Bears to Purchase Arlington Park. Could They be Leaving Downtown Chicago?

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The Athletic says the Chicago Bears have signed an agreement to purchase the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse property.

Arlington just held its final horse race after 94 years of operation last weekend.

This is a big step in moving the NFL team away from Soldier Field; the Bears said they had placed a bid on the property last June after alleging that the Chicago Park District refused to "engage in good faith discussions" about creating a sportsbook near Soldier Field.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office wrote in a statement "We are not surprised by this move. We remain committed to continuing the work to keep the team in Chicago and have advised the Bears that we remain open to discussions."

The Bears have a lease at Soldier Field until 2033 and could face an $84 million fine if the team breaks that lease before 2026.


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