* Text from Sen. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights)…
Kevin Warren called to let me know they’re going to Indiana, (not specifically Hammond)
Warren of course is the President/CEO of the Chicago Bears.
Another top legislative source said Warren told him, “We’re moving forward with the Indiana plan.” When asked what that meant, Warren said, “We’re going to focus on Hammond.”
Comments are reopened.
…Adding… The Bears…
STATEMENT FROM CHICAGO BEARS CHAIRMAN GEORGE H. MCCASKEY AND PRESIDENT & CEO KEVIN WARREN
Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected. We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch…
“In April, the House passed an economic development package that was the product of extensive negotiation with the Bears and other stakeholders. That bipartisan legislation reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development and provide property tax relief for working people.
“While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills—not taxpayer-funded stadiums.
“Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois. However, it will take time to get it right.”
…Adding… I asked the Senate’s top Bears negotiator Sen. Bill Cunningham if Warren had called him. Cunningham’s response…
Yes, heard from Warren this morning. He said they’d be putting out a statement about moving forward with Indiana. Also said he looked forward to further discussion with me.
I’d point out, the statement they released today is not fundamentally different from the statement they issued February 19th after the Indiana bill passed.
Emphasis added.
…Adding… Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office…
Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today’s announcement is not surprising.
It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal.
Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.
…Adding… Gov. JB Pritzker Spox…
“The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress. Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith. Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon…
“The Chicago Bears have been saying for some time now that Hammond, Indiana is their main focus. Today’s statement isn’t fundamentally different than what the team said in February after Indiana voted to give the Chicago Bears more than a billion dollars in taxpayer money if they move to Indiana.
But that didn’t stop their conversations about a future here in Illinois, and it doesn’t appear that today’s statement will either.
We are ready and willing to re-engage with the Chicago Bears when they realize Illinois will always be the best place for them.”
…Adding… If he had a plan, he should’ve shared it during spring session early enough to make sure it could be considered. This special session talk will likely not go down well with many rank and file Dems unless their constituents demand they give the store away to the Bears…
…Adding… Sun-Times…
The Bears’ announcement tips the scales significantly toward Hammond but falls well short of a final decision. A source cautioned that Friday’s announcement didn’t eliminate Arlington Heights from consideration, were the state to find a way to give the Bears property tax certainty on the 326-acre plot they own. It’s unclear whether waiting until the Senate and House reconvene this fall would be too late.
This basically confirms what Sen. Cunningham said.
…Adding… Rep. Kam Buckner…
This morning, Kevin Warren called to let me know Bears would be releasing a statement regarding Hammond. He ended the conversation by committing to continue discussions around their pursuit of a new stadium in Illinois.
After reading the statement, it’s worth noting that it is actually less definitive than the one the Bears issued earlier this year. In February, the Bears specifically referenced conducting due diligence on a site near Wolf Lake in Hammond, signaling that they had identified a particular location they were evaluating. Today’s statement, by contrast, says only that the project would be in Hammond, with the exact site still to be selected.
That’s not a criticism. It’s simply an acknowledgment that the Bears’ own language leaves additional flexibility and does not represent a final decision. The carefully crafted statement also uses words that describe a process that is continuing, rather than reaching a conclusion.
In April, the Illinois House advanced HB 910, legislation that established a critical economic development framework for projects across the state, including tools that could have supported the Bears’ pursuit of a new stadium. Illinois has continued to engage in good faith efforts to create pathways for transformative development and job creation.
What’s equally important is what wasn’t said. Neither the statement nor my conversation with Kevin suggested that Illinois is off the table. In fact, our discussion was forward-looking and centered on continuing conversations. If a final decision had truly been made, I wouldn’t expect the focus to be on what comes next.
There will be plenty of time to debate how this process has unfolded. I’m less interested in relitigating the past than I am in focusing on the future. What I took away from today’s conversation is that the door remains open. So does ours.
If the Bears are prepared to continue the conversation, as they confirmed to me today, there remains a viable path forward in Illinois, whether in Arlington Heights or in Chicago. We stand ready to have those conversations and continue working toward a solution that keeps the Chicago Bears in Illinois.
Emphasis added.
…Adding… GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and Lt. Gov. candidate Aaron Del Mar…
“After 100 years, the Chicago Bears won’t be in Illinois – and it’s all because JB Pritzker and his disastrous agenda forced the heart and soul of Chicagoland to abandon its identity, its fans, and its state for more competitive waters. For years, Pritzker and the Democrats bled Illinois residents dry with higher costs and even higher taxes, but bankrupted our state with corrupt pet projects. Now, Pritzker has nothing left to offer residents or one of the biggest drivers of tourism in our state, losing in 8 years what Illinois spent the past 100 years trying to keep. It’s a sad day in Illinois, and we only have JB Pritzker to blame.”
