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Chicago Bears President: Training Camp Could Move to Romeoville

Ted Phillips confirmed talks with Lewis University during an April 30 Bears Expo in Chicago.

 

A deal is reportedly in the works to bring the Chicago Bears’ training camp to Romeoville by 2013, but Lewis University officials aren’t talking.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Bears President Ted Phillips said Saturday that the camp could make the move to Lewis once its current contract with Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais expires.

“We’ve also … been talking to Lewis University,” Phillips told the paper. “The reason we did that is because we felt if the opportunity existed to kind of bring training camp a little bit more central to our season-ticket base, it might make some sense to our fans. It’s an ongoing discussion.”

A representative for the university declined to comment on whether the Bears camp could come to Lewis.

“Unfortunately I can’t do that,” Director of Sports Information Matthew Brendich said when asked to comment on Phillips’ remarks, adding he had “no response whatsoever.”

Asked whether a deal with the Bears is in the works, Brendich told Patch, “If there was anything happening, I would have probably put something out.”

This winter, Brendich was also mum on reported plans to build a $20 million professional athletic complex on the campus, complete with a state-of-the-art multi-sport stadium, four practice fields and sports training center — a facility that could be a perfect fit for the Bears.

Though the project was touted by Mayor John Noak in his Jan. 11 state of the village address, Lewis officials would not confirm the plans.

In February, the university announced plans to build a $4 million facility including a nine-lane track and multi-purpose field, suitable for football, lacrosse and soccer, among other sports, Brendich told Patch. The project broke ground last month, with the first phase scheduled to be completed by August.

Related Topics: Chicago Bears and Lewis University

john bruno

5:18 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Bears only want something they can get for free. Why does Lewis need such a huge sports facility?

They don't even have a FOOTBALL TEAM.

Shame on you, Lewis. Shame on you, Bears.

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Nick Focci

6:10 am on Friday, June 10, 2011

Move camp to Dekalb or Rockford

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