The Bears announced Wednesday morning they have agreed to purchase the Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights, but stopped short of promising to build a new stadium there.

The purchase will take time to complete, similar to closing on a house, but Churchill Downs selected the Bears’ bid and is moving toward finalizing the sale.

“[It’s] the critical next step in continuing our exploration of the property and its potential,” team president Ted Phillips said in a statement. “Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction.

“Our goal is to chart a path forward that allows our team to thrive on the field, Chicagoland to prosper from this endeavor and the Bears organization to be ensured a strong future. We will never stop working toward delivering Bears fans the very best experience.”

Phillips and chairman George McCaskey declined the Chicago Sun-Time’ interview requests.

Churchill Downs called it “an extraordinarily competitive bid process” and announced the sale price of $197.2 million. It projected the closing process to take until the end of 2022 or last into the beginning of 2023. The Bears would still need approval from the Village of Arlington Heights to build a stadium, but it doesn’t sound like that will be a problem.

“I could not be more excited,” mayor Tom Hayes said. “My goal for any redevelopment has always been to put this prime piece of real estate to its highest and best use, and I can’t think of a higher and better use than this one.

“The Village is committed to working with the Bears organization and all stakeholders to explore this opportunity for Arlington Heights and the northwest suburban region.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office said Tuesday night the Bears informed her that they signed a purchase agreement to buy the 326-acre property, signaling their interest in leaving Soldier Field.

Lightfoot said in a statement, “We remain committed to continuing to work to keep the team in Chicago and have advised the Bears that we remain open to discussions,” then touted other revenue streams for Soldier Field — the MLS’ Chicago Fire began play there this season and Notre Dame just played Wisconsin there on Saturday.

She indicated on 670 The Score on Wednesday that there has been little, if any, constructive dialogue between the Bears and the city lately.

“They’ve actually got to come to us and tell us what they want,” she said. “We have been open to a conversation. They have not.”

One potential sticking point is the Chicago Park District’s resistance to the Bears setting up sports gambling venues in Soldier Field. WBEZ reported the impasse last week and published an email from Phillips accusing the city of refusing “to engage in good faith discussions about an opportunity that generates revenue for the CPD while leveraging the Chicago Bears brand.”

When the Bears bid on the property in June, they said they planned to “further evaluate the property and its potential” if it was accepted. They will begin that process now, and can still negotiate with the city to remain on the lakefront.

Lightfoot said in June the Bears were “locked into a lease” at Soldier Field through 2033. She changed her tone in an interview with the Sun-Times earlier this month, saying she was willing to discuss with the Bears ways to keep them downtown.

The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, and have flirted with potential suburban stadium sites ever since. The Bears’ talks with Arlington Heights, though, officially moved past the flirting stage Wednesday.

Once the purchase is finalized, the next step would be making plans to build a new stadium that would likely cost close to $2 billion and take at least two years to build once ground is broken. The Bears have long admired the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium as a model for a potential new stadium, sources said.

That stadium is fully enclosed — no retractable roof — but lets in a lot of natural light because of its glass roof and walls. It has a maximum football capacity of 73,000, cost $1.1 billion to build and opened in 2016.

Building a new stadium would virtually guarantee the Bears of hosting a Super Bowl and put them in the mix to host major events like the College Football Playoffs, an annual bowl game, the Big Ten championship, the NCAA tournament, political conventions and massive concerts.

Additionally, the Bears are one of the major professional sports teams that do not own the stadium in which they play. Because the city owns Soldier Field, the organization is limited in what it can build or renovate on the property. For example, if the Bears wanted to put a team shop and museum on the property, they would have to negotiate that with the city.

While the Bears’ initial interest in the property in Arlington Heights could have been viewed as a negotiating tactic with Chicago, agreeing to purchase the land is a much more serious step toward moving into a new stadium.

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Three-and-a-half months after putting in a bid to buy the Arlington International Racecourse property, the Bears have signed a purchase agreement for the 326-acre plot.

It’s the latest — but not final — step toward moving the team from Soldier Field to the site, located 6 miles north of the Northwest Tollway, which held its last race Saturday.

The Bears said in June that they were among the groups to put in a bid to purchase the property. If the franchise’s bid was accepted, the team said then, it would be able to “further evaluate the property and its potential.” That is the case now, though the team could still negotiate with the city to remain on the lakefront.

Churchill Downs Inc. said Wednesday morning it agreed to sell the property to the Bears for $197.2 million. The sale isn’t expected to close until late 2022 or early 2023.

The team told Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot about the purchase agreement Tuesday night.

“We are not surprised by this move,” Lightfoot said in a statement after The Athletic reported the purchase agreement. “We remain committed to continuing to work to keep the team in Chicago and have advised the Bears that we remain open to discussions.”

