Another possibility for Chicago Bears new stadium
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Bears continue assessing their options for a new stadium.
The team looked into different suburbs to host, including Arlington Heights.
But there is a new possibility that is much closer to their current home.
CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reports leaders with the team aren't saying much, only that they want to explore every opportunity.
The team could be looking to build a new stadium on the site of the south parking lot.
According to 670 The Score, it's not clear how serious the Bears are about building a stadium at this site. It's possible that it could just be another move to create leverage to get the best deal from Arlington Heights.
The area was once considered the location of the Lucas Museum before the "Star Wars" creator moved the project to Los Angeles instead.
The Bears released a statement Thursday morning:
"As we stated back in September earlier this year, we want to appropriately explore all opportunities across Chicagoland for the development of a world-class stadium."
Friends of the Parks, which opposed the plan for the Lucas Museum to locate at the site, issued a statement objecting to the idea of the Bears using it. Longtime Friends of the Parks board member and retired attorney Fred Bates said in the statement:
"Friends of the Parks is deeply committed to public access to Chicago's jewel of a lakefront. We stand on the shoulders of past heroes who fought to keep it 'open, clear and free' when we say to the Chicago Bears: our lakefront parkland is for the people and not for private interests. We continue to advocate for it to be a greener, more accessible space, and we will not stand by and watch anyone try to use it for real estate development."
Bears officials have also met with Naperville leaders about a potential stadium there.
The Bears' lease with the Chicago Park District goes until 2033 with the possibility of breaking that lease as early as 2026.