…Adding… House Minority Leader Tony McCombie…
“The Chicago Bears choosing Indiana over Illinois should be a wake-up call, and Governor Pritzker owns this failure. The loss of one of our state’s most iconic franchises is a significant blow to our economy, our reputation, and future investment.
“Families and employers have been leaving Illinois in search of greater opportunity. Now it appears the Bears may be doing the same.
“After years of one-party control, this is both a failure of leadership and an embarrassment for our state. Illinois taxpayers are left paying the price while jobs, investment, and economic growth cross our borders.”
…Adding… Senate Minority Leader John Curran…
“We have heard from the Indiana Governor that his State moves at the speed of business. Gov. Pritzker needs to understand that failing to produce a serious proposal after three years to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois isn’t good faith negotiation - it’s dysfunction. It’s time for Gov. Pritzker to Bear Down, address the infighting in the Democratic legislative caucuses and bring Republicans substantially into the process to help produce a bipartisan plan that protects taxpayers, grows our economy and keeps the Chicago Bears in Illinois for generations to come.”
…Adding… The Illinois Republican Party…
Today, Illinois families and Bears fans across the state saw the consequences of inept, failed Democrat leadership as the Chicago Bears announced they are moving forward with a move to Indiana after 100 years in Illinois.
“Once again, JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson failed Illinois,” said ILGOP Chairman Bob Grogan. “The Chicago Bears are an integral part of our state, its identity and its culture. Now, after 100 years representing our state, they join thousands of families fleeing for greener pastures. Illinois families now have to ask – what have JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson actually done for us?”
…Adding… JB for Governor spox…
“A private citizen like Darren Bailey can say as he pleases, as he has no authority over anything. He has no plan and has no new ideas. He’s perfectly willing to raise taxes on all Illinoisans to build a stadium for a nine-billion-dollar sports franchise – even praising Indiana for passing a bill to raise $1 billion in sales taxes on working people and suggesting spending lifesaving COVID relief funds on this. What’s clear is that Darren Bailey’s ignorance would be a disaster for Illinois.
- Remember the Alamo II - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 10:56 am:
At least we won’t have to hear about these silly subsidy requests anymore.
- Buford - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 10:57 am:
Ok
- Fan of Winning Teams Only - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:00 am:
Okay, bye!
- Hmmmm - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:03 am:
Kevin Warren making a strong case to be the most hated man in Chicago
- Truthiness - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:05 am:
For real, or trying to create leverage for a special session? I won’t believe anything until I see shovels in the ground
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:07 am:
===leverage for a special session===
Yeah, let’s do a special session for a football team entertainment complex when so many other needs are being unmet here.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:08 am:
Funny how Kevin Warren goes to the press for everything, makes sure he’s on camera for post game locker room videos, gets bio fluff articles on himself published, but no press for this.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:12 am:
It might be legit. But I could also see this as the next delay tactic. It buys a couple months until the environmental review shows the land as too toxic.
- The Muse - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:15 am:
Not at all unexpected. Our state really cannot get out of their own way sometimes. Also, is the city of Chicago really going to do a $600 million upgrade to Soldier Field given their current financial situation? Arlington was the best bet to keep this team in state. IF they go to Indiana, it’s a loss for our state.
- Hank from Stickney - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:15 am:
BLUFF
- curtis - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:17 am:
I’ll believe it when I see it. If you’re so inclined to build on a toxic waste pile, go for it.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:19 am:
So we demolished the horse racing track for nothin?
- 4th and Never - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:20 am:
“Focus is Indiana.” Ok. Happy Focusing.
- Nick - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:21 am:
Will be interesting to see how this plays out politically.
It sucks, I could even understand the need for a mega projects bill, but this entire process has been [swear word] and Pritzker can pretty easily say, as one businessman to another, no we’re not selling the farm so rich owners can build a new stadium when they’re still paying for the renovations to soldier field.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:22 am:
==Our state really cannot get out of their own way sometimes.==
Sure, but is this one of those times? There are a LOT of people who did not want to see their state and local governments give the McCaskeys the special treatment they were asking for.
- Soccer Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:23 am:
And?
- Recovering Bureaucrat - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:23 am:
Kevin Warren ran this same “play” in Minneapolis, resulting in a public-private deal for that stadium. It wasn’t a great deal for MN and Minneapolis, but he’s running the OPM (other peoples’ money) play again … this is his last desperation move to get IL and Chicago/Arlington Heights to bite … IMHO, enjoy the Hoosier State.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:25 am:
If Kevin Warren said it it has to be true. Take it to the bank
- Old IL Dude - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:26 am:
Well … bye.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:26 am:
Sell Arlington Park then.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:29 am:
Wait a minute - THEY DON’T HAVE A SITE?
What happened to Lost Marsh?
- SAP - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:34 am:
==What happened to Lost Marsh?==
Can’t find it.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:34 am:
Unions can’t be happy with the Illinois pols who pretty much forced this to happen.
