Pssst… Hey Chicago, Put it HERE!
The aging Lakeside Center on Chicago’s lakefront, future Chicago Bears home?
Why is this matter still under discussion? The Bears stadium saga has gone from frustrating and animated to downright stupid. All parties—the city, county, state, and Bears organization—are being run by a bunch of idiots who can’t think outside of the box. However, in this case, there's no need to venture beyond conventional boundaries. Simply locate the new stadium where the old McCormick Place, now known as Lakeside Center, currently stands. We barely use the space anyway. It is in a prime location. Right along the lakefront. It is situated less than half a mile away from Soldier Field. No new infrastructure needs to be built. And the area around it is chock-full with hotels, restaurants, museums, and other things for visitors to do.
I never understood why a redesign wasn’t the first option to begin with. Granted, Mayor Richard Daley screwed this thing up nearly 25 years ago, when he decided to “renovate” Soldier Field. The Roman tragedy redesign resulted in Soldier Field losing its National Historic Landmark status on February 17, 2006. The National Park Service withdrew the designation after the renovation added a modern, spaceship-like structure that severely altered the stadium's original neoclassical design, including the destruction of the historic bowl. However, the site itself is still viable. Then in 2016, filmmaker George Lucas abandoned the idea of building a Star Wars Museum in the same area, all because the city couldn’t find a way to strike a deal with Friends of the Parks, an environmental conservation group with a lot of clout in Chicago. Once again, Chicago is on the verge of losing a significant opportunity due to the inability of the politicians and business community to reach a consensus.
For Black Chicagoans, moving the Bears to Northwest Indiana would not be the worst idea. Since many Black American fans of the team live on the South Side, in the south suburbs, and in multiple communities in Lake County, Indiana, this could be an opportunity to improve those communities. If it were to be a domed stadium as the Bears are suggesting, that means there would be year-round events, meaning more money for hotels and restaurants and chances for new small, family-owned businesses to be born. Not to mention, the home values in the area would skyrocket, something Black Americans have consistently complained about for decades. Lest we not forget, Gary, Indiana, was once the home of the Miss America pageant.
“Today’s announcement that the state of Indiana has selected Hammond for the new Bears stadium marks a major shift for our region,” said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. “While Gary presented a compelling case, the State's decision now sets the stage for a new chapter in Northwest Indiana.”
Respectfully, Mayor Melton, the best option for Chicago and the Bears is for one of the NFL charter franchises to stay right on the lakefront. You already have a fan base there and the infrastructure in place. Most Bears season ticket holders live in the North and Northwest suburbs. Asking them to commute an additional 45 minutes to an hour on a good day would be a tough ask. The city’s skyline, the most beautiful in the world, is the perfect background on event days. Nobody wants to look at oil refineries and sewage treatment plants on game day, let alone deal with the smell.
Personally, I think at the end of the day, the Bears are going to end up in Arlington Heights. They are merely using Northwest Indiana, like a guy uses a girl he is uninterested in to attract the girl he wants. In summary, they have owned the property in Arlington Heights for three years. They have bulldozed the horse racing track that was there and are paying taxes on empty land. Should they decide to sell the land, they would take a huge loss. The Bears are playing a game of chicken. The city, and fans for that matter, should call their bluff.