Arlington Heights could collect $15 million a year from Bears stadium, but costs still unknown

Economic impact reports released by Arlington Heights officials Tuesday show a Chicago Bears stadium and mixed-use redevelopment at Arlington Park would generate at least $15 million a year in new revenues for village coffers.

But officials caution some of that new money will be needed to pay for infrastructure, village services and even new employees, and additional studies are still underway to assess costs for infrastructure, traffic and transportation.

Officials on Tuesday still maintained that they won’t approve the Bears’ project at the old racetrack unless there is a net fiscal benefit, where the village’s new revenues exceed new expenses.

The economic and fiscal impacts of the NFL franchise’s envisioned $5 billion stadium-anchored mixed-use development were detailed in two long-awaited reports released by the village Tuesday morning. Both reports note the findings are preliminary.

“These reports demonstrate the tremendous potential of the Chicago Bears development for our community and the Chicagoland region,” Mayor Jim Tinaglia said in an announcement. “This is an important step as we continue to evaluate the possibilities of our partnership with the Chicago Bears Football Club.”

The newest report, dated Sept. 28, is from village consultant Hunden Strategic Partners, which was retained in April to peer review Bears consultant HR&A Advisors’ study.

Hunden’s three-page summary called the proposed redevelopment “a powerful economic engine.”

It would generate $3.5 million a year in local sales taxes, $1.5 million in food and beverage taxes, $9 million in amusement taxes and $1.1 million in hotel and motel taxes, for a total of $15 million, according to the report.

Over a 40-year period, the total new tax impact to the village would be $510 million, the study says.

The Bears’ own 16-page study, dated July 2025, has a slightly higher projection of annual village revenues: $18 million. That’s in addition to generating $38 million for the state and $12 million for Cook County — figures that represent revenue generation beyond activity at Soldier Field, the report notes.

The study also provides projections of 9,000 new jobs in the state — 5,400 of which would be in Arlington Heights — in addition to purported benefits of what a Super Bowl and other mega events could mean for economic activity in the region, including the city of Chicago.

The team’s plan for the sprawling property it owns in Arlington Heights calls for an enclosed stadium of approximately 60,000 seats that would host annually 10 Bears games, eight concerts, two college football showcases, one international soccer match and 350 private events and tours, the Hunden report says.

A mix of uses are proposed as part of a phased redevelopment: 300,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of office space, 1,150 multifamily and townhouse residential units and 400 rooms across two hotels.

The stadium would open first, with the rest coming to fruition in seven years, according to the report, though village officials say a site plan hasn’t been finalized.

Public release of the two studies comes as the Bears prepare to make another push in late October for favorable state legislation that would pave the way to a suburban relocation.

The disclosure also came hours before the appearance of House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch at a town hall with Arlington Heights Democratic state representatives Mary Beth Canty and Nicolle Grasse. Welch — along with Senate President Don Harmon and Gov. JB Pritzker — has so far been resistant to the Bears’ asks for state help.

The Bears want approval of a so-called megaproject bill that would allow the team to negotiate with local taxing authorities including school districts over the amount of taxes that should be paid on their 326-acre Arlington Heights property for up to 40 years.

In addition to the long-term property tax break, the Bears want $855 million of public funding for infrastructure.

The football club has committed $2 billion for the stadium structure itself.

In the village announcement Tuesday, Arlington Heights’ mayor lent his voice of support to the legislation, which is cosponsored by Canty and Grasse — two former village trustees.

“The village continues to believe that a megaproject bill is necessary to make this project possible,” Tinaglia said. “A bill of this type will serve as a key economic development tool to attract large-scale investment in communities across Illinois. The village looks forward to continued collaboration with the club, state leaders, and regional partners on this important project.”