Chicago Bears leaders met with reporters Tuesday at Halas Hall to debate the hiring of recent president and CEO Kevin Warren.
Among the subjects was the Bears’ continued pursuit of buying the previous Arlington Park property and doubtlessly constructing a brand new stadium on it.
Here are three issues we heard in regards to the potential stadium undertaking.
1. The Bears nonetheless intend to shut on the property within the first quarter of 2023.
Outgoing Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips has maintained that timetable for some time, and he reconfirmed it Tuesday.
Bears Chairman George McCaskey famous the scale of the 326-acre property makes the closing course of extra sophisticated. The Bears usually are not commenting on different tasks — reminiscent of proposed renovations to Soldier Field — as they work on closing on the property.
“The analogy I offer to people is if you’re closing on a piece of land or a house, it’s a quarter-acre lot, the title process is fairly straightforward. Usually it takes a couple of months,” McCaskey stated. “This web site is huge. And there’s lots to undergo, each by way of bodily due diligence, entitlement due diligence and monetary due diligence. That takes a very long time.
“We want to make sure we get it right. We want to be methodical about it. We don’t want any surprises along the way.”
Phillips famous a couple of occasions, nevertheless, that simply because the Bears purchase the property doesn’t imply they may construct a stadium on it.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” he stated, “and we need to get property tax certainty and we need to get infrastructure funding taken care of. Those are the heavy lifts.”
2. Warren’s expertise constructing a stadium in Minnesota wasn’t a prerequisite however a bonus to his hiring.
When he was the Minnesota Vikings chief working officer, Warren oversaw the development of U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016.
“That wasn’t something that we were specifically looking for. It was an asset that Kevin brought to the table,” McCaskey stated of a president search that included greater than 20 candidates. “We’re looking forward to his analysis of the site and the development opportunity in general.”
Phillips stated not solely will Warren’s expertise in Minnesota assist him, however so will his time residing within the Chicago space as Big Ten commissioner.
“The fact that he has been in the Chicago area for the last almost four years, he has made a lot of connections,” Phillips stated. “And you can feel his energy and passion just listening to him. I’m excited about him infusing that energy and passion into the club and into everything we do.”
Warren stated he and the Bears talked about formally beginning in his new position in April, however he expects to spend so much of time with Phillips over the subsequent couple of months getting on top of things.
Phillips, who has been spearheading the Arlington undertaking because the starting, stated he could have blended emotions as he arms it over.
“I will be cheering for the Bears on the field, off the field,” Phillips stated. “At the identical time, I do know I had a small half to play. But I do know that I’ve left numerous nice workers who’re going to hold the torch together with Kevin and hopefully make it occur.
“Whatever it is, whatever we do, I think the future of the Bears is in good hands.”
3. Warren stated as a ‘stadium nerd,’ he drove to the Arlington Park property to get a really feel for it.
Warren stated the house is without doubt one of the most exceptional facets of the property. The Bears have plans to construct an leisure complicated with the stadium ought to they develop the land.
“You don’t get many times to have over 300 acres close to the city,” Warren stated. “So there are some unique aspects. I know our focus will be making sure that we close on the land. We will be very methodical to make sure that we get that process done first and see what happens next. But it is a very attractive, unique stadium site.”
Warren stated there’s lots he wants to check earlier than he can reply many questions on the stadium undertaking, however he stated consideration to element within the planning course of is what would assist or not it’s as profitable as U.S. Bank Stadium.
If, after the Bears purchase the property, Warren is tasked with creating it, he stated he feels he can get the job finished as a result of he understands the query he must reply for a number of teams of individuals: “What’s the why?”
“One of the many things I learned in Minnesota is you have to create a compelling story of why it makes sense,” he stated. “I simply imagine at this time limit, the place we’re in our lifespan within the NFL of the Chicago Bears, that the time is correct.
“I’ll want to check the undertaking and perceive and lean on different folks, speak with Ted and other people within the group to give you what that why is. But these are issues that I really like. To have the ability to stroll the undertaking and speak with constituents and teams and give you why this is sensible.
“I’m confident with the intellectual talent in this state and in this city and all the people who love the Chicago Bears will be able to come together.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com