T
he Chicago Bears' search for a new stadium location has refocused on a long-overlooked site in Bronzeville, south of McCormick Place. This comes after the state rejected the team's $900 million subsidy request for a lakefront stadium near Soldier Field. The 49-acre Bronzeville Lakefront development, formerly the Michael Reese Hospital property, is now being considered as a potential anchor for a $6 billion megadevelopment led by Farpoint Development.

    The site, located at 2929 South Ellis Avenue, has been updated to accommodate a stadium without disrupting Metra lines. Developers have shifted the proposed stadium farther south along 31st Street to avoid train tracks, addressing concerns raised by the National Football League. This revised plan could boost the area's economic impact and establish it as a major hub on Chicago's South Side.

    Alderman Lamont Robinson believes that having the Bears at Michael Reese would "lift a lot of boats" in the community, creating a destination that goes beyond just a stadium. Loop Capital CEO Jim Reynolds has also urged Bears President Kevin Warren to consider the site for its economic potential. While state funding remains a point of contention, Mayor Brandon Johnson supports keeping the Bears in Chicago, and local political support could make this South Side option viable.