The signing of an agreement to purchase the Arlington Park Racecourse by the Chicago Bears in September caused excitement throughout the city of Chicago.
It is unclear how serious the Bears are about moving to Arlington Heights. What is known is that they are committed to staying at Soldier Field until 2033 under their current lease agreement. If either the team or the city of Chicago were to break this contract, they would be responsible for a penalty of $84 million.
Since the Bears have taken the first step by purchasing the 326-acre property in Arlington, it may be a good idea for the city to start thinking about the possibility of bringing a second NFL team to Chicago if the Bears do end up moving to Arlington Heights.
How the addition of a second NFL team would influence the world of sports betting in Illinois.
At first glance, the concept of Chicago having two NFL teams may seem far-fetched. Yet, when looking at the success of other cities with multiple teams, it becomes clear that it is a viable idea. Here’s why.
Tale of two team cities
New York and Los Angeles are two other cities that are home to two NFL teams.
To start, let’s take a closer look at Los Angeles, the city where the Rams and Chargers both call home. Both teams compete at the SoFi Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility that officially opened in 2020. According to the Los Angeles Times, the construction of the stadium cost over $5 billion. It is expected that such a high-quality venue will draw in fans to attend the games.
The impressive showing by the Rams and Chargers in 2021 was a major draw for fans, leading to packed stadiums on Sundays. As the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Rams finished the season with a 12-5 record and averaged 71,598 fans per game, ranking eighth in the NFL for attendance.
While the Chargers didn’t quite reach the same level of success as the Rams last season, they still gave fans plenty of reasons to root for them. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs with a 9-8 record, the Chargers continued to receive strong support from their fans, as shown by their 10th-highest average attendance rate of 70,240 per home game.
It is important to mention that Los Angeles is the second most populated city in the United States. The high population density near the stadium will naturally lead to fuller stands compared to smaller NFL cities.
Now, onto New York.
Big NFL appetite in The Big Apple
The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey serves as the shared home for the Giants and Jets. Despite being built in 2010 and lacking the charm of newer stadiums, New Yorkers continue to flock to MetLife to cheer on their teams.
The Giants and Jets both had disappointing 2021 seasons, finishing with identical 4-13 records. Despite this, the Giants averaged 73,882 spectators per game, while the Jets averaged around 71,676. In terms of audience attendance, the Giants ranked fourth and the Jets ranked seventh in the NFL.
While the 2021 performances of teams from Los Angeles and New York are not directly comparable, they do share the commonality that New York is the most populous city in the U.S. Following New York, Chicago ranks third in the list of the most populated cities in the U.S.
Given the size of the population, it is likely that a new NFL team could effectively draw in fans to Soldier Field should the Bears move to Arlington Heights.
Which team could move to Chicago?
Teams in small market cities that struggle to attract a large fan base are the most likely candidates for relocation to the Windy City.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a prime example of this trend, as they had the third lowest attendance rate in the NFL last season. Excluding the 2020 season, when many teams could not host fans due to COVID-19, their highest attendance ranking in the past five seasons was 17th place in 2018.
Despite being the 12th most populous city in the U.S., Jacksonville has only had the Jaguars as part of its sports scene since 1995, making them one of the NFL’s youngest franchises.
While Jacksonville may have a larger population compared to cities like Cincinnati or Minneapolis, it is easier to imagine the Jaguars relocating due to the stronger ties that teams like the Bengals or Vikings have with their respective communities.
IL sports betting could be part of the equation
Regardless of which team may choose to call Chicago home in the future, they could avoid the hefty expense of building a new stadium by moving to Soldier Field. Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently suggested various renovation ideas for Soldier Field, including the possibility of adding an Illinois sportsbook to the stadium.
Another option is to install a retractable dome to shield players and fans from the harsh winter conditions in Chicago.
Having two NFL teams in Illinois may seem strange, but in reality, it is a logical decision.
NFL teams relocating isn’t so simple
Changing cities for an NFL team involves more than just signing a contract and moving their equipment.
In order for a team to relocate, they must present valid reasons for the move that are not based on revenue. Additionally, approval from at least 75% of league members is required through a voting process before the relocation can be finalized.
The approval of the Rams’ relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2015 by league members shows that such a move can be achieved.
