Bears Hire Architect For Arlington Heights Stadium Design: Report

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The Chicago Bears took another step forward this week in its quest to build a new football stadium outside of Chicago. The NFL team has selected Kansas City-based Manica Architecture to assist in the conceptual design process for a state-of-the-art facility at the former site of Arlington International Racetrack, reports Venues Now.

According to the report, the Bears are also working with Jones Lang LaSalle and CAA Icon. JLL represented Bears' ownership for the $660 million transformation of Soldier Field in 2003. CAA Icon represented the Chicago Cubs for the recent $760 million makeover of Wrigley Field.

Manica Architecture is owned by David Manica and was formed in 2007. The company specializes in designing sports and entertainment facilities in the United States and around the world. In 2020, the $2 billion Manica-designed Allegiant Stadium opened in Las Vegas, home of the NFL's Raiders, as well as the University of Las Vegas football team and host of the Las Vegas Bowl. Other major projects to the company's credit include the Chase Center in San Francisco for NBA's Golden State Warriors (2019) and the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Doha, Qatar, host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

RELATED: Arlington Million Day Will Continue At Churchill Downs

Arlington Park held its final season of horse racing at the Arlington Heights oval last summer. The Bears signed a reported $197.2 million purchase agreement to purchase the 326-acre property from Churchill Downs, Inc. The sale is anticipated to close by the end of this year or early 2023.

Last month, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she is working on a financial package that she hopes will entice the Bears from leaving their lakefront home at Solider Field. Lightfoot said she realizes that the stadium needs plenty of work, but she hopes that the city's coming offer makes it "very, very compelling" financially for the Bears to stick around.

Soldier Field, which opened in 1924, is the NFL's oldest stadium. The Bears began playing there in 1971 after leaving Wrigley Field. It has a football game capacity of 61,500 fans.

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• Bears Sign Purchase Agreement To Buy Arlington Park For $197M