Unasked

Give the McCaskeys credit for pulling off a real Hail Mary with the hiring of Kevin Warren as the Bears’ new team president, replacing Ted Phillips. The Chicago sports’ media has gone absolutely ga-ga over Warren. In part, that’s because Warren is the anti-McCaskey; when he speaks, he soothes rather than enflames. Moreover, the former Big Ten Commissioner knows what to say, and how to say it. Why, there’s no greater opportunity in all the sports’ world than “here in Chicago, with this incredible fan base and this history and tradition.” [Warren in yesterday’s Tribune] Hold onto your wallets, folks. This self-described “stadium nerd” helped shepherd the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium when he was chief operating officer of the Vikings. Nearly half of the $1.1 billion cost came from the public. Not a word from the nerd at his introductory press conference on whether the Bears will want to go half-sies in Arlington Heights. He did say, though, how excited he is by the challenge to create an “atmosphere that becomes as 365-days a year environment.” [again, Tuesday’s Trib]. Oh, and he wants to come up with a “very, very creative solution to our stadium situation.” Right. Does that creativity entail new personal seat licenses for season-ticket holders who want to make the move to Arlington Heights? Warren didn’t say, and he certainly wasn’t asked. The consensus among suddenly-smitten sportswriters and commentators is that the Bears will be looking to do their new home along the lines of U.S. Bank Stadium, II, which means a seating capacity in the neighborhood of 67,000 fans. So, follow along here. The Munsters want to move to suburban Arlington Heights; probably ask for as much of a public subsidy as they can get away with; probably hit fans with another round of PSLs; and probably increase seating capacity over Soldier Field by a measly 6500 seats or so. Does that seem fair? Warren didn’t say, and he certainly wasn’t asked.