Kevin Warren says lakefront stadium would keep team 'authentically the Chicago Bears'

KENOSHA, Wis. — It has been more than three years since the Bears began taking concrete steps toward building a new stadium, first by buying a 326-acre lot in Arlington Heights before shifting to a lakefront dome just south of Soldier Field. The more it drags on, the more questions pop up.

It was unsurprising, then, when team president Kevin Warren got asked about it multiple times Friday during an appearance at Carthage College’s Spotlight on Sports. When dean Jim Padilla asked if he’d explored any of the vacant property “north of the border,” it was only slightly far-fetched given how many cities have tried to get in the mix since the team fell out of love with Arlington Heights over a dispute on property taxes. Warren laughed as he shot down the idea of moving to Wisconsin and reiterated that the south lot, which he has touted as “the most beautiful piece of property in the United States,” is his top target.

“I want to make sure the Bears remain authentically the Chicago Bears,” he said. “If you’ve been to a game at Soldier Field..

. There’s something magical about this franchise. I want to do everything I possibly can to be an authentic leader here and make sure we honor the tradition, but also bring some innovation to it.

” Throughout the organization’s movement toward the lakefront property, Warren has continued to float the Arlington Heights option and last month called it “still an opportunity.” The Bears are running low on time to meet W.