Bears expanding search for new stadium site from Arlington Heights to wider Chicago area, NW Indiana

The Chicago Bears are expanding their search for new stadium sites from Arlington Heights to the broader Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana, team president Kevin Warren said in an open letter Wednesday.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

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Warren cited a lack of cooperation with Illinois lawmakers on completing the infrastructure surrounding plans for their stadium in Arlington Heights.

Warren said their plan to build a stadium in Arlington Heights would not require taxpayer money for the stadium itself.

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The Bears said in a letter to lawmakers in October that they would set aside $25 million for Chicago and the Chicago Park District as part of the move of their stadium to Arlington Heights.

The funds could be used for maintenance of Soldier Field, support of park district programs, payment of any Illinois Sports Facilities Authority bond payment shortfall or anything else, the letter states.

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SEE ALSO: Illinois, Arlington Heights leaders discuss construction funding for new Bears stadium

In October, state Rep. Kam Buckner called the offer not only “inadequate” but also “disrespectful.”

“It reflects a long trend of tone-deafness in this franchise when it comes to its relationship with the city that created it,” he said. “We’re talking about a franchise valued at almost $10 billion offering Chicago scraps.”