Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times
The Bears began demolishing the grandstands at Arlington International Racecourse on Friday afternoon, the latest step toward flattening the 326-acre property the team bought earlier this year.
The Bears are stressing that demolition does not mean the team will necessarily develop the property for a new stadium. They bought the land for $197.3 million with that intent but have since grown dissatisfied with the expense of its property tax assessment.
Team spokesman Scott Hagel said two weeks ago that the assessment “fails to reflect the property is not operational and not commercially viable in its current state.