Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren considers team’s future …
Just over a year ago, the Chicago Bears chose Kevin Warren as their president and CEO. Warren doesn’t hold back when he declares his admiration for the city. Before the upcoming season begins, he expressed his hope to ascertain the location of the Bears’ future stadium.
“These are not emotional decisions,” he stated. “They are too expensive and also these are decisions that really will resonate over the next 50 years.”
With the number one pick and the Bears very close to deciding on their new home, Warren is going all out at the most important turning point in the team’s history.
But is that fun or nerve-racking?
It’s a whole lot of fun. It’s amazing,” remarked Warren. “Our 326 acres are located in Arlington Heights. I have meetings with the tax board and several school superintendents. There, we are landowners. Chicago, the City. Getting to know Mayor Johnson and his team has been a great pleasure, and our discussions have been quite fruitful. This city deserves the chance to submit a bid to host a Final Four, a college football playoff championship, or a Super Bowl. That is why I want to build an atmosphere with a dome and a fixed roof.”
Warren revealed that he had looked into the South Loop neighborhood that the White Sox are aiming for, but he did not discuss the prospect of moving south of their current Soldier Field residence.
“I looked at every piece of land that can house the stadium, yes,” he said. “The good thing about it, Jerry Reinsdorf has meant so much to Chicago. So many times people think it has to be a either or, either the Bears or either the White Sox. I’ve come from the mindset that there is enough for everyone.”
Warren also communicates with Ryan Poles, general manager, on a daily basis. Poles will determine the quarterback position and what to do with the first overall pick in the April draft.
“His office is directly next to mine. We spend time together and are in each other’s offices all the time, according to Warren. At the conclusion of each meeting, I usually ask him the same question: “Do you have what you need for us to win? I would never want to find ourselves in a situation where we look back and realize that we could have done “X,” but we chose not to because it would have been too expensive or we simply didn’t go above and beyond.”