Kevin Warren May Have Just Gotten A Breakthrough On Downtown Stadium

Kevin Warren was brought in to spearhead the Chicago Bears’ new stadium-building efforts. Since then, he has remained consistent in that pursuit. Everybody assumed it would end up being in Arlington Heights, where the franchise purchased a huge 326-acre plot from Churchill Downs. However, property tax negotiations stalled. In that interim, Warren decided to look elsewhere. That is how he reached an agreement with Mayor Brandon Johnson on a new massive downtown project on the museum campus south of Soldier Field. There was one problem.

Governor J.B. Pritzker and his state government have refused to offer any public funding for such an endeavor.

There has been no shift on that front despite repeated statements from Warren that he feels confident a breakthrough is imminent. It turns out he was right, just not quite in the way he specified. According to Fox 32 Chicago, House Speaker Chris Welch told them the state would consider public funding for the Michael Reese site if the Bears were to consider it.

Kevin Warren has his avenue to a deal if he’s willing to compromise.

Initially, the Michael Reese location was dismissed because of engineering and security issues, along with the site’s narrowness at 48.6 acres. However, consultants have assured the Bears the first two issues can be worked around. Even advocate groups like Friends Of The Parks have admitted they wouldn’t try to stop developing in that location. Michael Reese hasn’t been worked on in any capacity for 16 years. Many officials believe revamping is long overdue. A Chicago Bears stadium in that location represents the perfect opportunity.

Everything depends on how stubborn Kevin Warren is. If it’s about finding lakefront property, this is the opportunity he’s been waiting for. However, if he is dead set on the museum campus, it feels like he will be waiting a long time for any resolution.