Radio host Dan Proft | Provided by Dan Proft
Radio host Dan Proft | Provided by Dan Proft
The Chicago Bears are moving to Arlington Heights after a storied run at Soldier Field where they have been playing since 1971.
“When the private business does something that we don’t like, then we’re going to make sure that we make it as difficult as possible,” said Dan Proft, radio host of Chicago’s Morning Answer. He further said, "And this is not a statement in support of subsidies for sports teams because I’m opposed to them categorically. The only thing I just want to point out is the rank hypocrisy. So it’s a private business. All those green energy businesses that Pritzker loves to subsidize with your money, are they private businesses too, or are those public businesses?”
“Remember, you can’t forget (Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s) initial reaction, which is so emblematic of her four year tenure," Proft said. "Her initial reaction to the prospect the Bears would consider moving to Arlington Heights was they should concentrate on trying to beat the Packers. You know, that sort of dismissive attitude has punctuated her regime.”
The Chicago Bears said Wednesday that they had finished their acquisition of the former Arlington Park racetrack, raising the possibility that the team would depart Chicago. Seven months ago, Lightfoot threw a Hail Mary pass to try and keep them at Soldier Field by proposing to construct a dome over the stadium and increasing seating, according to WTTW News.
According to Sports Mockery, the Chicago Bears had hoped to construct a sportsbook at Soldier Field to capitalize on Illinois' newly legalized gambling regulations. However, Lightfoot, as well as the Chicago Park District, ignored the team's request, ultimately resulting in them becoming interested in purchasing the former 326-acre Arlington Park racetrack.
Solider Field opened in 1924. The Bears moved there in 1971 and have threatened to relocate to Arlington Heights may times throughout the years. However, If they moved, former Mayor Richard J. Daley vowed to sue to prevent them from calling themselves the Chicago Bears, according to Block Club Chicago. The stadium was last restored in 2003, following a plan approved by Daley the last time the Bears threatened to leave the city.
The Bears declared in September 2021 that they had signed a purchase agreement, but the deal has been stalled for nearly a year. Lightfoot criticized the Bears' entry into the bidding by saying it was "clearly a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before," according to Block Club Chicago.
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