Bears Not Involved in New Arlington Stadium Legislation
A fan sits in Soldier Field prior to a game in January. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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New legislation emerged late Thursday to provide incentives to build a new stadium for the Chicago Bears in suburban Arlington Heights. But legislative sources indicate the new bill is neither drafted or endorsed by the organization, and the Bears had no role in drafting it.
The bill was dropped by Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) and has 13 Democratic co-sponsors, though neither Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) or Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights), who most recently served on the Arlington Heights Village Board, are included. Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights), who previously introduced stadium legislation, is not involved with the new legislation, we’re told. Gillespie could not be reached for comment last night.
The legislation would freeze property taxes on the site of the former Arlington International race course, which the Bears have purchased as a site for a new stadium and entertainment district.
The bill would also pool sate sales taxes, hotel taxes and liquor taxes and redistribute them to Arlington Heights, Cook County, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, and other neighboring communities to help pay for infrastructure improvements.
Another portion of the legislation, which will likely draw significant ire from the Bears, is an additional $3 per ticket surcharge to help retire the two decade old debt of Soldier Field renovations that has ballooned to over $600 million.
“Paying off the bond debt is not the Bears responsibility and has never been contingent upon the team’s home games at Soldier Field,” the team said in a statement earlier this year. “Any suggestion that leads people to believe the Bears are responsible for any portion of the repayment of bonds, or the bond debt payment is dependent on the team’s home games at Soldier Field, is completely misleading.”
A source says the Bears were “caught off guard,” by the legislation.
The Illinoize couldn’t reach Moylan last night, but he told the Chicago Tribune the legislation is intended to “jump start” discussions.
“This is a living document. If there’s issues that we think pertain to the bill, we will file an amendment to change it. But right now we have a bill. It’s viable. I got a lot of support, and people are excited about it,” Moylan said Thursday. “I’ve got to get 60 votes and that’s how we do it. You’ve got to build a consensus. And I’m working it. I’m working this bill hard to make it a good bill.”
Moylan is also very close to organized labor, which could benefit greatly from a multi-billion dollar construction project like a new stadium.
One suburban Democratic legislator scoffed at the bill last night, calling it a “joke.”
“But, it’s Springfield, so anything can happen,” a different suburban lawmaker said last night.
Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson has indicated he wasn’t willing to give up on attempting to keep the Bears in the city.