Jun 17, 2009 10:40 am US/Central
Romeoville Wants To Snag Bears Training Camp
Village Wants Bears To Use Planned New Lewis University Sports Complex
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
The Village of Romeoville is looking to steal away the Chicago Bears training camp.
The Bears' contract with Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais expires this September.
Romeoville officials want to lure the Bears with a new sports complex the village is considering building in conjunction with Lewis University.
Romeoville Mayor John Noak and other officials visited Halas Hall on Tuesday to talk to the Bears about a possible move. He said it would be more conveniently located, and would provide state-of-the-art facilities for the players.
The fact that the Bears are interested in the idea proves how far the area has come in recent years, Noak said.
"Ten years ago no one would have fathomed we could have brought an organization like the Bears to Romeoville, Lewis or even Will County," he said.
The village would also try to attract other users to the sports complex. If Chicago gets the 2016 Summer Olympics, a sports complex at Lewis could play a role in that, too, Noak said. And at the very least, the complex, which is being studied now, could host local and/or regional sports events and teams on football, soccer, baseball and softball fields and a track.
The school's existing buildings take up only 130 acres of the 375-acre campus. A sports complex could cost $10 million to $16 million if all components are built over several years. Possible funding sources for the complex could include sponsorships, partnerships and user fees, Noak said in February.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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