Overview

• On a national broadcast, team president Kevin Warren stopped presenting Chicago as an option and framed Arlington Heights as the plan, with weekly working sessions under way with village leaders.
• Team executives tie construction to an October veto-session vote on legislation allowing a property-tax freeze and fee-in-lieu arrangements for large developments.
• Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders reject direct state subsidies, though standard infrastructure support such as road and water work remains possible.
• Lawmakers cite $525 million in outstanding Soldier Field debt and signal they want concessions that could include support for the lakefront campus, Chicago Public Schools or public transit.
• The Bears aim to start site work before the end of 2025 and exit Soldier Field by 2028–29, but key legislators say the issue is not yet a priority and local approvals in Arlington Heights would still be required.