Chicago and Illinois have both been previous hosts of a Super Bowl. As the Big Game approaches, many wonder if the Land of Lincoln will once again be chosen as a host.
For the first time in decades, it appears to be a genuine possibility.
Earlier this year, the Chicago Bears signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse. If the deal goes through, the Bears would relocate from Soldier Field to Arlington Heights.
The array of options at Arlington Park is so enticing that it’s hard not to get excited, even though leaving Chicago may be unsettling for some.
If the Bears move, they could potentially build a stadium reminiscent of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and others.
One of the main reasons Illinois has never hosted a Super Bowl is because of the cold weather, but installing a retractable roof in the stadium could change that.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot suggests that a retractable roof could be an option for Soldier Field.
The Bears will need to pay an extra $84 million to terminate their lease on Soldier Field, in addition to the $119.2 million already spent on the area.
The chances of Illinois hosting a Super Bowl in the next decade are higher than the Bears winning a Super Bowl in the same timeframe.
In 2022 and beyond, where will the Super Bowl become held?
Super Bowl LVI is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium on February 13th.
The Bears will not be competing in this year’s sports event, but there is a strong possibility that their rival, the Green Bay Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers, could be participating. The Packers are currently leading in the NFC North and are poised to win the Super Bowl.
After 2022, the next three Super Bowl locations have been announced. Here are the upcoming locations.
- In 2025, the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
- In 2025, Allegiant Stadium will be located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- The Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, now known as Caesars Superdome in 2025
What common feature do all of those venues have? They can all be used indoors. The bad weather may disappear if the Bears move to Arlington Heights.
It is easy to see the potential benefits for the state.
Last year in Illinois, Super Bowl gambling was a hit.
In 2021, Illinois legalized Super Bowl betting for the first time, sparking excitement among residents eager to place their bets.
Regrettably, some sportsbooks encountered technical issues on Super Bowl Sunday. However, the state still saw $45.6 million in bets placed on the game.
Illinois generated $1.1 million in tax revenue, while casino operators received $7.7 million. With the majority of the government’s attention on the losing Kansas City Chiefs, it was a successful day for the publications.
Betting on the Super Bowl was a popular pastime in Illinois in 2021, but the numbers are expected to be even more extravagant by 2022.
Illinois has shown considerable growth in sports betting handle year over year, with the handle nearly doubling from October 2020 to October 2021.
Despite everything mentioned, there is one crucial (and rather unfortunate) distinction between this year and last year: Online registration will not be available on Super Bowl Sunday.
Illinois likely had in-person membership up until March 5, 2022. Super Bowl Sunday is typically a key time for sportsbooks to sign up new members.
We won’t have to worry about any of that next time. It’s also possible that Illinois residents may have the opportunity to attend a Super Bowl in their state within the next ten years.
