Bears file motion to begin demolishing Arlington Park racetrack

The Chicago Bears have submitted paperwork to begin demolishing the former Arlington International Racecourse in suburban Arlington Heights. The motion is a step forward in the team's plan to leave Soldier Field and construct a sprawling new stadium complex at the site. 

A representative for the team confirmed the Bears have filed an application which would grant them rights to redevelop the racetrack. The overhaul would include tearing down the location’s grandstand and other remaining structures.

The measure comes after the team purchased the property for nearly $200 million in February, and requested taxpayer funding in order to construct portions of the complex. With development plans including an adjacent entertainment district, the team has argued that the project will create thousands of jobs and generate billions for the local economy.

Despite the recent developments, it is unlikely that the campus will be finished in the near future. In February, Gov. J.B. r Pritzker expressed disapproval for the team’s tax proposal, stating that the redevelopment project is a private business matter. 

“I love the Bears,” said Pritzker, “but it is a private business, and I honestly do not think the public has an obligation to fund, in this major way, a private business.” The team will have to provide studies showing the impact of the complex on local economic activity, traffic flow, and other factors if any subsidies are to be approved.

As negotiations over the property continue, the Bears aim to focus on the proposed demolition. Recent valuations of the Arlington Heights location have increased the property tax value of the land by an additional $15 million. By beginning the tear-down process, the Bears hope to justify a lower tax valuation and reduce operational costs. 

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