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Bears tampering with tradition

By Jim Caltagirone

For the Mirror

It’s unlikely that the official hometown designation of the Chicago Bears will ever change to Arlington Heights, even if the organization instigates the construction of a new stadium in the suburb which is approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.

But it’s not inconceivable that the Bears will change their address, especially if the financial rewards of playing home games in a new stadium are viewed more favorably by ownership than the 100 years of nostalgia that accumulated at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field.

Ted Phillips, president and CEO of the Bears, tweeted that the Bears submitted a bid to purchase the Arlington International Racecourse property in the village of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Understanding the reverberations that tweet would cause throughout his team’s fanbase, Phillips wrote, “It’s our obligation to explore every possible option to ensure we’re doing what’s best for our organization and its future. If selected, this step allows us to further evaluate the property and its potential.”

If a stadium deal is negotiated in Arlington Heights, the Bears certainly would not be the first NFL franchise to play home games in a suburban location while sporting the name of the metropolitan neighbor.

The Dallas Cowboys have not played a home game in Big D since 1971.

After departing the Cotton Bowl in the Fair Park area of the city, they moved first to Irving, then to Arlington.

Similarly, the Jets, Giants, Bills, Raiders, 49ers, Rams, Chargers and Washington Football Team have taken up residence outside city limits.

New stadium deals enticed the Jets, Giants and Washington Football team to cross state lines.

The Bears have been eyeing the real estate market in the greater Chicago area for decades.

In the 1970s, Elk Grove Village and Arlington Heights were potential destinations.

Of the latter village, Richard J. Daley, Chicago’s mayor at the time, said, “They can use the name Arlington Heights Bears, but they’ll never use the name of Chicago if I’m the mayor.”

In the 1990s, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Aurora and Elk Grove Village were discussed as possible alternatives to downtown Chicago, but a gut-punch relocation like the Cleveland Browns’ move to Baltimore was never floated.

Commenting on the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas, an Oakland fan observed, “New fans will come in with a different identity as old fans bid farewell. Some things will stay the same, but some will inevitably change. That’s what happens when you move to a new city. You change the DNA of a franchise.”

In 1994, the Cardinals embraced their growing statewide popularity by replacing the Phoenix moniker with the more geographically encompassing Arizona.

The reality is that the team never played in Phoenix. The home stadium at the time was located in Tempe.

Adopting the Arizona name was not the same thing as moving 25 miles to the northwest to play home games.

In its own way, a Bears move to Arlington Heights would be just another money grab, just like the adoption of “Los Angeles” by the Angels, who simply wanted to capitalize on all the economic advantages that “LA” offers and “Anaheim” can’t match.

Anaheim is approximately the same distance from Los Angeles that Chicago is from Arlington Heights.

The difference is that the Bears won’t have to compromise their identity if they make a move, as the Angels did while staying put.

Jim Caltagirone resides in Altoona. He is an occasional contributor to Voice of the Fan.

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