Ditka says Bears 'belong' in Chicago amid potential move

Chicago Bears icon Mike Ditka hopes the franchise avoids a move to nearby Arlington Heights and remains in the Windy City.

"The Chicago Bears belong in the city of Chicago," the Hall of Famer told Jim O'Donnell of The Daily Herald. "That's it. Call me an old-timer, call me a traditionalist, whatever. They're a Chicago institution and that should be the end of it."

The Bears have been stationed in Chicago for nearly their entire 100-year history and have played downtown at Soldier Field since the 1970s. They recently submitted a bid to purchase Arlington International Racecourse - which sits roughly 40 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago - with intentions to construct a new stadium.

While Soldier Field is one of the most iconic stadiums in North American professional sports, it's also one of the oldest. Soldier Field opened its doors in 1924 and last underwent significant renovations in 2003.

"Just like the Bears belong in Chicago, like coach (George) Halas had it, Arlington Park should remain a racetrack," Ditka said. "It's a gem, a thing of beauty. Arlington Heights is known around the world because of that racetrack. Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Bears in Chicago. That's the end of it."

Ditka played tight end for the Bears in the 1960s when the team was housed at Wrigley Field. He also coached the team from 1982-1992, leading the franchise to its only Super Bowl championship. Ditka became the first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame purely as a tight end.

The 81-year-old also believes the Bears belong in an outdoor stadium rather than in a venue with a roof.

"You want to tell me that a team coming up from a warm-weather climate isn't giving away a significant advantage to try and play in cold and rain outside in a Chicago December or January?" he said.

"You can't practice for that kind of weather. You can't simulate it. You've got to be in it. Chicago Bears football weather is a great part of the team's legacy, and all of that legacy in Chicago in my life has been outdoors."