Pritzker on Bears story: Nope
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Fox 32…
For the first time, Illinois lawmakers are signaling support for using taxpayer money to assist the Chicago Bears with a potential stadium project—if the team chooses the Michael Reese Hospital site near McCormick Place instead of the lakefront Museum Campus.
House Speaker Chris Welch emphasized that the state is open to funding infrastructure improvements at the Michael Reese location, citing its potential to drive economic development in the area.
“If they choose a site like Michael Reese that could use economic development, that’s a different conversation,” Welch said.
State Senator Kam Buckner, whose district includes the proposed site, confirmed that $466 million in surplus money is available to support infrastructure like roads and bridges.
Governor JB Pritzker is open to talks with the Bears regarding the Michael Reese site, according to sources.
* From Gov. Pritzker’s spokesperson…
Governor Pritzker’s position against public funding for a Bears stadium has not changed. The organization is welcome to explore other options.
I asked Rep. Buckner about the story yesterday and he said, “None of this is correct. The Governor’s folks and I were both disputing simultaneously.”
Neither of the claims were included in the station’s 9 o’clock TV story.
* From that TV story…
Reporter: Welch says the Bears have not approached lawmakers about this yet. Says they’d be willing to listen, because a stadium there could lead to development of an underdeveloped neighborhood.
Welch: If they chose a site like Michael Reese, which, that’s a neighborhood in Bronzeville that can certainly use some great economic development. You know, that’s a different conversation. The state, you know, has a road fund that we could probably help with building roadways or improving the roadways around the area. That’s a totally different conversation than what’s being asked right now.
And it certainly isn’t a half a billion dollars.
- TJ - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:38 am:
I’m fine with infrastructure funding around Soldier Field II or Comiskey III projects, but that’s it.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:43 am:
The Bears biggest mistake will not have been Eberflus but Kevin Warren. They have a site in Arlington Heights and enough of their own money yet they mess around daydreaming about a state or city funded site in Chicago. Warren is wasting time and money on a pipe dream
- Steve - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:43 am:
Michael Reese is too far East. People want to drive to the stadium. Right now it takes too long for many people to get to their seat.
- levivotedforjudy - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:48 am:
There is actually a really dynamic project planned for the Michael Reese site. It’s the Chicago Arc, life sciences innovation incubator that should attract existing med-tech companies. It’s tied to what has been named the Bronzeville Innovation Center. It as strong financial support too. Part of the plan is to completely transform the neighborhood. Now that apparently the configuration does work for a Bears stadium (how did that change?) I would be cool with public infrastructure state funding going to it.
- walker - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:53 am:
Reporters are always jumping at the bait on this story.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:53 am:
The first thing I thought reading that was “what sources.” The 78, Lincoln Yards, Michael Reese have all been bigger flops than the Bears 2024 season.
- Here ye Here ye - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:55 am:
Rep Buckner needs to get out around the state more. I can give him 50 shovel-ready sites that need state funds in every region. In a tight budget public funds for a sports stadium rank at the bottom.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 11:59 am:
DuPage Saint, I have to respectfully disagree that Warren is wasting money. He’s making money. Kevin Warren is making out like a bandit. He’s getting paid millions based on the premise he’s gonna deliver a publicly funded stadium to these idiots. He’s about to pick the next coach. He’s the face of the Chicago Bears now, with all the attention and salary that entails.
Good luck with that to all the McCaskey heirs and heiresses.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
===Rep Buckner needs to get out around===
He denied he said that. C’mon. Read the post.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:29 pm:
= according to sources. =
Why were these sources granted anonymity when the Governor has on numerous occasions had very direct, contrasting statements about helping the Bears?
= The state, you know, has a road fund that we could probably help with building roadways… =
They do, but I gather IDOT was not getting a lot of the Road Fund approps they wanted in the FY25 plan. Sales tax receipts are also flat, so this path seems murky. Add in the political consequences if these anonymous sources turn out to have ties to the Bears.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:32 pm:
Surprised at Paris Schutz. He’s a great reporter but this was a huge whiff. There is more chance the Bears will be in the Super Bowl this year than that JB/Don/Chris agree to public funding for a new stadium.
And yea, DuPage Saint is correct. Kevin Warren is a disaster who doesn’t listen to what he’s told. This won’t end well.
- H-W - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:40 pm:
I have a son who lives in Arlington Heights. He and his roommates and friends are still convinced the Bears are coming to Arlington Heights. They say this is true, because their former landlords in a rental town-home complex did not renew most of the leases last year on the premise that the Bears players would be moving in.