The Bears did not return a request for comment late Tuesday. Bears Chairman George McCaskey has not spoken publicly since the team put in the bid, forgoing his annual season-opening news conference.

Lightfoot said in June the Bears were “locked into a lease” at Soldier Field through 2033. She said the Arlington Heights venture was “clearly a negotiating tactic the Bears have used before,” and she was right — the Bears had flirted with suburbs regularly since they moved into Soldier Field 50 years ago. Their first conversation with Arlington Heights came in 1971, the year they first played at Soldier Field.

Her tone changed earlier this month, when Lightfoot told the Sun-Times’ editorial board that she was open to negotiating with the team. She said she was putting together a small team to talk to the Bears.

“I’m willing to sit down with the Bears at any time,” she said. “But it takes two to tango. They’ve got to articulate to me and my team a specific set of asks, and we have not gotten that yet from them.”

Any dramatic changes to Soldier Field, though, would be difficult to pull off, experts said.

The Chicago Park District owns Soldier Field. In 2002, it remodeled the stadium for $587 million. With seating for 62,000 fans, though, it is the second-smallest stadium in the NFL. Without a roof, it will never host a Super Bowl.

Lightfoot is a season ticket holder.

“I am a Bears fan,” she told the Sun-Times earlier this month. “I want the Bears to stay in the city of Chicago. And we are willing to work with them to try to address their concerns. But I’ve got to do it in a way that is fiscally prudent and doesn’t preclude other uses in that stadium …

“We are evaluating ways in which we can enhance the fan experience at Soldier Field . . . I know that it can be better. I’ve been to other stadiums across the country where the fan experience is far superior to what we have at Soldier Field.”

Contributing: Mitchell Armentrout

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The Bears announced Wednesday morning they have agreed to purchase the Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights, but stopped short of promising to build a new stadium there.

The purchase will take time to complete, similar to closing on a house, but Churchill Downs selected the Bears’ bid and is moving toward finalizing the sale.

“Finalizing the PSA was the critical next step in continuing our exploration of the property and its potential,” team president Ted Phillips said. “Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction.

“Our goal is to chart a path forward that allows our team to thrive on the field, Chicagoland to prosper from this endeavor and the Bears organization to be ensured a strong future. We will never stop working toward delivering Bears fans the very best experience.”

On Tuesday night, the Bears called Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office and informed her that they signed a purchase agreement to buy the 326-acre property. Arlington International Racecourse held its last horse race on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said late Tuesday that “we remain committed to continuing to work to keep the team in Chicago and have advised the Bears that we remain open to discussions.” She then touted other uses for Soldier Field — the MLS’ Chicago Fire began play there this season and Notre Dame just played Wisconsin there on Saturday.

When the Bears bid on the property in June, they said they planned to “further evaluate the property and its potential” if it was accepted. They will begin that process now, and can still negotiate with the city to remain on the lakefront.

Lightfoot said in June the Bears were “locked into a lease” at Soldier Field through 2033. She changed her tone in an interview with the Sun-Times earlier this month, saying she was willing to discuss with the Bears ways to keep them downtown.

The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, and have flirted with potential suburban stadium sites ever since. The Bears’ talks with Arlington Heights, though, officially moved past the flirting stage Wednesday.

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Some of us have heard the idiom “the student becomes the master,” but Nicole Clarke-Springer has lived it. Decades ago, she joined Deeply Rooted Dance Theater as an apprentice; now she’s the artistic director. An accomplished dancer and choreographer, Clarke-Springer is no stranger to strenuous exercise. But the 48-year-old isn’t a drill sergeant — especially given the pandemic’s toll. “There’s something to be said for not apologizing for who you are physically right now,” she says. Instead, it’s about “knowing how to move forward with grace and ease.” For Clarke-Springer, who lives in Skokie with her husband and two daughters, it’s a practice based in acceptance: “I’m not the physical specimen that I was in my 20s, and that’s OK,” she says. Amen.

Step Aside

“I walk for about an hour a day. I have to get my 10,000 steps in. I actually have a competition going with my sister, so if I think she’s going to beat me, it might be 12,000. I love boxing, too.”

Natural Healing

“There’s a walking area near my daughter’s school, so I start there and then go out into the neighborhood. It’s filled with lots of beautiful trees and flowers that calm me down.”

Pedal Head

“I love SoulCycle — it’s dancing on a bike! I’m always inviting the company members and my friends to join me.

Teatime

“I start every day with green tea with lemon and honey. If I’m feeling icky, I’ll put a little apple cider vinegar in.”

Snack Attack

“Fruit and nuts are my go-to in the middle of the day. I like pineapples and watermelon, almonds and cashews.”

