The village of Naperville is exploring a potential bid to host the Chicago Bears, challenging the team’s ongoing efforts to secure a new stadium location in the Chicago metropolitan area. Mayor Scott Wehrli confirmed in late 2024 that the municipality has engaged in preliminary discussions regarding the feasibility of hosting the NFL franchise, emphasizing the city’s readiness to discuss infrastructure and economic incentives if the team expresses formal interest.
Why Naperville is pursuing the Chicago Bears
Naperville officials view the potential relocation of the Chicago Bears as a significant economic opportunity. According to a statement from the Mayor’s office, the city’s pitch centers on its available land, robust tax base, and existing transportation infrastructure. Unlike the team’s current situation at Soldier Field—which is owned by the Chicago Park District—a move to a suburb like Naperville would allow the Bears to control their own stadium operations and revenue streams.
The interest from Naperville follows the team’s purchase of the former Arlington Park racecourse in Arlington Heights. However, that project has faced delays due to a protracted dispute over property tax assessments with local school districts. The uncertainty in Arlington Heights has prompted other municipalities to signal their availability as alternative sites for a multi-billion dollar stadium project.
How the Arlington Heights and Naperville options compare
The competition for the Bears’ future home has created a distinct contrast in development strategies between the interested suburbs:
| Feature | Arlington Heights | Naperville |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Property purchased in 2023 | Preliminary exploratory phase |
| Primary Hurdle | Property tax valuation dispute | Greenfield development requirements |
| Focus | Adaptive reuse of racetrack site | Potential site identification |
While Arlington Heights remains the primary focus of the team’s development arm, the Bears organization has publicly stated they are evaluating all options. According to team president Kevin Warren, the organization’s priority is to find a location that ensures the long-term financial viability of the franchise while providing a modern fan experience.
What happens to the Soldier Field lease?
The Chicago Bears are currently tied to Soldier Field through a lease that runs through 2033. Any move before that date would require the team to negotiate an early exit with the City of Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has consistently stated that keeping the team in Chicago is a priority, proposing significant renovations to the existing lakefront stadium to entice the team to stay.
Despite these proposals, the Bears have maintained that the constraints of the historic Soldier Field site—including its limited seating capacity and lack of a roof—make it difficult to compete with newer, state-of-the-art NFL venues. The team’s search for a site with sufficient acreage for a domed stadium and a surrounding entertainment district remains the central driver of their relocation efforts.
What is the next step for the franchise?
The Bears are expected to continue their due diligence on multiple sites throughout 2025. While Naperville has publicly expressed interest, the team has not entered into any binding agreements outside of their existing obligations in Chicago and their ownership of the Arlington Heights land. Any move to a new suburb would require extensive environmental impact studies, traffic mitigation plans, and a complex financing agreement involving public and private funds.