Illinois: The Chicago Bears’ rift with the Park District widens over stalled sports betting lounge at Soldier Field

Illinois: The Chicago Bears’ rift with the Park District widens over stalled sports betting lounge at Soldier Field

Article brief provided by WBEZ Chicago
  • Tony Arnold, WBEZ Chicago
September 20, 2021 7:11 PM
  • Tony Arnold, WBEZ Chicago

The Chicago Bears have long feuded with their landlord, the Chicago Park District, over leases and structural improvements at their home turf at Soldier Field, suggesting earlier this year it may even abandon its iconic lakefront space for a bigger, newer suburban home.

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But newly obtained documents show there may have been another reason that pushed the NFL franchise to make a bid for Arlington International Racecourse — a play for sports betting.

Just two weeks before the Chicago Bears publicly announced it was putting in a bid for Arlington, the team’s president accused the Chicago Park District of refusing “to engage in good faith discussions” about expanding sports betting opportunities at the stadium, records WBEZ obtained through a freedom of information request show.