Arlington Park is Gone

[@rainingtacox9051]

Go Bears!!

[@memoriesbywayne]

OMG, thank you for being my first Super Thanks! I want to cry. 😭 You'll get a subscribe from me, and if I ever get merch or something cool, you will get some free goodies! 🙂

[@SM-pk3io]

I grew up in the area and love seeing your videos Wayne - thank you! I hope your subscriber count jumps as these videos get into the algorithm.

[@memoriesbywayne]

@SM-pk3io thank you. I appreciate it. 2024 has been a pretty solid year here. Subscriber growth, view count, watch time. Not much I can complain about. 🙂

[@OnTheGoWithFlo-Kid22]

Lot's of great memories at the racetrack for me growing up. My dad loved the horse races, so we went regularly. Then later I would go to the craft shows they had there during the off season. And don't forget about Ditka's that was next door to it. I ate there with my friends a few times as an adult. My friend Father Tom was the spiritual advisor for the Chicago Bears the year they won the super bowl and was and still is good friends with Mike Ditka. I met Ronnie Woo Woo at Ditka's when we were there once. Remember him? Chicago Cubs biggest fan lol. My friend lives in Rolling Meadows and has a really cute house there down in the area where all the streets are named after birds lol. Oh! And they used to have yearly bird shows in the gym area of the high school I think. I went to those a few times too and bought a few birds and a jacket from them.

[@memoriesbywayne]

I think my biggest memories of Arlington were the few races I've been to. Relatively low cost as far as gambling activities go. And of course the amazing 4th of July fireworks. But I saw this place almost daily when I was commuting downtown. I'm pretty neutral with the whole Chicago Bears franchise TBH. I was pretty young to remember the '85 Bears. My parents were pretty disinterested in football. I didn't even really watch football until I met my wife lol. My only experience with Ditka was an interview on a sports radio show I listened to years ago and he had some very "colorful" opinions on politics, masks, and the pandemic. After that, I have fully disconnected and lost any respect I could have possibly had for him. I see him as some "mystical" figure of the past. But that's really about it. On the Cubs side though I do remember Ronnie. I love those older neighborhoods in Rolling Meadows. I know exactly where those bird streets are! I thought for sure I would have eventually ended up her permanently. But you never know what life has planned for you.

[@MidwestDecaying]

That's wild just messaged you about something else in this area and then see you did this video haha. I loved going to this place. Good memories.

[@memoriesbywayne]

I'm going to really miss Arlington Park. It was relatively affordable entertainment. And the 4th of July fireworks were absolutely amazing! :-)

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

It was torn down to lower the property tax of the new owner. Whether they build a sports stadium or the Bears sell the land, no one was going to use the Arlington Park buildings so no loss. And no buildings for people to get into, vandalize and cause problems meanwhile.

[@memoriesbywayne]

Definitely make sense. Still disappointed that someone decided horse racing was no longer a viable form of entertainment. Certainly more viable and affordable than over priced Bears tickets to watch a mediocre team.