Rumors are funny things. I bet there will soon be a conspiracy theory that the problem with the Bears has something to do with a pizza place where democrats hang out in Chicago, and do dirty things.
- bob - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
Ability to access the venue from all four sides would be a blessing.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:53 pm:
Looked into the Dallas stadium… city of Arlington issued bonds to contribute $325M when that stadium was built many years ago. Jerry Jones owns the stadium. We don’t want to do anything, yet the Park District would own a new Chicago stadium. Jerry Jones put in over $1B, the Bears are committing significant contribution, and the league will loan some money too. This seems like a negotiation to me, not just a hard no. Super Bowls, Final Fours, maybe even an Olympics down the road… I’m open to that if a deal can be struck.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 12:56 pm:
When the dust settles the Bears will be in Arlington Heights. And it’s not because they will be enticed with financial incentives from the state. It will simply be the lowest cost option available to the team.
- Oklahoma - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
Lockbox
- Oklahoma - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 1:37 pm:
“This seems like a negotiation to me, not just a hard no. ”
When only one side is negotiating, it isn’t negotiation…
- Jerry - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 1:59 pm:
Bears are a for-profit, privately owned business. They are free to spend their own money. Or get a bank loan.
A half a billion bucks would go a long way towards fixing the CTA Blue Line.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:00 pm:
= The organization is welcome to explore other options. =
That’s some excellent shade.
- Give Us Barrabbas - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:01 pm:
Governor and legislature all say no. Not ever.
Gullible reporters and Kevin Warren:
“So there’s a chance?”
- Wat - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:11 pm:
Brownsville? You mean Bronzeville.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:13 pm:
Please pardon all transcription errors.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
We’re just waiting in Arlington Heights…
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 2:52 pm:
I want to add to the voices predicting Arlington Heights, but I still can’t picture all those north side and north suburban fans going to games/events there unless they do a huge number of home teardowns on Euclid.
- Telly - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 3:06 pm:
== There is actually a really dynamic project planned for the Michael Reese site ==
If that plan was ready to go the developers wouldn’t be playing footsie with the Bears. The sad fact is the Chicago mega-projects (Michael Reese, the 78, Lincoln Yards, One Central) all seem to be on life support.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 3:15 pm:
“Governor JB Pritzker is open to talks with the Bears regarding the Michael Reese site, according to sources.”
Did that source smell like Delta 8?
– MrJM
- Don’t believe everything the internet tells you - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 3:21 pm:
=jerry jones owns At@t===
No he doesn’t. The city of Arlington does. Additionally Arlington was on schedule to retire bond debt early before taxpayers authorized 450 m in bonds for rangers new stadium.
How is advocating for Illinois to do the same fiscally responsible?
- Gravitas - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 3:45 pm:
They’re still waiting for the Chicago Bears to develop a stadium near Sauk Village, Illinois too.
- TNR - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 3:57 pm:
I don’t know how many different ways the Governor can say “no.”
It would seem getting a PILOT approved for Arlington Heights is the path of least resistance for the Bears…which is not to say there isn’t any resistance to that. There is plenty. But a long shot is better than no shot.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 4:27 pm:
The Bears cannot afford their domed lakefront stadium proposal. Period.
The Bears are already spending at Arlington Heights.
The Bears have settled their property tax dispute over Arlington Heights.
There is a receptive City Council anxious to settle this once and for all in Arlington Heights.
This whole thing is a horrible, horrible bluff that is starting to look more like the Bears stay at Soldier Field in its current form, and effectively take the place of South Suburban Airport for the multi-decennial big development project to debate ad nauseam.
Or they bring Staley home to Decatur. Nobody asked, but that’s my vote.
- Lightfoot's Modelo - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 4:39 pm:
The state and city should work on pressuring the NFL to fork over more money. The NFL reported nearly 20 billion in revenue last year. It is in every NFL team’s interest that the Bears end up in a new stadium that they own, as the overall value of each NFL team will increase. A rising tide lifts ALL boats.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jan 14, 25 @ 10:41 pm:
=The state and city should work on pressuring the NFL to fork over more money.=
The NFL is nothing more than an affiliation of billionaire owners. They already engage in revenue sharing. Paying for each other’s stadiums would undermine their attempts to get government money be it in Chicago or elsewhere. Here’s a novel idea. The Bears could use a lender to fund their stadium dreams. Values of NFL franchises only go up over time so securing financing should be easy peasy. They ask for public money out of pure greed.