NEWSLETTER
As a Chicago resident (not a suburbanite who claims Chicago) and Bears fan, I admire Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s public expression of his desire to keep the team in Chicago.
To be clear, I understand the Bears’ sole focus is on the Arlington Heights stadium project. As well as it should be. When it comes to keeping the Bears in Chicago, the city has been fumbling with the bag for years. It was only a matter of time before a sweetheart deal presented itself to the franchise. Eventually, it did. Even with that being said, it doesn’t mean the Bears and the city of Chicago should stop working together.
For me, this quote from Johnson’s appearance on 670 The Score’s Mully and Haugh Show hit home:
“I’m not going to accept inevitability, and I’ve asked ownership to give me an opportunity to be able to assess, and then we can make a collective determination together. The reason why I don’t ever accept inevitability. Like, I come from a family of 10. We had one bathroom. I am the baddest negotiator in the world, and I mean bad in a good way. Like, I know how to leave the house clean. The type of deals that I make to get there, don’t judge a brother.”
That “I know how to leave the house clean” line sticks with me. I’m reading between the lines here, but that is the type of message coming from someone willing to patch some holes in a relationship that were caused by the prior regime. And, frankly, I find that to be wonderful.
Because even with the Bears’ plans to move out to the burbs, they still have a lease to play at Soldier Field. Albeit, one it can break in 2026 at the cost of $84 million. Even still … let’s face facts. This franchise isn’t erecting a stadium overnight (or even in the next few years). Keep in mind that it took nearly four years to construct SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. And that’s with quality California weather. Sure, the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium took about 40 months from concept to completion. However, that went down in Las Vegas. If you’ve been to Vegas, then you know construction happens year-round and at all times of the day. In other words, it makes sense for both sides to work together instead of against one another. The reality is they really have no choice for the time being.
Mayor-elect Johnson doesn’t have to accept inevitability now, but he will eventually. At least it seems as if he can read the writing on the wall. Again, there is no reason to let the Bears’ past relationship with the old mayor impact the new guy’s relationship. Here’s hoping the road to a new home for the Bears isn’t a bumpy one.
