Your suburb could possibly be dwelling to an expert soccer staff, making it the envy of all of your neighbors.
Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren is accepting purposes.
Act now earlier than this provide expires.
The Bears’ pursuit of a brand new state-of-the-art stadium to switch Soldier Field has gone off the rails since Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi referred to as an audible, considerably elevating the valuation of the Arlington Park property the McCaskey household bought for $197 million.
Naperville officers rapidly pounced on the fumble, holding two conferences with the Bears about the opportunity of shifting to their leafy suburb 40 minutes west of downtown Chicago. Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor then wrote Warren proposing a lakefront stadium there, and a Rockford politician chimed in to foyer for his city.
Everyone desires to be related to the Bears.
To nobody’s shock, the Bears, estimated by Forbes to be value $5.8 billion, look like utilizing the cities’ curiosity to assist leverage a greater deal for his or her stadium, a lot because the Chicago White Sox did within the Nineteen Eighties once they threatened to maneuver to St. Petersburg, Fla., earlier than shifting right into a taxpayer-funded park that wanted reworking a little bit greater than a decade later.
If Naperville and Waukegan can get the Bears’ consideration, why not everybody else?
It would solely value the worth of a stamp to ship a letter to Warren expressing curiosity in housing the Bears and their genteel followers, or two stamps in case you embrace a self-addressed envelope for Warren’s reply.
The publicity can be value it, and if each Chicago suburb have been to get into the act, we may have the best intrastate competitors for a brand new stadium in sports activities historical past.
Some cities make extra sense than others. Here are 20 we’d wish to see put of their bids.
Niles
The Bears would rapidly cross the Leaning Tower of Niles because the city’s hottest vacationer attraction. Proximity to Superdawg can be a plus.
Joliet
A blue-collar staff deserves a blue-collar city, and the previous jail from “The Blue Brothers” film shouldn’t be getting used.
Winnetka
Cheap Uber rides to the stadium for the McCaskeys from their North Shore abodes. Every greenback saved counts.
Berwyn
Nothing sounds fairly as lyrical because the Berwyn Bears. Svengoolie’s longtime endorsement of “Berrrrr-wyn?” makes a brand new stadium deal sound even sweeter.
Rosemont
We know a man there who is aware of a man there who may get it completed. That’s all we’re saying. Let’s simply maintain it at that.
Blue Island
A neighborhood referendum altering the city’s identify to “Black and Blue Island” may seal the deal. Fans would journey from distant parking heaps to the stadium by way of a scenic barge journey on the Little Calumet River.
Chicago Heights
Over by that place on Joe Orr Road. You know the one.
Kenosha
Why ought to the competitors be restricted to Illinois if a city in southern Wisconsin can provide a greater deal? Plenty of Bears followers dwell in and round Kenosha, and you need to like the concept of a Bears-Packers sport in Mars Cheese Castle Stadium.
Brookfield
Already has a cool zoo. Might as properly have a circus too.
Oak Park
The McCaskeys may have a area day tearing down Frank Lloyd Wright homes to suit a brand new stadium into the village. Also obtainable by “L.”
Lombard
Known because the Lilac Village and residential to the Lilac Time competition, this west suburban city would little doubt welcome a staff that smells as candy because the Bears.
Sugar Grove
Negotiating with the Saudis’ LIV Tour for a event cease was good follow for deal-making with Bears house owners.
Batavia
In conjunction with close by Fermilab, America’s particle physics and accelerator laboratory, the Bears may discover the solutions to 2 of life’s everlasting questions: How did the universe start? and Why can’t the Bears win one other Super Bowl?
Evanston
Already constructing a brand new stadium for the 1-11 Northwestern Wildcats? Congrats, Evanston. Add just a few thousand extra seats and one other stage of suites for the Bears and nobody will know the distinction. A skybridge to Mustard’s Last Stand may win over Evanstonians.
Thornton
A stadium set within the Thornton Quarry, identified within the south suburbs as “home of the Flintstones,” would make for a very distinctive fan expertise. Plenty of area for parking as properly. Bears followers would journey down treacherous, zigzagging gravel roads to get to the underground, open-air stadium. The drive again up after a Bears loss could possibly be extra fascinating than the video games.
Wilmette
Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts may clarify to Bears Chairman George McCaskey the way to get the very best property-tax reductions.
Bourbonnais
Bears beat writers are clamoring for a return to the positioning of the staff’s former coaching camp and its plethora of fast-food choices.
Downers Grove
The Bears have already got been a downer for a few years. Just make it official by constructing a retractable DownersDome.
Bridgeview
This village has loads of stadium-building expertise with SeatGeek Stadium, former dwelling of the Chicago Fire. That appeared to work out properly for everybody.
Manteno
Like my late grandfather at all times mentioned: “The McCaskeys belong in Manteno.” This transfer would make his dream come true.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com