Chicago hopes to lure 2nd football team
 

Daley floats stadium plan
Mayor hopes to lure 2nd football team, Olympics to Chicago



Looking for ways to build a domed stadium to enhance a possible bid for the 2016 Olympics, Mayor Richard Daley has privately floated the idea of trying to lure a second NFL team to Chicago, sources close to the situation told the Tribune.

A new stadium that could hold at least 80,000 people is among many facilities expected to be required of an Olympics host city. A stadium that large could open the door to other high-profile sporting events, including the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament as well as the Super Bowl. The city doesn't have an indoor facility large enough to hold such events.

A stadium also would be used for opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympics, as well as track and field events. Such a facility could cost between $600 million and $1 billion to construct, observers say.

The renovated Soldier Field seats 61,500, the second-smallest capacity in the NFL.

A second NFL team would be a long shot. The league's top priority is to try to keep the New Orleans Saints in their hurricane-battered hometown. After that, Los Angeles, a city without an NFL team, is viewed as next in line for any franchise transplant or expansion.

And any team that would consider Chicago most likely would have to pay a hefty fee to the Chicago Bears to compensate for moving into their territory.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...ck=1&cset=true

RE: Chicago hopes to lure 2nd football team
 

Can we trade the Saints for the Bears, sans the uniform, logo, and name?

I'd say!

Papa Bear would roll over in his grave.



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I could understand somewhere else in the state, but 2 teams in the same city? Is Chicago really that big? I mean, I know New York does it, but...

Yep. Pretty big. Over 8 million folks.

7.9 million love Da Bears. :wink:

Two MLB teams.....





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