McCaskey family rumored to be considering selling Bears |
CHICAGO – Although nothing is substantiated at this point, the Chicago Bears could potentially be sold in the not-too-distant future. The McCaskey family owns the Bears, with Virginia Halas McCaskey, the 98-year-old granddaughter of the legendary George Halas, serving as the principal owner since 1983.
However, Jim O'Donnell of the Daily Herald recently reported that the Bears franchise, which has been owned by the Halas lineage for several generations, could be changing hands. The future of Soldier Field was also questioned in O'Donnell's article, as a possible move from Chicago to nearby Arlington Heights, Ill., is a rumor that has been circulating. O'Donnell lists Jeff Bezos, Neil Bluhm and Pat Ryan as the three likeliest suitors, should the Bears be put up for sale. Ryan already owns 19.7% of the team, and the billionaire businessman also has close ties with Northwestern's athletic department. Not to mention, in case of a sale, he holds the right of first refusal as a primary investor. Like Ryan, Bluhm is a billionaire businessman, and he would be the candidate most likely to move the team to Arlington Heights because of his connection to Arlington Park and horse racing. As for Bezos, yes, even the Amazon magnate would be in the running because he has been mentioned in NFL ownership discussions for several years now and obviously has plenty of money to offer. Nothing is even close to being confirmed at this point, but with the McCaskey matriarch's age playing a factor, it is a possibility that the McCaskey family could look to sell the Bears in the coming years. O'Donnell seems to think that change is coming to Halas Hall, and it may include a transition to new ownership and a relocation to a Chicago suburb. Only time will tell.
