Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Episode Summary
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Hosted by: Dan Bernstein, with Matt Abbatacola
Episode: NEW STADIUM – What the Chicago Bears must do and soon
Date: February 23, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on the high-stakes drama surrounding the Chicago Bears’ stadium saga—where will the Bears play in the coming years, and what moves do they and state/local leaders need to make now? Dan Bernstein and longtime producer/co-host Matt Abbatacola deliver trademark sharp, unfiltered commentary on the messy negotiations, the Bears’ muddled leadership, and the city’s parallel plans for Soldier Field.
Other segments include an analysis of the Park District’s Soldier Field redevelopment, live reactions to the 2026 Winter Olympics wrap-up, Bulls and Cubs news, and a recurring debate about “Iraqpo-ing” celebrities in commercials.
The Bears’ Stadium Quagmire
The Current State: A "Clown Show" of Mixed Signals
- Bears' Dilemma: The team has sent unclear and conflicting messages about their stadium intentions: will they pursue Arlington Heights, downtown Chicago, or even a move to Indiana?
- JB Pritzker’s Ultimatum: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker urges the Bears to clarify their intentions ("The Bears need to step up and be public about what it is they really want.") — Dan Bernstein, 03:36.
- Bears’ Leadership Confusion: As of Saturday, Bears President Kevin Warren reaffirmed to Crain’s that Arlington Heights was still in play, after days of contradictory statements and media confusion.
- “This was a complete clusterfuck. And the Bears have to dig out of this and figure out who’s speaking for whom and when and how." — Dan Bernstein, 04:00
Who's Actually in Charge?
- Ownership Void: Dan repeatedly calls for owner George McCaskey to take direct charge, not just delegate to layers of executives.
- “At some point George McCaskey has to grab this entire process and say, I’m George McCaskey, I’m the person in charge of the Bears. Here’s what I actually want.” — Dan Bernstein, 05:13
- Critique of Kevin Warren:
- Warren gained goodwill by hiring coach Ben Johnson, but is now criticized for the stadium’s lack of progress.
- “He’s burned through all that capital as far as I’m concerned. Figure this thing out… you took something that seemed clear and made it unclear.” — Dan Bernstein, 07:00
- Unsuccessful “Frontman” Leadership: The co-host notes Warren played a similar figurehead role in Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium, not the dealmaker.
What’s At Stake This Week?
- Illinois’ Leverage: State officials could call the Bears’ bluff, threatening to halt tax breaks or stadium deals, and daring them to truly leave Illinois.
- “Illinois could call their bluff completely… and that we’re not even going to vote on this.” — Dan Bernstein, 10:40
- Calls for Adult Leadership:
- “This is a big week for the Bears to get their arms around this, figure out who represents what, whose interests are being served here through all of this, and be honest with people.” — Dan Bernstein, 09:31
- Unproductive Gambits: The consensus is that efforts to drum up Indiana interest were hollow and may have diminished Bears’ negotiating position.
Soldier Field, the Park District, and Concerts
Chicago Park District’s Bold Plan
- Leaked PowerPoint: Fox 32 obtained a detailed Park District plan to transform Soldier Field into a “massive concert and special event venue” post-Bears, totaling $630 million (stadium and infrastructure upgrades).
- Soldier Field Revenue Reality Check: The Bears account for less than 20% of venue revenue—most comes from concerts, soccer, and parking.
- “We as a city, those of us citizens of Chicago, we’re going to be better off without the Bears. The Bears account for less than 20% of the revenue generated by Soldier Field.” — Dan Bernstein, 18:21
- “I thought it was higher than that… that is a significant number, but not as significant as I would think an NFL team would be.” — Matt Abbatacola, 21:16
- Venue Potential:
- More and bigger concerts could replace lost Bears revenue, especially since NFL games block events within five days.
- Opportunities exist for hockey rinks, public memorials, and a Chicago Sports Hall of Fame.
- Economic Impact:
- Cited figures from the Park District: a Beyoncé concert weekend generated $85 million in hotel revenue.
- The hope is that freeing up Soldier Field’s schedule increases hotel and museum district revenue and helps pay off long-standing stadium debt.
Bears’ Relocation Tactics and Potential Fallout
Negotiation Angles and Blunders
- Poor Leverage Tactics: The hosts lambast the Bears for buying Arlington Heights land without securing leverage or state deals first.
- “It’s like, ‘Here’s the land… now go get us a stadium.’” — Matt, 07:48
- Unproductive Floating of Other Locations:
- Bears have flirted with Indiana, Iowa, the lakefront, but the hosts view this as weak and confusing posturing.
