The Chicago Bears announced a bid to purchase Arlington International Racecourse, a horse track 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — For years, Graham Alexa had one of the cheapest views at Soldier Field. He and 40 or 50 friends from Chicago’s South Side would stand against a cement wall behind the last row by the colonnades in the old stadium and by a section on the lower level near the north end zone following the renovation, only they didn’t buy tickets to watch their beloved Bears. They would scatter into smaller groups outside and sneak into the game, Alexa said, then gather at their familiar spot. The group basically had a free ride from 2000 to 2009.»Never got caught, except for once,» Alexa said. «One buddy, Pat McCaskey caught him and threw him in Bears jail in the basement. (McCaskey) said, ‘You are banned for life. Come within 500 feet of the stadium, you will be taken to jail.’ My buddy’s response to him was, ‘I’ll see you next weekend at the game, Pat.'»Fond memories, for sure. But when it comes to the possibility of the Bears leaving their iconic lakefront home for the Chicago suburbs, Alexa is onboard — gut wrenching as it might be. The idea has been picking up steam in recent weeks, after the team announced a bid to purchase Arlington International Racecourse. The thoroughbred track in Arlington Heights is about 30 miles and a world away from Soldier Field in downtown Chicago, on a 326-acre plot of land owned by Churchill Downs Inc. that is for sale. A potential move has at least some fans excited about the possibilities even if seeing a founding NFL franchise move out of the city it has called home for a century would be tough. They envision a world-class stadium, maybe one with a dome or retractable roof that would attract Super Bowls and Final Fours, and come without the challenges the current home presents its team and diehard fans. They see a chance for the Bears, established in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys, to own their home. Since moving to Chicago in 1921, the franchise has never had its name on the mortgage, whether playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 or Soldier Field since then.
