The Chicago Bears are planning to build a new stadium. The franchise is requesting substantial public funding, primarily for infrastructure work.

The Chicago Bears are asking for nearly a billion dollars in public funding to build their new NFL stadium.

According to a financial report published on Tuesday, the Bears want $855 million in taxpayer money to build the infrastructure around the new stadium.

The report states that the sum would “create the conditions” for a versatile construction project centered around a stadium on a 326-hectare plot of land in Arlington Heights owned by the team.

This would cover the costs of roads, sewerage, and changes to an adjacent commuter rail line. The Bears intend to continue financing the construction of the stadium itself without taxpayer money.

Super Bowl 2031 in the new Bears stadium?

Three weeks ago, Bears president Kevin Warren announced in a letter to fans that he wanted to finalize plans for the construction of the new venue this year. If all goes well, the Bears want to bid to host the 2031 Super Bowl.

The new stadium will have a retractable roof so that it can host events such as the Super Bowl. Arlington Heights, north of Chicago, around 50 kilometers from the current Soldier Field, was chosen as the location for the new arena.

In the meantime, there were considerations to abandon the plans in Arlington Heights and build a new arena right next to Soldier Field. While Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson endorsed the revised plans in April 2024, the state of Illinois rejected them. After that, the Bears refocused on Arlington Heights—this time for good.