New poll shows frustration with Chicago Bears stadium standoff
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Halas Hall in Lake Forest. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
The saga over where the Bears will build their new stadium hit a crescendo last week as the Indiana General Assembly moved closer to a deal to lure the Bears across the border.
The big picture: Lawmakers from both states have weighed in, but fans had mixed reactions to the possible relocation.
- On Friday, Axios Chicago ran a reader poll and over 1,000 people answered various questions about the stadium.
- The overwhelming sentiment was that Bears fans are done with the drama.
When asked if the Bears should have to change names if they moved to Indiana, the majority of readers said yes.
- Readers were also clear on who they blame for the ongoing drama: 76% hold the Bears accountable, while 11% blame Gov. JB Pritzker.
The intrigue: While Indiana is moving fast, Illinois lawmakers are hoping to counter with an infrastructure package and a bill giving the Bears the right to negotiate their own property taxes in Arlington Heights.
- Only 7% of readers believe Illinois lawmakers should carve out more taxpayer money to keep the Bears here, while 39% say the state should pursue revenue-sharing solutions instead.
The other side: Axios Indianapolis also polled its readers, who are equally skeptical that the Bears will really move to the Hoosier state.
Yes, but: While the Bears have deemed building a new stadium in Chicago too expensive, it hasn't stopped Mayor Brandon Johnson and other analysts from giving one last pitch.
- "I still believe that the best place for the Chicago Bears to be is in the city of Chicago," Johnson said at a Thursday press conference.
- "Arlington Heights … Indiana … it ain't Chicago," he added.
Reality check: Pritzker said Friday that "there's a common understanding by most of the General Assembly that they're not going to be able to build in the city of Chicago."
State of play: The controversy has also hit national sports media.
- "The idea of a team whose ownership is worth one and a half billion dollars going to Indiana instead of staying in Chicago for tax money just blows my mind," Rachel Nichols said on The Herd.
- "If you can't afford to build in Chicago, sell the team to someone who can."
Editor's note: The chart has been corrected to note that 35% (not 65%) of survey respondents said the team should be called the Bears if it moves to Hammond.