Pressed Thursday night about whether there was a drop-dead date for his stadium deal downtown, Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren smiled.
“When we cut that ribbon,” he said.
Warren has said in recent months that his goal was for the team to start construction on a proposed site south of Soldier Field in 2025, with the stadium set to open in 2028. He wasn’t as specific Thursday night, when he spoke to the Economic Club of Chicago at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
Warren said the Bears continue to monitor the property tax rate in Arlington Heights, where they own the 326-acre former Arlington International Racetrack site. He said the team will continue to have conversations with Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes.
“We need to figure out the tax situation,” he said.
The team prefers to build downtown.
Warren said he’d be open to exploring a joint funding plan with the White Sox, who are also interested in building their own stadium, to “see what we can figure out.”
Asked about the NFL’s vote last month that allowed private equity firms to invest in 10% of a franchise, Warren reiterated what chairman George McCaskey told the Sun-Times last week — that the franchise is studying the issue.
“We will spend the next couple of months understanding what it means,” he said.
Warren spoke on stage with Sean Connolly, the president/CEO on Conagra Brands, who is the club chair of the Economic Club. Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent and “Pardon the Interruption” co-host Michael Wilbon were in the audience, as were local business leaders. The event was live-streamed online.