Soul Food

“Generally, I listen to gospel and R&B. I’m also a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band, and I love Fleetwood Mac. My father was a musician, so I like music that makes me remember my childhood: Earth, Wind & Fire, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross. I’m a huge Diana Ross fan; she’s on my wall! Anything that evokes my childhood memories.”

Self-Reflection

“Meditation is really key for me, just letting go and not having any expectations of myself or my work. The stress of having to create something that’s going to be a hit or the next best thing doesn’t serve me well at all. Instead, I have to go within and just breathe and say, OK, what are you trying to do here? What’s inspiring you? ”

See Her Work in Action On October 23, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater wraps its 25th anniversary season with Roots & Wings, a one-night performance at the Auditorium Theatre featuring Clarke-Springer’s tribute to Quincy Jones. auditoriumtheatre.org

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Hard to believe it’s been 22 years since “The Sopranos” debuted on HBO and became a major factor in ushering in the Platinum Age of Television and a dominant player in the pop culture conversation for years — all the way through that controversial, polarizing and (to my mind) brilliant finale in 2007.

Following in the tradition of feature-length prequels and sequels such as “Deadwood: The Movie” and “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” and the “Veronica Mars” film and the “Sex and the City” theatrical franchise and I bet you’ve forgotten about “Entourage: the Movie,” we have the keenly anticipated “Sopranos” origins story “The Many Saints of Newark.” It’s a sharply honed, darkly funny, ultra-violent and wildly entertaining late 1960s period piece about the making of future made man Tony Soprano, the early criminal escapades of many key characters from the HBO series — and the blood oaths and ruthless betrayals that would set the checkered table for virtually everything that would happen to the Sopranos, their extended family and their associates some three decades later.

Do you have to be a “Sopranos” veteran to appreciate “The Many Saints of Newark”? Even if you’ve never seen a single episode, director Alan Taylor (working with characters and a story created by showrunner David Chase) has delivered a gritty gem filled with stunningly intense sequences, rich dialogue, memorable characters and a real feel for the changing times and racial tensions of the Newark (and the America) of the late 1960s. However, if you ARE an aficionado of the series, it will be a far more enriching experience, as you witness a talented group of younger generation actors inhabiting the mannerisms, speech patterns and personas of classic characters such as Corrado “Junior” Soprano (played by Corey Stoll here), Paulie Walnuts (Billy Magnussen), Silvio Dante (John Magaro), Big Pussy (Samson Moekiola) and Tony’s mother Livia (Vera Farmiga), who was already a living nightmare by this time and would only get worse.

The most prominent casting, which could have been a failed stunt but actually works beautifully, has the late James Gandolfini’s real-life son Michael portraying the teenage Tony Soprano, and what a finely calibrated and authentic performance it is, as we see young Tony’s nascent and relatively harmless forays into illegal activities; his tendency to explode in a furious rage; his high level of intelligence, and even an early “therapy session” in which Tony parries with a school counselor in a foreshadowing to his meetings with Dr. Melfi.

However, the dominant central character in “Many Saints” is Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), father of Christopher (Michael Imperioli narrates this story from the grave), and cousin to Carmela Soprano and non-blood relative “uncle” and mentor to young Tony — especially during the years when Tony’s father, Johnny Boy Soprano (Jon Bernthal), is doing time. Dickie is a smooth and handsome charmer who’s running the numbers and other criminal enterprises in the neighborhood but still lives in the shadow of his larger-than-life, intimidating and grotesquely showboating father, “Hollywood Dick” Moltisanti (Ray Liotta, yes!), who has just returned to the States with his movie-star gorgeous young wife Guiseppina (Michela De Rossi), and from the moment Dickie and Guiseppina lock eyes across the dinner table, we know we’ve got trouble, trouble in Newark City. (Liotta also plays Hollywood Dick’s twin brother Sal Moltisanti, who’s in prison for murdering a made man, and yes, sometimes it’s a bit difficult to track all the players without a scorecard.)

As much as the core group of gangsters, gunmen, numbers runners, enforcers and thieves would like to stick to their own closed-off world, Dickie and his crew can’t ignore the fires raging in the streets of Newark, as Black protesters march on the police station, riots break out in the street and entire blocks are going up in flames. Dickie is also contending with former underling Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jr.), who is embracing the revolution from the criminal’s standpoint; he’s establishing his own fiefdom, and he won’t hesitate to go after the old-school mobsters with guns blazing.

Leslie Odom Jr. (left, with Germar Terrell Gardner) plays a former mob underling establishing his own fiefdom in Newark.Warner Bros.

