Arlington Heights officials have approved an extension allowing the Chicago Bears’ digital billboard to remain in place on the former Arlington Park property through June 30, 2027. The Village Board voted 8-1 on Monday to grant the fifth consecutive yearly extension for the 20-by-60-foot electronic sign, which stands atop a 95-foot pole along Route 53.

The sign was initially installed in 2017 by then-owner Churchill Downs Inc. at the former horse racing venue, with the goal of generating additional revenue amid a steep decline in wagering. At the time, the Arlington Heights Village Board approved the sign’s installation with the condition that it be removed if the racetrack ceased operations. However, that stipulation has been waived multiple times since the Bears purchased the site and subsequently demolished the old grandstand in 2023.

Despite the village’s general ban on off-premises advertising and electronic changeable signs, this and a few other exceptions remain. The Bears’ billboard has remained a fixture amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding redevelopment plans for the 326-acre site. The June 2023 extension followed a meeting between Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren and Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli to discuss the possibility of building a stadium in the area, concurrent with disputes over property tax assessments involving several local school districts.

In the past year, the Bears have redirected efforts toward pursuing a new stadium on Chicago’s lakefront. Nevertheless, after the Illinois General Assembly declined to advance legislation last month that could facilitate a stadium in Arlington Heights, the Bears’ board moved forward with plans for a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. Illinois lawmakers contend that no decisions have been finalized, and new legislative proposals are being prepared.

Village Trustee Bill Manganaro was the sole vote against the billboard extension, citing concerns that the original ordinance was tied to the racetrack’s operation. Manganaro suggested it would be preferable to delay approval until more definitive progress occurs on the stadium plans, expressing unease at seeing Bears advertising while the team pursues a project in Indiana.

The Bears organization has not disclosed how much revenue the billboard generates under their ownership. Previously, it was reported to have brought in approximately $120,000 annually during the racetrack era.