- SAP - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:35 am:
==So we demolished the horse racing track for nothin?==
Not for nothin. Saved the Bears a couple buck in property taxes
- Strategic ambiguity - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:35 am:
The word “advance” in the phrase “voted to advance” has at least several dozen potential meanings.
Also, if Hammond is a 100% done deal, maybe Indiana should scale back their offer.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:36 am:
===Not for nothin===
Correct. And “we” didn’t demolish the track complex. The Bears did.
- Emanuel Collective - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:36 am:
The Hammond site is simply not a location that can support events beyond Bears games. You can forget about concerts, Super Bowls, Final Fours, etc. And the Bears wouldn’t even own this stadium in the end either. Warren all-but had to announce this move lest they lose their only remaining leverage over Illinois; he might’ve played the team into a corner.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:37 am:
No one should be really surprised, given the owner and team quality history.
They no longer represent Chicago and Illinois and should relinquish the name. But they won’t, they’ll be just like red states, disproportionally benefiting from the money of Democratic areas.
- Amalia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:37 am:
I hate the subsidies. but losing the team to another state? that may well be thrown about as a failure of leadership. damned if you do, more damned if you don’t.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:37 am:
@Rahm’s Parking Meter
I think they have a broad stretch of land ID’d by IN, they just need to narrow it down to “Ok, the staidum will be here, the parking lot will be there…”
- B - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:39 am:
Good riddance. Out of principal I will never attend a game there till I die.
But this is a win for tax payers here. Let Indiana residents get raked over the coals for this. People will still fly into Chicago airports and stay downtown for events and games.
Byeeee
- Old IL Dude - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:40 am:
The Bears Stadium in Illinois is a money loser for taxpayers. It’s a net add for Chicago having it in Indiana — 2% hotel tax revenue to pay off Sox Park renovations expire in 2029, and for Bears reno expire in 2032. Keep the tax revenues for other stuff.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:43 am:
===You can forget about concerts, Super Bowls, Final Fours, etc.===
Facts not in evidence.
Also, (and I know you didn’t specifically say this) if you think Taylor Swift fans won’t go to Hammond, think again.
- Not Joe Kotlarz - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:43 am:
I’d like to blame Quentin Fulks for this but I can’t.
- Melvin - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:45 am:
Courtney Cronin, the Bears reporter for ESPN, tweeted that: “While I’m being told that the Bears announcement on Hammond is “real”, i.e. not a leverage play, a league source told me that the Bears leaving the state is not a done deal and “Illinois can still get back in the race.”
In other words, my “Not a Leverage Play” shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my shirt.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:45 am:
==And “we” didn’t demolish the track complex. The Bears did.==
Okay, I’ll amend my comment.
So the Bears demolished the horse track just to not build a stadium there?
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:46 am:
==Also, (and I know you didn’t specifically say this) if you think Taylor Swift fans won’t go to Hammond, think again.==
Very true. They will also get a hotel in downtown chicago
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:46 am:
==Unions can’t be happy with the Illinois pols who pretty much forced this to happen.==
This was not a priority for organized labor.
- That Guy - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:47 am:
==What happened to Lost Marsh?==
== = Can’t find it. = ==
I chuckled.
- Regular democrat - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:47 am:
Finally they made a decision. I would bet the NFL put some pressure on them to wrap it up. The sun will rise tomorrow and the fans will go to Hammond. Sounds like another site in hammond might be under consideration. Meanwhile congrats to the most inept business family in the history of professional sports. On the bright side this can be a shot in the arm for the long neglected south side.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:48 am:
==Poor JB Pritzker. Can you imagine the ads when he’s waddlingfor President of United States? He’ll be the guy who drove the Chicago Bear’s out of Illinois.==
Do you really think primary voters in SC are gonna care about that? Do you really think they wouldn’t be satisfied with “I didn’t want to give another billionaire family another sweetheart deal”?
- James - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:48 am:
Hilarious.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:49 am:
A Chicago loss became an Illinois loss I guess. In my limited experience, there has been a dysfunctional relationship between the Bears and the power brokers in Chicago for decades. I guess they could not put aside their differences and focus on the better angels of our nature so to speak.
===I’d like to blame Quentin Fulks for this but I can’t.===
Lol, very good. I needed this laugh.
- Poppa Bears Haghless - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:49 am:
Brandon Johnson proving his incompetence once again. Less than 24 hours after gloating about killing the Springfield deal on the radio because he thought the Bears would stay in Chicago. Well, he doesn’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic leaving a Bears game anymore because they’re not giving him free tickets or a slush fund anymore.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:50 am:
==Poor JB Pritzker. Can you imagine the ads when he’s waddlingfor President of United States? He’ll be the guy who drove the Chicago Bear’s out of Illinois.==
I doubt SC Dem primary voters will care at all, and if they do, they’re probably disinclined to fund these big stadium deals. Hell, IL voters were.
