NEWSLETTER
Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren sat down for an enlightening interview with WGN-TV’s Jarrett Payton this week. The two chopped it up for nearly 20 minutes, discussing a wide range of topics. But none bigger than what is on deck with the Bears stadium project and the future of Justin Fields.
We’ll dive into those two topics and hash out whatever meaning we can from Warren’s words, give them some context, and add some commentary along the way. Enjoy!
Kevin Warren provides Bears stadium update
What once felt like an inevitable move to the suburbs doesn’t feel all that certain for the Bears right now. This franchise has gone from purchasing the Arlington Park property that was once home to Arlington International Racecourse to exploring a litany of alternative options to be the next home site for a Bears stadium. Warren has long preached patience when discussing the next home of Bears football. And that isn’t changing here.
However, we do have something resembling a timeline for action:
“The timeline has to be in 2024. In a perfect world, I would like to have clarity in this legislative session that is coming up. Time is money. It takes probably three years once you put a shovel in the ground. ’24 should be the focal point. This is the year. I feel that we’re starting to get momentum. Even being here in Las Vegas with the Super Bowl, there have been a litany of individuals who have come up to me – fans, even individuals who work at other teams in and across the league – to say, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing for you all to get a stadium?’ Unsolicited, they’ve come and even have said, ‘can you imagine a Super Bowl in Chicago?’”
Finally, we’re starting to see a potential timeline.
Warren clearly wants this stadium project to have a clear sense of direction by the end of 2024. He absolutely nails it by pointing out that there are legislative and financial hoops to go through before we get some real clarity here. And let’s not overlook the nugget that it takes “probably three years once you put a shovel in the ground.” In other words, Warren’s ideal timeline has the Bears getting clarity on the next stadium by the end of 2024 and then three years of building to follow. Imagine this hypothetical: The Bears settle on a spot by the end of 2024, put shovels in the ground in 2025, and have a new stadium in 2028.
As a reminder, the estimated cost of the Bears breaking their Soldier Field lease is reportedly $84 million. And the earliest they can do it is in 2026. Just keep that in mind as we navigate through these waters.
OTHER STADIUM NUGGETS
“From a financial standpoint, a retractable roof would be nice to have, but I want to make sure that we use those dollars on the surrounding areas or for fan amenities that they would be able to enjoy. That’s the main reason why. And, I’m a big believer in the roof that we have in Minnesota. The ETFE that they have at SoFi they have in Minnesota, I think it works well in our climate in Chicago. It makes it where the sun, you feel like you’re sitting outside.”
“I’ve made it very clear how I feel about Chicago. I think it’s the finest city in the world. I can’t think of another major metropolitan area that has beautiful lakefront that you can swim in, that’s clean, near a downtown. The architecture is phenomenal and just the history and tradition. It’s just something that feels right about the Bears in Chicago.”
Kevin Warren speaks highly of Justin Fields
As the highest-ranking non-McCaskey in the organizational hierarchy, what Bears President Kevin Warren says about quarterback Justin Fields and his future is worth sharing. Here are Warren’s words:
“He is incredibly talented. He is smart. He works hard. He wants to be a great NFL football player. He just needs to make sure that he has the support around him. He’s working hard. I would love for him, this offseason, to make sure he’s totally healthy going into the season next year. This is a difficult game.
“Justin has a rare combination of intelligence, of size, of strength, and speed. You forget how big of a man he is until you’re up on him. He’s not a small man. I just think every year he’s going to continually get better. So, I’m glad he’s on the Chicago Bears.”
There are some who will take what Warren said as a sign that the Bears are sticking with Fields moving forward. And I can understand why that is the case. But there are others who will see those same words and be wholly convinced that the team is using its president to pump up Fields’ trade value. I refuse to engage in those games because I know I don’t like it when people put words in my mouth. However, I’ll say one thing because it is sticking with me.
When discussing the stadium project, Warren describes himself as “budget-conscious” and says he wants to be “prudent” with the team’s resources and cash. If that line of thinking is going into the stadium, why wouldn’t it also apply to the on-the-field product? To be clear, this isn’t me using those words to say the Bears are going down a certain path. Instead, I want to point out an organizational mindset that could trickle down from the top and permeate throughout the building.
At the end of the day, we need to keep in mind that Warren is just one voice in the room. He has a notable title and wields considerable power. Only Chairman George McCaskey is higher on the pecking order. With that being said, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles makes the decisions regarding players and coaches. This isn’t to say Warren’s comments on Fields aren’t noteworthy. They are! But Warren’s opinion is just one piece in a larger puzzle. In short, if the Bears do keep Fields, it won’t be because of what the team president said in a television interview in February.
For the full Kevin Warren interview with Jarrett Payton, you can watch it here or check out the video embedded below:
