While there is speculation that the Chicago Bears will build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, no official announcement has been made. Bears President Kevin Warren and members of the McCaskey family, owners of the team and its associated enterprises, have not confirmed their plans. The team’s only other possible option appears to be constructing a new arena near Soldier Field, but there seems to be little support for that idea.
The question of what the new stadium would be called has also become a subject of discussion. Naming it after George Halas—who is credited as one of the founders of what became the National Football League—is being considered. Maintaining the Halas name may be important to the McCaskey family because it represents a significant part of their identity and brand value.
George Halas’s legacy is visible in several places: Halas Hall serves as the team’s practice facility in Lake Forest; George Halas Drive is located at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Campus in Canton, Ohio; and awards like the George Halas Trophy and George Halas Courage Award are given out annually. The importance placed on keeping “Halas” associated with any future stadium remains evident.
However, selling naming rights to a corporation could present an alternative path for stadium branding, offering financial opportunities worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Examples from other teams exist: Lambeau Field (named after Curly Lambeau), Wrigley Field (after William Wrigley), Kauffman Stadium (after Ewing Kauffman), Turner Field (after Ted Turner), Busch Memorial Stadium (after August Busch), and Cleveland Browns (named for Paul Brown).
If a new professional football stadium is constructed in Arlington Heights, options remain for naming it according to team tradition or leveraging lucrative corporate sponsorships.