- Proud Papa Bear - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:50 am:
Praise be. Let Indiana pay for our stadium. I could never afford to go to games anyway and with their shrunken stadium, it’ll be even more expensive.
I’m also happy I’ll never have to worry about traffic nightmares when I drive through the northwest suburbs on game days.
I’m not a “I’ll never root for them again” guy but over the past 30 crummy years, I’ve become more of a fan of football in general and less of a Bears fan.
- Happy traveler - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:51 am:
Johnson won’t have to worry about leaving early anymore
- Jrh - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:52 am:
I suspect this is a fiscal positive for the state and city. The city will still capture much of the tourist revenue—people aren’t out clubbing in Gary after the game. NFL stadiums historically have a bad ROI. The Arlington Heights parcel will eventually be developed without tax breaks. Of course it’s been handled in a quite embarrassing and haphazard way by the Bears, the city, and the state.
- ThePAMan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:53 am:
Does this also count as a “win” for the SDA Mayor of Chicago?
- Emanuel Collective - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:54 am:
=Facts not in evidence=
For what it’s worth, the NFL can and will change its rules whenever they wish, but Miami recently fell out of the Super Bowl rotation because it isn’t sufficiently close to the urban core and it lacks event spaces/amenities close to the stadium. The Final Four tends to track the Super Bowl’s requirements. The proposed Hammond site is in an even worse location than Miami’s stadium.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:54 am:
Sorry for the double post.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:54 am:
Mayor Johnson - looking worse than when he left the Packers Bears game for Ingress egress…
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:56 am:
==I guess they could not put aside their differences and focus on the better angels of our nature so to speak.==
Well, I think it depends on what we think those “better angels” were. There’s a LOT of people who are pretty uncomfortable with stadium deals. I don’t know that this was a failure of negotiation so much as an honest disagreement of principles.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:57 am:
That Vatican delegation was always tempting God’s wrath. /s
- Charles Edward Cheese - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 11:59 am:
Fantastic! Let the Indiana taxpayers build the stadium, they clearly have no other pressing needs that Indiana constituents want addressed. In the meantime Bears fans and concert goers will fly into a Chicago airport, stay at Chicago hotels, eat and drink at Chicago bars and restaurants, and then take the trip over to the stadium.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:00 pm:
What will now go on the Arlington Heights site? A data center?
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:00 pm:
>clubbing in Gary after the game
That’s why they are building an entertainment area around the stadium, to capture that revenue. Only way to capture that now is to increase the skyway tolls….Oh wait, Chicago sold that in 2005.
- Boone's is Back - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:00 pm:
Fire Kevin Warren and let him build his monorail somewhere else.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
Reading twitter (which I understand isn’t real life) seems to suggest that the state is to blame for the Bears choosing a site that nobody really wants.
It’s hard to believe the bears are going to make a 30 year commitment to play in a location the majority of their fans disapprove of.
But then again, I guess the Jets and the Giants did the same thing and then doubled down and built their next stadium there too
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:02 pm:
So long and good luck. I think Illinois did the right thing by refusing to fund the operations of a private business that operates in the state about 10 days per year.
Giving that business the right to negotiate their own taxes would have been wrong. Freezing those rates for 30 years would be very wrong.
- Steve - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:04 pm:
Chicago and Illinois will be saving a lot tax money by not giving into the Bears.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
Sen. Cunningham’s statement sounds a lot like grasping at the Bears not totally burning a bridge. Why would they ever burn the bridge though?
- Red Ranger - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:08 pm:
Not buying it. This is another ham-handed move by Warren and the Bears We are in the early third quarter of this game. Warren and the Bears would have been much better served by quiet negotiations with AH and IL leaders. Nothing worse than a bluff that no one believes. They are really bad at this.
- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:10 pm:
In this legislative session, the Bears saga seemed to dominate the news, both locally and nationally. The Bears still remain the most popular sports franchise in Illinois, I guess until they move out.
In my lifetime, Illinois will then go from two NFL franchises (Chicago Cardinals/later St. Louis Cardinals/now Arizona Cardinals) and the Chicago Bears.
The Bears I am sure will keep the name “Chicago Bears.”
But then, I drive the I-80 and I-90 interstates through Indiana including I-65 on a regular basis. That region has been coming alive, primarily based on the casinos and hotels creating new businesses (recalling how Chicago dithered on that issue back then while Indiana simply helped to build casinos). Even downtown Gary is slowly beginning to blossom.
Oh, well.
- Phineas - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:13 pm:
Cue Chicago Wolf Lake environmental lawsuit in 3, 2, 1 …
- Mason born - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:13 pm:
Good. Hopefully we can all move on and focus on things that are more important.
They can build in Indiana, take the money from Indiana tax payers, they’ll still be the Chicago Bears just like the NY Jets and Giants that play in New Jersey. After tge construction finishes and the landscape roots in well it really won’t matter.
Glad IL taxpayers aren’t on the hook for any of it.
- Billionaire Budster - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:14 pm:
J is for Jettison B is for Bears. Now that’s a slogan.
