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Speaker Welch on funding a new Bears stadium: ‘Insensitive to what real people are going through right now’
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * House Speaker Chris Welch was at the City Club today and was asked about prospects for the state helping the Bears build a new stadium and entertainment complex…
My own opinion is if the state of Indiana - which just “balanced” its budget by “cutting public health and higher education funding” and using one-time revenue sources for ongoing spending - wants to feed the McCaskey family ego, let ‘em. Outsource the billionaire vanity burden to the Hoosier rubes. * Also, Pearson made a good point…
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- Jerry - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 1:57 pm:
No Welfare for the Bears!
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
=Outsource the billionaire vanity burden to the Hoosier rubes.=
As a life long rabid bears fan (I mean I know the university each 85 bears starter went to) I agree 100%. Let them go if that is what they want to do.
Also, Rick Pearson is spot on. If Indiana wants to support a billionaire family over k-12 ed then I am all in. Makes Illinois look that much better.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:11 pm:
Bear down, Rick Pearson.
- Alton Sinkhole - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
==Or does the ILGOP support a deal that shortchanges Arlington Heights public schools their rightful property tax revenue as the Bears plan adds new residential property?==
Yes, yes the MAGA Party does want to shortchange the state and local governments.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
Win a playoff game with your bad defense and mediocre quarterback, then get back to us.
- Tax And Spend - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
Warren should call Welch and ask….if it’s good enough for a Proviso Sports Complex…it’s not good enough for the Bears….
- Tom - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
I suspect the Bears end up in Indiana, and while the politicians in Illinois will applaud, eventually it will become a black mark. “Hey, Dad, why did the Bears move to Indiana?” Well, son, because Illinois couldn’t get its stuff together.”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:24 pm:
=== Well, son, because Illinois couldn’t get its stuff together===
Yeah, right. More like, well, son, because Illinois wasn’t gonna fund a vanity stadium for a billionaire and the broke rubes next door jumped at the chance.
- New Day - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:30 pm:
Zero question in my mind that if the Bears move to Indiana, the GOP will blame the Dems with a line like “…because Illinois couldn’t get its stuff together.” But as many here like to point out, it’s complete horsepucky. Kevin Warren couldn’t move of his one Vikings idea. Reminds me of the Brady Bunch movie when everything Mike designed - from a garage to a gym - looked like the Brady Bunch house. Kevin Warren is exactly the same. This one ain’t on the state.
Oh, and one more thing. Did I miss the brilliant GOP plan to keep the Bears in Chicago???
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:33 pm:
=Well, son, because Illinois couldn’t get its stuff together.”=
I’m not seeing a groundswell of support for a taxpayer funded Bears stadium. And obviously Pritzker and Welch aren’t either. Those days have passed. Ask the Ricketts if you don’t believe me.
- Sox Fan - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:37 pm:
Consider the Bear’s bluff officially called.
- JB13 - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:43 pm:
– insensitive to what real people are going through right now –
I just learned my property taxes are increasing over $500 this year.
Oh, and in July, the gas tax will increase once again, automatically, thanks to a law that Mr. Speaker helped pass.
But please, do go on.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:44 pm:
Warren has to be the most dense person ever in charge of anything. Has he not read the history of Bear’s stadium proposals? Does he not understand the Bears own land in Arlington Heights? He certainly does not understand Illinois politics
- Think again - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
” shortchanges Arlington Heights public schools their rightful property tax revenue”
The issue is not black and white in terms of funding for the schools - any “megaproject” tax freezes and PILOT agreement will include a negotiated “impact fee” for the schools, and the Districts also could negotiate community benefits like school event access.
- Sox Fan - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:02 pm:
===The issue is not black and white in terms of funding for the schools - any “megaproject” tax freezes and PILOT agreement will include a negotiated “impact fee” for the schools, and the Districts also could negotiate community benefits like school event access.==÷
Here’s an idea for the Bears. Work out some sort of framework for what this negotiated tax bill will look like so that taxpayers have a full understanding of what PILOT legislation will actually save the Bears/Cost other taxpayers.
As it stands, the “mega project” legislation is incomplete. How can you ask any lawmaker to support?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:06 pm:
As a Packer owner, I’ll refrain from commenting on the Bears. However, as a temporary MO resident - I’ll be back to IL at some point - I see the anger the Chief’s move has generated. As a T-MO taxpayer, GOOD RIDDANCE TO EXTORTIONIST SPORTS FRANCHISES.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:09 pm:
“Just Say No” was a good slogan for Mrs. Reagan and it applies to the quest for public funding for the Bears.
- Head in Sand - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:14 pm:
There is plenty of posturing. But if the Bears go to Indiana, with all the economic activity surrounding the games, it will be a black eye on the State and City leadership.
- TNR - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:20 pm:
If Indiana wants to completely give away the store the way the state of Kansas did to lure the Chiefs (at least $1.8 billion in sales tax revenue,) then Indiana is more than welcome to have the Bears.
Having said that, I don’t think Bears’ PILOT ask for Arlington Heights is out of line. The Bears have done a horrible job selling it and have yet to figure out a way to get Chicago-based legislators to vote for it, which is why it’s gone nowhere.
