Bears must relinquish ‘Chicago’ from team name, fans say after franchise moves to buy property in suburbsSophie Sherryon June 18, 2021 at 12:26 am

“It’s the ‘Chicago Bears,’” one fan tweeted after team president Ted Phillips announced the Bears have placed a bid to buy the Arlington International Racecourse property.

After much speculation, the Bears took a concrete step towards moving the historic franchise by placing a bid to buy the Arlington International Racecourse property Thursday — and as expected fans had much to say.

Some fans applauded the move, as they hoped for a larger new stadium that could be more accessible by car or Metra — while others were outraged by the mere idea of the team leaving the city.

Nicole Richardson, a lifelong fan, told the Sun-Times that Soldier Field is “iconic” even with the renovation that some have compared to a “spaceship.”

“It’s the ‘Chicago Bears,’” Richardson wrote. “If the owners want to move outside of the city they need to relinquish the name.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot took to Twitter and issued a similar statement, affirming her commitment to “keeping the ‘Chicago’ name in our football team.”

In the announcement Thursday, team president Ted Phillips said the Bears are exploring “every possible option,” adding if their bid is selected it would allow them to “further evaluate the property and its potential.”

Since the Park District owns Soldier Field, the team is looking for more control over changes it wants to see at the 97-year-old building.

The Bears would not face such restrictions in Arlington Heights, opening the door for a larger stadium possibly with a dome.

Another lifelong fan, Jamal Neff, fully supports the potential move, hoping it will make games more accessible and affordable.

As an adult, Neff said he has been to only one game at Soldier Field.

“When I was there, the price of the tickets was just outrageous — to sit in an angle that was cumbersome [and] to look at playing that was atrocious,” Neff said.

Like many others, Neff remembers the excitement of the ‘85 Super Bowl season but says the stadium itself had nothing to do with that.

“I remember the city being electric, the neighborhoods coming alive,” Neff said. “I remember the song and how it united the city and it wasn’t really about being at the stadium or in the Museum Campus. It was just about being in the neighborhoods that make up Chicago.”

But Neff said he is positive on the Bears outlook for the future, saying regardless of location “the future is bright” for the team.

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