- Roadrager - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:15 pm:
Warren and the McCaskeys bluffing with their eyes locked in on the backs of their own cards again, hypnotized by the pretty bicycles. “Time to go all-in,” they say, hesitantly nudging one chip toward the pot.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:16 pm:
I said at the beginning of May that I would be so happy May 3- when I would not have to hear anymore about the Bears. Boy was I wrong
- OneMan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:17 pm:
Thanks Indiana tax payers for subsidizing a stadium that I would at most visit once a year reguardless of where it was.
As for the JB ads…
I didn’t push for a multibillion dollar corporation to get a tax subsidy isn’t a terrible look tbh.
- Galloping Ghost - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
When they announce the sale of the land in Arlington Heights, I’ll believe it -although even then they can just stay at Soldier Field too ! What a clown show of an organization, Kevin Warren is playing the McCaskey family and they are taking it hook line and sinker.
- Hoosier Daddy - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
This will roll right into whom ever runs against JB on either party.
JB loses companies even historical ones to other states will be what he is being beaten over the head with in ads. I can see mayor Petes ads now……….
- Original anon - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:23 pm:
For the Bears, this is an obvious choice. Illinois has no infrastructure assistance for the Arlington Heights development and no easy means to provide tax certainty. Indiana provided that.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:24 pm:
== He’ll be the guy who drove the Chicago Bear’s out of Illinois.
Imagine thinking being against corporate welfare for exceedingly rich folks is a detriment in an election.
Let the door hit them on the way out.
or
More likely, “Really, guys, we are thinking about Indiana–don’t you know want to stop us? Please?”
- Bears Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:29 pm:
As Rich has pointed out, JB wants PILOT as a development tool generally for megaprojects across Illinois, and the Bears’ Arlington site is his chance to get it done
- OneMan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:30 pm:
Someone may want to reach out to the Cardinals since there is an available stadium in Chicago
- AD - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:31 pm:
I don’t really care how you spin it. Losing the Bears to Indiana is a terrible look. But Speaker Welch’s pitch is an even worse look for anyone that looks at facts. Gas Prices are $1.10 cheaper in Indiana than Illinois. Insurance prices are 20% lower. And I have a feeling groceries may be cheaper as well, but I don’t have facts to support that.
You can’t spin that you’re more worried about those things when the place that the Bears are leaving for are better at those things than you are. Indiana also has a 2% lower income tax rate and a property tax rate that is 1/3 of Illinois.
Spin all you want Speaker, but as much as I didn’t like Madigan, I don’t think the Bears leave under his leadership.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
===but as much as I didn’t like Madigan,===
Oh, for crying out loud. He couldn’t do everything and he is a Chicagoan.
The myth that won’t die. Move on, already.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
- Also said he looked forward to further discussion with me. -
My mom negotiates garage sale purchases better than these clowns.
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
Will reporters be staking out Halas Hall this weekend for the moving vans?
- FDB - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:35 pm:
Just more evidence of how completely inept Illinois democrats are they drove Illinois into the ground
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:35 pm:
- Indiana also -
Doesn’t let you buy cold beer in gas stations. That alone negates anything you can say about them.
- Huh? - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:35 pm:
Let me know when they start building a.practice center in Gary.
- Billionaire Budster - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:36 pm:
=== Oh, for crying out loud. He couldn’t do everything and he is a Chicagoan.
The myth that won’t die. Move on, already.=== May I kindly add a Amen.
- ChicagoVinny - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:36 pm:
I know Ishbia is eyeing that site across the river from the 78 for a Sox stadium, but I wonder if a lakefront stadium is on the table now.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
== I can see mayor Petes ads now……….==
And you think Dem primary voters are particularly inclined to reward the argument that we need to be more accommodating to the ownership class?
JB’s biggest problem in the primary remains that he’s *too much like the McCaskeys*, not that he was too hard on them.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
===Let me know when they start building a.practice center in Gary. ===
They have said all along that they are not moving the practice center.
Keep up.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
If Mike Madigan would have spent state dollars to keep the Bears, that’s a further indictment of his character and all the more reason we’re better off with him in jail. Madigan has committed enough crimes and improprieties; we don’t need to impute his character with hypothetical ones.
Not giving the Bears money is the happiest I have been with Illinois politicians in the past seven years. Today is a huge victory for Illinois and Chicago. With any luck, the General Assembly will not spend another moment speaking to any Bears representative.
- The Farm Grad - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
“Brandon Johnson proving his incompetence once again”
If the Bears go to Indiana, Bears get 90% of the commerce, with 10% of the cost.
The San Francisco Mayor recently said that his city received 500M inflow from the SB,despite the fact that it was staged in San Jose-adjacent Levi’s Field
- Old IL Dude - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:47 pm:
I guess I’d be annoyed if I were a STH that lived north of Wrigley Field, and east of Oak Brook, but this location is easy for us South Siders. Take Indy Blvd and zip, there you are. 294 is pretty do-able too.
