The Chicago Bears have flirted with leaving Chicago and building a stadium in Arlington Heights for more than 50 years.

It's not a done deal, but the Chicago Bears have shifted their focus for a new stadium back to the massive Arlington Heights property they purchased in 2023, backing away from a controversial proposal for a new lakefront stadium in Chicago.

Less than two months after the team switched its public messaging to reflect that their sole focus was no longer on building a downtown stadium, it went a step further Friday. In a statement, the Bears said they were focused on building on the 326-acre property they own in Arlington Heights.