- Missed Opportunities: The co-host notes a smarter strategy would have highlighted the city’s own upside in losing the Bears as part of negotiations.
- “That’s an angle that should have been worked from the start.” — Matt, 22:20
- Doubts About Kevin Warren’s Role: Both hosts question what Warren actually accomplishes, especially as confusion deepens.
Quick Hits: Olympics, Bulls, Cubs, and Commercials
Olympics Wrap-Up
- USA Hockey:
- U.S. men’s hockey wins their first gold since 1980, beating Canada 2–1 in overtime.
- “USA had no right being in this game… they were lucky to be tied going into overtime.” — Matt, 32:17
- Notable Medals: USA finished second in overall medals, Norway first.
- Quirky Segment: Lighthearted confusion about the rules and languages in Olympic curling, poking fun at their inexperience.
Bulls & Cubs Update
- Bulls’ Losing Streak & Medical Woes:
- The broadcast teams are praised for candor during the Bulls’ slump; special nods to Stacy King’s “basketball sensibilities.”
- Jaden Ivey trade called a “catastrophe” due to lingering (and possibly undisclosed) mobility issues (“He can’t move right and he can’t get around a center and this guy was lightning fast. And he just isn’t anymore.” — Dan, 54:38).
- The Bulls’ reputation for handling player injuries is “not helping.”
- Cubs Free Agency:
- Michael Conforto signing is seen as minor, likely a bench/platoon move. “He was good for three years… after that he’s been meh. And now he’s bad.” — Dan, 48:09
The “Iraqpo-ing” Commercials Debate (38:00–45:00)
- Definition: To “Iraqpo” a commercial means heavy-handedly identifying the celebrity appearing, a running joke from a Geico ad featuring Brian Orakpo.
- Dan’s Policy Crisis:
- He confesses growing sympathy for “Iraqpo-ing” after struggling to identify celebrities in a Pokémon Super Bowl ad (“…I have no idea who anyone is in that commercial. I am ne. So I’ve been banned in my house from saying, ‘Who is that?’”). — Dan, 37:00
- Funny Exchange: Matt fiercely upholds the anti-Iraqpo stance, arguing most of the audience for a Pokémon ad doesn't need Lady Gaga identified, but maybe does need the K-pop star Jisoo identified.
- “You’re taking one commercial and three people you didn’t recognize and seeing everyone now…” — Matt, 41:26
- Resolution: The debate ends unresolved, to be tabled for future episodes.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- "This was a complete clusterfuck. And the Bears have to dig out of this..."
— Dan Bernstein (03:36) - "At some point George McCaskey has to grab this entire process and say, I'm George McCaskey, I'm the person in charge of the Bears. Here's what I actually want."
— Dan Bernstein (05:13) - "He’s burned through all that capital as far as I’m concerned. Figure this thing out… you took something that seemed clear and made it unclear."
— Dan Bernstein (07:00) - "We as a city, those of us citizens of Chicago, we're going to be better off without the Bears. The Bears account for less than 20% of the revenue generated by Soldier Field.”
— Dan Bernstein (18:21) - “I thought it was higher than that… that is a significant number, but not as significant as I would think an NFL team would be.”
— Matt Abbatacola (21:16) - “USA had no right being in this game… they were lucky to be tied going into overtime.”
— Matt Abbatacola (32:17) - "He can't move right and he can't get around a center and this guy was lightning fast. And he just isn't anymore."
— Dan Bernstein (54:38)
Key Timestamps for Segments
- 03:36 — Bears stadium fiasco, Pritzker, Bears’ leadership void
- 07:00 — Critique of Kevin Warren, Arlington Heights confusion
- 10:40 — Illinois leverage & potential for Bears to leave
- 16:09 — Chicago Park District's plan for Soldier Field post-Bears
- 21:16 — Discussion of Soldier Field revenue sources
- 27:36 — Winter Olympics final update & conversations on curling
- 38:00–45:00 — "Iraqpo-ing" celebrity commercials debate
- 48:06 — Cubs sign Michael Conforto ("he’s bad, you know")
- 50:10 — Bulls breakdown: losing streak, medical woes, and trading for injured players
Tone and Style
Blunt, sardonic, and conversational with real-time interruptions, frequent asides, and local Chicago sports color. Dan and Matt keep it honest, occasionally self-deprecating, and always ready to call out nonsense or failed leadership.
Takeaway
This episode is a must-listen for Chicago sports fans who crave honest, firsthand takes on issues that matter—especially if you’re tired of hopeful PR and filtered corporate speak about the future of the city’s iconic teams and landmarks. Dan and Matt don’t just recap events; they dig into the power dynamics, the blunders, and the politics shaping the next era of Chicago sports.