Might actually get some flights coming in and out of Gary Airport, too. And the IL Taxpayer doesn’t have to pay nickel one (banned punctuation marks).
- Fivegreenleaves - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
Like all Pats fans in Hartford, Connecticut, I’ll believe it when I see it.
- Old IL Dude - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:50 pm:
@ Rich, Why wouldn’t they move the practice center? I’d be like, Yo, howzabout throwing $50M for our offices and training center, too? We sign tomorrow.
- Lee Elia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:51 pm:
What did everyone expect the Bears to do given their stated timeline of late Spring early Summer?
Speaker Welch said this would be addressed sooner than later but given no indication of what that meant, given he would not commit to a special session
There is a great soundtrack on this saga
The English Beat from 1982
“Sooner or later
Your legs give way you hit the ground
Save it for later
Don’t run away and leave me down
Sooner or later
You hit the deck you get found out
Save it for later
Don’t run away and let me down, you let me down”
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:55 pm:
===Why wouldn’t they move the practice center?===
Ask the Bears, not me. They said the practice center was staying put.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:56 pm:
=Why wouldn’t they move the practice center? I’d be like, Yo, howzabout throwing $50M for our offices and training center, too?=
They reportedly just spent 100+ million on halas hall two years ago. Additionally, take a look at Hard knocks when they showed Eberflus’ lakefront home on the north shore and realize that’s where most of them live. They don’t want to move and they don’t want to commute an hour plus every day to Hammond. Commuting on Sundays to a stadium 10 times a year is more manageable
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
Sox Fan is correct.
- Lee Elia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:07 pm:
This is how your face looks when you cut off your nose to spite your face.
Over 30 states allow PILOT negotiations with developers, who are by definition wealthy and in some cases even billionaires.
Illinois legislators “didn’t have time” to get this resolved and are eating their just desserts
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:08 pm:
===if you think Taylor Swift fans won’t go to Hammond, think again.===
First of all, Swifties will go anywhere. But I think it’s important to remember Soldier Field will still be available for major concerts, right here in Chicago, near the hotels and nightlife along the beautiful lakefront. Will a Hammond stadium draw concerts? Probably, and especially if it’s a domed stadium, then it can host concerts and other events in the winter that Soldier Field can’t. But I think Soldier Field will continue to get booked for events during the summer because it is much better suited to that than what the Bears/Indiana taxpayers build in Hammond.
Location, location, location.
Also, I don’t care if the Bears stay or go as long as the games are televised. I’ll keep watching.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:09 pm:
==They reportedly just spent 100+ million on halas hall two years ago. Additionally, take a look at Hard knocks when they showed Eberflus’ lakefront home on the north shore and realize that’s where most of them live. They don’t want to move and they don’t want to commute an hour plus every day to Hammond. Commuting on Sundays to a stadium 10 times a year is more manageable==
And this btw is all a mitigating factor in how “bad” this is for IL.
With the caveat that maybe players/coaches will establish residency in IN over IL for lower taxes.
But caveat to the caveat, a bunch of them already live somewhere else most of the year, anyway.
- IllinoisCitizen - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:10 pm:
In all seriousness. Is there any control over the Chicago part of the name? I realize that cities probably can’t be trademarked, but I’d be interested in an argument of whether they can be denied use of the word Chicago.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:14 pm:
===Will a Hammond stadium draw concerts? Probably, and especially if it’s a domed stadium, then it can host concerts and other events in the winter that Soldier Field can’t. But I think Soldier Field will continue to get booked for events during the summer because it is much better suited to that than what the Bears/Indiana taxpayers build in Hammond.===
I think that’s an excellent point. Also from what I’ve read, the big concerts don’t typically tour the Midwest in the winter even in cities with domes which is going to limit the amount of events this stadium will host.
I think Indiana is taking a huge risk by committing to this.
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
==eating their just desserts==
What do you think they are “eating” exactly? Do you think very many legislators’ constituents really wanted them to subsidize another stadium project? Do you think any Chicago legislator’s constituents wanted them to help the Bears leave the city?
We’re here because the too many legislators would have to do something unpopular with their constituents to give the Bears what they wanted.
- The Farm Grad - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:17 pm:
“But I think Soldier Field will continue to get booked for events during the summer because it is much better suited to”
Would you concede that the same applies to Soldier Field vs a Bears Stadium at Arlington: That during late spring, summer, early fall, performers would be more drawn to the lakefront than Arlington Heights?
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:21 pm:
Book mark this for 20 years from now when the Bears are demanding another new stadium
- Irreverent - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
Oh no. What ever will I do without this particular private venture sucking up tax dollars with zero RoI?
- DS - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:33 pm:
Call a special session to quadruple the taxes on Arlington Park.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:34 pm:
=== Over 30 states allow PILOT negotiations with developers, who are by definition wealthy and in some cases even billionaires.
