Chicago Bears get a pitch to move training camp

Romeoville's proposed sports complex isn't even in the beginning stages of construction, but that hasn't stopped the southwest suburb from trying to lure the Bears there.

[Jason Elliot Benda]

Is Lewis planning on getting a football team to go with all these football-related facilities they'd need to entice the Bears?

[Sharon Wall]

I've got an idea for Romeoville. Stop acting like scum and stop trying to steal the Bears away from Bourbonnais. What a bunch of sleazebags. It's not like the Bears are losing their lease or anything. How would they like it if Bourbonnais officials started openly trying to steal Romeoville's industry and businesses away with lucrative tax offers? It's no different than what Romeoville is trying to do.

[Sharon Sharon]

Please get your facts correct.
1. The Lease between the Bears and Bourdonnais ends in 2010 with a one year extension in 2011 if both parties agree.
2. The Bears (Head Coach Smith) has made it know he is interested in moving closer to Chicago. Since majority of ticket holders live in area.
3. Before the Bears went to Bourdonnais the Bears held camp in Platteville, Wisconsin.
4. Bears wanted to hold camp in state and Bourdonnais made a great sales pitch to bring the Bears to Bourdonnais.
6. Romeoville is not the only one seeking the Bears but are getting a lot attention right now.
7. Lewis is going to start a football program. So they came up with the ideato invite the Bears. It's a great business decision
8. Training camp is starting later in the year and the college in Bourdonnais has asked the Bears to leave week later. This may not be the main reason why the Bears are looking somewhere else. However, it could play in the decision making.
9. Lewis has a lot to offer the Bears. Since they are starting a football program. Lewis can build the site to fit the needs of the Bears. For example, its closer to Lake Forest and Chicago. Second, Lewis has an airport to fly in Executives from the Bears to the NFL personal. Third, major roads are close for road travel.
10. I nothing bad to say about Bourdonnias and people who live there. There a lot of people and I enjoyed drinking beer with them. Just as much as I enjoyed the folks in Wisconsin.
Calling people names really doesn't make you sound very smart and your facts are not correct. I really don't think the Bears are looking to move as a steal butas much as a business decision.
See you in Bourbonnais in a month :)
Go Bears

[Romeoville101]

From what I have read, Olivet Nazarene University is giving the Bears trouble and that is why the Bears are looking elsewhere. Romeoville used to have a minor league baseball team called the Will County Cheetahs that played at Lewis. They left to go to Crestwood after they could't come to agreement with Lewis University. These things happen and are not meant to put Bourbonnais down. It's just business.

[Bob]

Let's get facts staight also. Bourbonnais is sraight south of Soldier Field. Is next to Bradley,Kankakee and I-57. Which has a full service airport and runways longer than Midway's. It is easier for larger numbers of the population throughout the midwest to get to Bourbonnais in a shorter amount of time than it would take the Bears to travel from Lake Forest to Romeoville. Have you not driven in the western suburbs. This is just some well placed people desparately trying to steal a nice situation from a quiet, easy going community to shore up selfish invesors in a stagnant economy. Olivet has a beautiful quiet campus, that is family friendly. The Bears will never be able to find a group that is as ethical and more commited to helping the Bears have a successful camp than the people of Olivet. If you have ever been to the camp you would understand that.

Ps. Why do the people of Cook County always act so provincial regarding pro sports teams? I did not realize sports team fans only exist in the Cities they inhabit, or are others to be excluded based on geography? You can travel on roads in either direction.

[Romeoville101]

The facts are that Kankakee Airport's longest runway is 5900 feet and 100 feet wide. Midway has two runways that are 6400 feet long and 150 feet wide. The fact is that Romeoville is 42-55 minutes drive from Soldier Field and Bourbonnais is 1 hour and 4 minutes according to Google Maps. Romeoville is a shorter drive from Midway, O'Hare, Lake Forest, and Soldier Field. Romeoville is a closer drive for almost all Bears fans as they are centered around Chicagoland and not in the Midwest ar large. Romeoville has a full service airport that hosts dozens of corporate jets for the annual NASCAR race at ChicagoLand Speedway. Lewis University's airport is within walking distance of the proposed training camp fields. Seriously, its a 500 yard walk. The fact is that Lewis University is just as family friendly, beautiful, and quiet as Olivet is. The most important fact of all is that Olivet is not cooperating with the Bears in their negotiations for contracts in the future.

[7kids]

Do we know if the
youth facility for kids big international tournaments is going to happen?