- Siualum - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:35 pm:
“Did I miss the brilliant GOP plan…?”. Here is the perfect issue and opportunity for the IL GOP to shine. Get the Bears to stay in Illinois without any taxpayer subsidies. You can do it. /s
- SKI - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:35 pm:
Unless you live in the Chicago media market, you won’t be able to see the Bears playoff game unless you shell out money for Amazon Prime.
The Bears don’t even care enough about Illinois to encourage TV deals that allow all of their fans to easily watch games, so why should the fans foot the bill for anything related to this new stadium project?
- Jerry - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:42 pm:
Arlington Heights taxpayers DESERVE “tax certainty” NOT the Bears. Quit mooching, pay for it yourselves and be good corporate citizens and donate it to the state/city.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:56 pm:
–There is plenty of posturing. But if the Bears go to Indiana, with all the economic activity surrounding the games, it will be a black eye on the State and City leadership.
10-11 games a year with preseason? It’s not that hard to replace with conferences that are in the city longer. Billionaires can pay their own way or find a different mark.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:10 pm:
“I don’t think Bears’ PILOT ask for Arlington Heights is out of line. The Bears have done a horrible job selling it.”
Because that isn’t really the issue. The McCaskey’s don’t have enough money to build what they want. Not even close. The tax thing is an excuse to get them to ask for a free stadium on other sites.
- TNR - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:14 pm:
== Work out some sort of framework for what this negotiated tax bill will look like ==
This gets to my earlier point about the Bears having done an awful job explaining and selling their Arlington proposal. An agreement was reached, approved, and published about 13 months ago by the elected boards for the village of Arlington Heights and the three school districts on how the PILOT will work. No one seems to know that.
https://ccsd15.diligent.community/document/0da3197e-1103-4dea-972d-05bece93303f/
- Google is Your Friend - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:18 pm:
==- Norseman - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 3:06 pm:==
Jackson County, Missouri (Kansas City) literally voted no extending an existing sales tax to fund an overhaul of Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals. And guess what, Kansas residents are in for a rude awakening when this bait-and-switch deal hits them hard. For one, local towns don’t even know if they’re in the tax district that’s gonna have money diverted to fund the whims of billionaire oil nepo baby. Then there’s the aspect where they don’t even know the stadium site lol. You’d think the McCaskeys owned the Chiefs!
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/johnson-county/article314123383.html
https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/02/chiefs-move-to-kansas-leaves-experts-grappling-with-possible-revenue-drain-massive-unknowns/
- don the legend - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:25 pm:
==The Bears don’t even care enough about Illinois to encourage TV deals that allow all of their fans to easily watch games,…==
You really don’t have a clue as to how media rights to NFL games work, do you?
- Tom Gooch - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 4:32 pm:
Eat the Rich
- Big Tom - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:04 pm:
Has anyone talked to Decatur?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:06 pm:
===Has anyone talked to Decatur? ===
Yes. Try to keep up or at least use an online search page.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:14 pm:
==“Just Say No” was a good slogan for Mrs. Reagan and it applies to the quest for public funding for the Bears.==
“Just Say No” and the Chicago Bears: Two things that peaked forty years ago.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 5:26 pm:
=I just learned my property taxes are increasing over $500 this year.=
Congratulations on the increase in property value you are experiencing.
=The issue is not black and white in terms of funding for the schools - any “megaproject” tax freezes and PILOT agreement will include a negotiated “impact fee” for the schools, and the Districts also could negotiate community benefits like school event access.=
And “impact fee” does nothing for continuing costs for the schools. and “school event access” has zero value, it is a ridiculous suggestion.
The bears like anyone else should pay their taxes. That said, there is a framework for the bears to save some money while holding the schools harmless financially. It is a framework that has been used numerous times and for a small consulting fee I would be happy to share it with Kevin Warren. That they have not tried this approach tells me how completely incompetent the bears are.
Since I don’t think the bears are smart enough to read CapFax (not a slight to Rich in any way shape or from and further evidence of how bad the bears org is) I will share it here for free (it really is incredibly simple). IF the bears were smart (and we know the answer to that) they would approach the school district and ask for a neutral process to determine the value of the property pre and post development. That process is usually one person/firm chosen by the bears and one by the schools and one that is mutually agreed upon and then take average of the three, or it can me the middle assessment or whatever they agree upon. They then come to an agreement on an assessment freeze and property tax based on the freeze for a period of time (typically 5-10 years) and then renew using the same process at each interval. Then, using the actual value, the bears make a cash donation to the district. That donation is tax deductible for the bears, and that money does not count against the school district local capacity for the EBF. A win for both. Legal. But they don’t seem to want to engage the schools, just the legislature which is not going to intervene right now and the schools know that so why help the bears out.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 7:58 pm:
We would love for the Bears to come to Arlington Heights. I am for PILOT.
But the Bears have to negotiate. We are the NFL, give us money won’t work.
- ChicagoBars - Tuesday, Jan 6, 26 @ 8:16 pm:
For the record the Bears game will also be on Fox 32 on Saturday. The NFL is avaricious, not insanely dumb.
https://wgntv.com/sports/nfl-announces-dates-times-and-networks-for-wild-card-weekend/amp/