Illinois legislators “didn’t have time” to get this resolved and are eating their just desserts ===
Every reference I have seen for “PILOT” in other states is limited to non-profits, state facilities, and federal facilities. These are “payments in lieu of taxes” by entities that traditionally are exempt from property taxes but negotiate a payment because of the burden placed particularly on local schools, police and fire.
U of I for example used to (and maybe still does) make a payment in lieu of taxes to the Urbana school district because their international graduate student family housing is exempt but students with children live there.
I asked one of the most respected tax policy experts I know, she could not think of another state with a PILOT program like the one proposed here for for-profit companies.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
Lawmakers will sleep fine. Their phones are not ringing from people upset the Bears might leave.
- Emanuel Collective - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:39 pm:
=performers would be more drawn to the lakefront than Arlington Heights=
Ultimately depends on what happens to Soldier Field once the Bears and Fire leave; it’s a prime concert venue if nothing else, but maintenance and contracting could be a problem if it turns into a seasonal concert venue
- fs - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:40 pm:
Yesterday the Bears put out multiple posts on the release of the new Madden video game. Today they put out one brief paragraph on a potential stadium site. In what would be the biggest franchise decision since moving from Decatur…we’re supposed to believe that this is it? This is how they’re supposed to believe that this is how they are announcing it?
This feels less like finality, and more just simply the need to say *something* this week. Put another way: had a bill been passed Monday morning, would the statement from the team be a similar, vague one paragraph social media post?
- Arsenal - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
==Ultimately depends on what happens to Soldier Field once the Bears and Fire leave; it’s a prime concert venue if nothing else, but maintenance and contracting could be a problem if it turns into a seasonal concert venue==
It’s a great concert venue, but the reality of the music industry, at least right now, is that only like Taylor Swift and Beyonce can fill it.
- low level - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
Please move already. I am so tired if this and from everything I gather other South Loop residents who live in the vicinity of Soldier Field have had it as well. Do whatever you want, Bears. I’m done.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:52 pm:
Count me as another person who could not care less that the Bears are leaving. Professional sports teams love to play this game by attempting to coerce governments into giving them new stadiums whether it’s by building the stadium or by giving them tax breaks. Illinois simply said “no” and I’m ok with that. I’m not for bending over backwards just to placate a sports team. Good riddance.
- Lee Elia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:53 pm:
You are wrong about PILOT which is why the Governor last week said this legislation is necessary for Illinois to compete with other states.
So you think the Governor and a majority of the legislature actually are happy about the Bears moving to Indiana?
They could have easily made a deal with the Bears.
Taxing the new stadium in Arlington Heights similar to how Wrigley Field and the United Center are, as well as every other privately owned stadium in the US is handled, but they couldn’t get out of their own way.
Blaming the Bears for the irresponsible 3 card Monty financing on Soldier Field, when they pay the 3rd highest rent of any team in the NFL for the smallest stadium?
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 1:57 pm:
==They could have easily made a deal with the Bears.==
So just bend over backwards and give them what they want just because they are a professional sports team? Some of you are really willing to give away the farm just because you think we should say “how high” when a sports team says “jump.” Not. One. Dime. No tax breaks. No stadium funding. Not. One. Dime.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
==Taxing the new stadium in Arlington Heights similar to how Wrigley Field and the United Center are, as well as every other privately owned stadium in the US is handled, but they couldn’t get out of their own way.==
United Center and Wrigley pay taxes based on the market value of the property. That’s exactly what the bears are trying to avoid (to be fair, Wrigley does get a landmark tax break)
If the bears wanted a tax break similar to the United Center’s recent redevelopment, I’m sure Arlington Heights would be happy to designate Arlington Park as a TIF district. But thats apparently not good enough for them
- Brave New World - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
Keep the hits coming guys. These comments rank up for some of the greatest hits from this group….
“let Texas have the HQ, we still have a big Caterpillar presence in Peoria”
“Tyson doesn’t pay that well anyway, have fun in Arkansas”
“Boeing wanted to be closer to DC, it had nothing to do with IL policy”
“don’t let the door hit you Citadel, you have FL values anyway”
- low level - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
==Blaming the Bears for the irresponsible 3 card Monty financing on Soldier Field, when they pay the 3rd highest rent of any team in the NFL for the smallest stadium?==
I might be open to that argument except that they are owned by the McCaskey’s who are the bottom line worst ever owners in professional sports. That title used to be owned by the Wirtz Family until Rocky turned them around. The McCaskey’s have never learned through multiple generations. They ste a total ownership joke.
- Lee Elia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:07 pm:
Give away the farm?
You need to reboot your calculator.
For you to be right every other city has to be wrong.
Privately financed multi billion dollar construction projects, where the building hosts events for decades, have a multiplier effect that far exceeds the property tax revenue lost.
That is why Arlington Heights wanted the stadium so badly.
