Arlington Heights Seeks Zone Change for Bears Sportsbook

Sun, Oct 23, 2022

The Bears paid close to $200 million for an unused race course so the team can move out of Chicago. They’ll still be called the Chicago Bears but will play in a new stadium in Arlington Heights at the site of the shuttered Arlington Park Racetrack (l.).

Arlington Heights Seeks Zone Change for Bears Sportsbook

If the cards fall into place, the Chicago Bears will leave Chicago for the suburbs. Arlington Heights, Illinois, to be exact.

To that end, the Arlington Heights Plan Commission agreed October 12 to ask the Village Board to amend zoning regulations for the racecourse site so a sportsbook can be built. The caveat: they’ll build it if it’s part of a pro sports stadium.

“It merely allows for a sports wagering facility to be considered as a Special Use, subject to review and approval of the Village Board,” Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development Bill Enright wrote in a memo.

The Bears inked a $197.2 million deal to acquire the Arlington International Racecourse last year, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In September, the team unveiled a multi-faceted project centered around the stadium. In addition to a sportsbook and stadium, the $5 billion development will include commercial and residential areas, with entertainment, shopping and dining.

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