Chicago lawmakers pump brakes on stadium plan to keep Bears in Illinois
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An aerial view of the former Arlington International Racecourse in 2021. The Bears purchased the land and have proposed a domed stadium on the site. Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Illinois lawmakers are championing a bill to keep the Chicago Bears in-state, but Chicago Democrats have serious concerns.
The latest: An Illinois House committee voted 13-7 to advance a new bill that provides property tax flexibility to the Bears in the hopes they will build their long-awaited domed stadium in the Land of Lincoln.
- Before the bill could get a full House vote, Chicago Democrats, including bill sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner, threatened to pull support if the bill didn't include, among other things, financial concessions for the city if the Bears moved to Arlington Heights.
The details: Illinois House Bill 910 (the "mega project" bill) would allow qualifying large-scale developers to negotiate with local governments on how much they pay in property taxes, rather than paying a traditional tax bill based solely on rising assessed value as construction proceeds.
- The proposed law would create a mechanism that could potentially allow the Bears to lock in property tax costs while constructing a massive stadium in Arlington Heights or elsewhere in Illinois.
Yes, but: After the bill passed out of committee, Chicago lawmakers questioned whether they could use it for a new pitch to the Bears or for other outstanding mega-development projects that have stalled in the city.
- The city's CFO is opposing the bill publicly, saying the new property tax incentives could help the city pitch "multiple viable options" for a new Bears stadium.
- Without the Chicago delegation's support, House leaders adjourned without a vote and won't return to the chamber until mid- to late March.
The other side: Downstate Republicans reacted strongly to the bill. "The government should not be cutting deals on behalf of billion-dollar corporations while taxpayers suffer," said state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) in a statement.
- Wilhour argued Indiana's proposal is more attractive. "The reality is that Indiana is simply an easier, friendlier place to invest."
Meanwhile, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Thursday signed a bill into law creating a sports authority and paving the way for billions of dollars in incentives for a stadium site in Hammond.
Zoom in: Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday on MS Now that the Bears are considering only two locations: Arlington Heights and Hammond.
Between the lines: While the stadium saga continues, the Bears have yet to agree to build in either state.
- "We look forward to continued engagement as the lawmakers determine the legislative path forward," the Bears said in a statement.
The bottom line: The twisting drama isn't sitting well with fans, according to our latest reader poll.