- high level - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:07 pm:
= Keep the hits coming guys. These comments rank up for some of the greatest hits from this group….=
Best comment in the thread!
- Proud Papa Bear - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:12 pm:
I’d like to see Darren Bailey’s draft had the legislature passed the bill.
Something-something raising taxes on hard working Illinoisans.
Something-something giving handouts to billionaires.
- Lee Elia - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
The United Center had never been taxed at “market rate” and now the expansion has received the same kind of tax break the developers needed to secure financing the Bears were asking for.
The project will be a catalyst for growth on the Near West side and will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue for the city.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/20/city-council-tax-break-united-center-entertainment-district
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:17 pm:
==For you to be right every other city has to be wrong.==
I don’t care what every other city is doing. I care what we do. And I’m fine with the Bears leaving if that’s what they want to do. Sports teams can go pound sand as far as I’m concerned.
- ChicagoBars - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
I’ll never forgive the McCaskeys for interrupting Isabel’s vacation day like this.
- Sox Fan - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
The United Center has an estimated market value of 370M and that is what their taxes are based on. Per your link, the tax break is because the property is essentially going to be placed into a TIF. It will still be assessed and taxes will be based on it’s market value, they will just be kicked back to the Wirtz/Reinsdorf venture.
The bears want a PILOT agreement which ignores the entire assessment process coded in the Illinois constitution
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
IF refusal to, essentially, pay blackmail is failure … . What is it the Bears & IL GOP want? Thompson & Rea Redux?
- Lol - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:22 pm:
Congrats to the Mayor on his big legislative win
- Scoot - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
Kevin Warren is trying to save face…the Big Ten moved on from him years ago after a lack luster performance. The bears are not going to Indiana I repeat the bears are not going to Indiana. It’s just embarrassing how the bears front office is handling this. Kinda explains why they haven’t won a super bowl since 1986.
- Katie - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:34 pm:
I will not be going to Hammond for Beyonce but I wasn’t going to go to Arlington Heights for Beyonce either. Maybe all the players can live in Marktown
- Interested Bystander - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:42 pm:
==Poor JB Pritzker. Can you imagine the ads when he’s waddlingfor President of United States? He’ll be the guy who drove the Chicago Bear’s out of Illinois.==
Or he’s the guy who protected taxpayers against a family enterprise worth billions. Might play pretty well in light of the status quo in Washington.
- Merica - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:44 pm:
This leads to shrinking economy, shrinking GDP, fewer jobs, less tourism, a huge black eye on the city
of Chicago
- Tony - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:49 pm:
== That is why Arlington Heights wanted the stadium so badly. ==
Maybe they should put some skin in the game. Brandon Johnson got rightfully hammered for his press conference with Kevin Warren in 2024, during which he called for 2.5 billion in state funds. Arlington Heights has followed a less shameless path, but they also essentially want to spend someone else’s money and they catch no grief for it.
- May soon be required - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:54 pm:
Crazy that NY has survived losing 2 football teams to NJ
- Irreverent - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:56 pm:
@Merica
Every study ever done on the subject disagrees, but don’t let that stop you from trying to give tax dollars to the wealthy.
@Brave
If those private businesses can’t get by without picking taxpayer pockets, they should get out too.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:58 pm:
===Maybe they should put some skin in the game===
Last I checked, some of that infrastructure was gonna be locally funded.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 2:59 pm:
A reminder that broad-brush posts about other commenters are often deleted.
- Annon3 - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:03 pm:
While there is plenty of blame all around, the Bears never disappoint when it comes to the clown show they run. If they move it may be a big blow for Arlington Heights, but living in Chicago Hammond really will be an easier trip.
I must know the wrong people as even the most diehard fan I know are a big meh about this, if it’s an excellent facility it doesn’t much matter which suburb it’s in, even if it happens to be in Indiana.
- Political flub - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:05 pm:
Credit to @flowsandolini on X: “ Some folks talk about the Bears in this “ma and pop” language like they’re not the 10th richest sports franchise IN THE WORLD”
Just wanted to point that out for all the back and forth
- VK - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:13 pm:
It’s impossible for me to care about an $8.6 billion dollar company who plays a game. I love games. All kinds. But the idea that I need to give someone a boatload of tax dollars for a special place to play that game is absolute madness.
Also absolutely love Rep “Democrats should be ashamed of how they spend taxpayer money” Ugaste suddenly finding his love of numbers with seven zeros in them for Chicago based projects.
My dude you don’t even GO here!
- Demoralized - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
==bring Republicans substantially into the process ==
I don’t think I ever saw a proposal from them.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:31 pm:
“bring Republicans substantially into the process”
They are. That’s what the Indiana proposal is.
- low level - Friday, Jun 5, 26 @ 3:33 pm:
==This leads to shrinking economy, shrinking GDP, fewer jobs, less tourism, a huge black eye on the city
of Chicago==
Because there might not be 8 football games played along the lakefront. Right.