they just think I’m that dumb. Either way it’s insulting.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 10:31 am
The article should just have an image of the Office Space “Jump to Conclusions” mat.
Comment by TJ Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 11:13 am
The Chicago media is ridiculous. It’s all about how quickly a headline can get trending. Conjecture and opinion are reigning the day.
Comment by Frida's Boss Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 12:23 pm
Lake Forest about 20 miles from Arlington Hts. A traffic-choked 20 miles. Will the new stadium have a helipad?
Comment by George Ryan Reynolds Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 12:42 pm
How about a swap. Expand O’Hare to Arlington Heights and give Peotone the Bears stadium. Or better yet, Kankakee and name the stadium the “Ryan Family Memorial Stadium.” s/
Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 12:59 pm
This is not a Johnny Roastbeef move. No news here.
Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 1:51 pm
= possibly returning the team to Decatur. =
It’s the set of renderings we have not seen but deserve.
#BringStaleyHome
Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 2:17 pm
To the post: What I do not get about the Arlington Heights proposal is why do it all at once. The team cannot afford it. They are not going to get state money for it. They own the land, so why not piece it out like St. Louis did with current Busch Stadium? Why does the team need to build the hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. that will be on their land? Surely there is a revenue share possibility with an outsider developer.
Comment by Dirty Red Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 2:21 pm
Interesting logic by the Trib.
Have they considered that maybe he’s planning to build a stadium in Lake Forest so he can walk to games? /s
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 2:26 pm
Warren is getting old and is sick of the drive from downtown to Lake Forest.
What’s dumb is that he should have moved BEFORE construction on the Kennedy started, not just before it finished.
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 2:33 pm
=The team cannot afford it.=
The Bears are conservatively worth north of $6B. The NFL now allows private equity investments of up to 10%. And surely they could find a bank or two to fund their capital plans. Of course all of those parties would expect a return and collateral. The team is looking to the state and taxpayers for one very obvious reason. They’re greedy.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 2:47 pm
=It’s the set of renderings we have not seen but deserve.=
The corner of Hickory Point and Sawyer roads about a mile east of Forsyth (or about a quarter mile north of 72) would be an ideal spot for a new stadium. Very few homes or farms left in that area. Although Sawyer would have to be extended and widened over 72 to the intersection of Mound and Woodford, and a new I-72/Sawyer Road exit. Also upgrade Greenswich Road a mile east and give that a 72 exit too. Would help greatly with traffic on game days.
Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 3:12 pm
“And surely they could find a bank or two to fund their capital plans.”
NFL rules limit the amount of debt secured by the trademark of the team to $900 million. Yes, they can sell 10% of the team and generate some cash, but the percentage of stock controlled by George McCaskey is not clear. Virginia had a lot of heirs who have stock rights. George wants to maintain 51% control. Not sure if he can do that and realize enough in stock sale proceeds (net of taxes) to finance Halas Field and extended areas. They may need north of $4 billion. So, $3.1 billion after bank loans.
One thing’s for sure, George doesn’t have that much cash in his High Yield Savings Account.
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 3:25 pm
=One thing’s for sure, George doesn’t have that much cash in his High Yield Savings Account.=
And neither do the taxpayers. If the McCaskey families find their finances to be lacking, to the point they can’t compete with other NFL owners, they should pursue the most obvious remedy. Sell the team.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 11, 25 @ 4:37 pm