City Talks Museum Campus Ideas and Dome at Soldier Field ; Bears Promptly Say No Thanks

Lots of movement last week on the Bears vs. City of Chicago drama.

For those not up-to-speed, the Bears have one foot out of the proverbial Soldier Field door and ready to move to the burbs.

In a final hail mary, Mayor Lightfoot and her team came up with a bunch of ideas on how to improve the broader Museum Campus (and ultimately hopefully keep the Bears at Soldier Field):

There are some interesting and well needed things (hello bridges to Northerly Island!), but as it relates to the Bears - THEY GONE!

The Bears issued this statement in response (from MSN): 

“The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park.” 

“As part of our mutual agreement with the seller of that property, we are not pursuing alternative stadium deals or sites, including renovations to Soldier Field, while we are under contract.” 

There you have it. The Bears are all-in on the move to Arlington Heights. 

The initial agreement between the Bears and Churchill Downs Inc. last fall for the purchase of the Arlington Heights site was for $197.2 million. According to Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen, the company can close the sale of the property at Arlington Park by mid-2023.

This is the clearest sign from the Bears that they're moving.  So...we'll see what the city does.  

(Hat tip: PB!)