There’s a LOT packed into this story, and not everything works. (A love triangle emerges seemingly out of nowhere and seems to exist only to illustrate Dickie’s penchant for snuffing out anyone who betrays him or disappoints him.) But far more often, “The Many Saints of Newark” is an immensely satisfying companion piece to “The Sopranos,” filled with fascinating 1.0 versions of all those great characters, eerily prescient glimpses of the man Tony Soprano will become, and so many sequences that will have a special resonance to longtime fans of the show. There’s a moment when a major character from the series has a brief cameo, and winds up knocked to the ground, and you want to yell at this person to get up and run away and never look back, and avoid the life destined for them, but as we know far too well, everyone in “The Many Saints of Newark” has already had their destiny sealed.

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Three people were killed, and eleven others were wounded in shootings citywide Tuesday, including a man who was fatally shot in Chicago Lawn on the South Side.

The 39-year-old was sitting in a gangway about 9:30 p.m. in the 6200 block of South Campbell Avenue when someone approached and opened fire, striking him in the shoulder and torso, Chicago police said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.

A man was killed in a shooting in Lawndale on the West Side. He was near the street about 1:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Christiana Avenue when someone opened fire, police said. The 21-year-old was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A woman was killed, and three other people were wounded in a shooting in Park Manor on the South Side. Two women were sitting in a car and two men were standing nearby in the 6500 block of South Calumet Avenue when someone approached and fired shots about 1:30 a.m., police said. A 27-year-old woman was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Hospital. A 35-year-old woman was grazed in the back and refused treatment. A 21-year-old man was shot in the ankle and went to the University of Chicago Hospital, where he was in good condition. A second man was grazed on the hand and refused treatment.

In non-fatal shootings, a 28-year-old man was shot in Portage Park on the Northwest Side. About 11 p.m., he was dropped off at Community First Hospital with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder, police said. He is in fair condition. The man will be transferred to Stroger Hospital. The details of the shooting remain unknown.

Hours prior, a teen was shot and wounded in Austin on the West Side. The 17-year-old was near an alley about 8 p.m. in the first block of South Parkside Avenue when he was struck in the leg by gunfire, police said. He self-transported to West Suburban Hospital, where he was in good condition.

Seven others were wounded in shootings across Chicago.

Five people were killed, and nine others were wounded, in shootings Monday.

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Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Cancer.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Someone close to you might help you. They might give you a gift or do a favor for you or give you advice. Because the gods are smiling on you, this is also an excellent day to ask for a loan or mortgage or help someone else.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

A productive day! You will get a lot done because you’re in a practical frame of mind and motivated to achieve your objectives. Meanwhile, friends and partners are sympathetic to what you are trying to do and they might help you. Perfect! (We like.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This is a good day to teach children or organize sports events or anything to do with the hospitality industry or the entertainment world. You will swiftly take care of practical matters in a cost-effective way. You might feel sympathetic to a coworker.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

A family discussion will go well today, especially with a parent or an older family member. They might have good advice for you or give you practical assistance. Meanwhile, after you finish work, make time for play because this is a romantic, fun-loving day! Enjoy!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Because you’re in a practical frame of mind, you can tackle any work that requires effort, endurance and attention to detail. It’s an especially good day for mental work that requires concentration. Naturally, discussions with others will also be serious and practical.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If shopping today, you will be inclined to buy long-lasting practical items because you’re in a sensible frame of mind. Having said that, part of you feels dreamlike and whimsical! This part will encourage imaginative discussions and a longing to escape somewhere.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today it’s easy for you to be highly discipline, which is why you will channel your energies towards any goal that you set for yourself. Naturally, you will also derive great satisfaction when you fulfill this goal. (Shopping for something extravagant will appeal.) Oo la la!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This is an excellent day for research or plugging away at anything that requires steady effort. Very likely, you will achieve the most by working alone or behind the scenes because you don’t want to be disturbed by others. Nevertheless, you will be sympathetic with loved ones.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Great day to make practical plans for the future! Someone older or more experienced might have advice for you. Your ability to work with a group is excellent. (However, some of you are dabbling in a secret, romantic love affair.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Because you are in control today and have lots of self-discipline, you will organize the efforts of others. Naturally, this will impress bosses, parents and VIPs. They will also be impressed because you want to conserve things and take a cost-cutting approach to something.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is a good day to make travel plans because you have concentration and focus to deal with myriad details. Furthermore, it’s a great day to study. You might also meet a guru-like figure or a teacher today. (Some of you will develop a crush on a boss or someone in authority.)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Discussions about shared property, inheritances, taxes and red-tape details will go well today because you have excellent concentration and focus. In fact, this is a good day to negotiate a loan with a bank. Meanwhile, you have strong feelings of escapism and would love to travel. You will admire art from other cultures.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Basketball player Kevin Durant (1988) shares your birthday. You have a strong sense of justice and fair play, which is why you embrace idealistic causes. You are perceptive and quick to size up a situation. You are generous and kind. You do not shirk challenges. This year you will learn and perhaps teach. You might enroll in formal education, or educate yourself personally. It is also a time for personal reflection.

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