Kevin Warren’s Latest Hire Just Sent A Message On Bears’ Stadium Plans
Lots of people aren’t ready to accept the idea that Kevin Warren is serious about a new stadium for his Chicago Bears in the downtown area. They still think it’s nothing more than a negotiating tactic to get Arlington Heights school districts to soften their stance on property taxes. However, recent events suggest otherwise. For one, a lawyer representing those districts said they were willing to accept the Bears’ demands on the long-term plan for said taxes. The team hasn’t responded. If that wasn’t a clear indication Warren isn’t interested in Arlington anymore, his latest move to reshape the business operations was.
According to Darcell Rockett of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have brought in a big name to the organization named Andrew Zopp. She is a politician and businesswoman with some of the deepest roots inside the city than anyone.
The job announcement came as a bit of a surprise. Andrea “Andy” Zopp has been the CEO of World Business Chicago, the crux of the city’s economic development arm. She has served as deputy mayor of Chicago under Rahm Emanuel, heading up neighborhood economic development.
And with a career trajectory that includes executive positions at Sara Lee, Exelon, the Chicago Urban League and Cleveland Avenue (a venture capital firm), the former county and federal prosecutor has put in the work in a cross section of fields to effect change in Chicago.
But now Zopp is joining the Chicago Bears organization.
It doesn’t stop there. Zopp was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Chicago State University, Independent Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, and the Managing Partner of Cleveland Avenue, a venture capital firm established to help local Chicago food and beverage businesses.
Kevin Warren isn’t even bothering to be mysterious anymore.
The Bears would not bring Zopp in unless they were serious about making a new stadium complex on the lakefront work. They need somebody with the right connections and experience dealing with Chicago businesses and politics to help streamline the process. Nobody is more qualified for the position. She has expertise in countless areas that will become vital to the team’s efforts, from the banks to the food and beverage businesses to the real estate. Having her to help guide the way is a savvy move on their part.
There is no getting around the truth. Kevin Warren is determined to make the lakefront dome happen. He sees it as critical to the Bears’ long-term future. They’ve been a downtown team for almost a century. Moving to the suburbs never felt right to him. He wants those glorious skyline shots during primetime games showcasing the state-of-the-art stadium against the skyscrapers of downtown. Some fans may not like that, having preferred a chance to get away from the chaos of the city. It appears those hopes have faded away.