Chicago Lawmakers "More Receptive" to Bears Lakefront Proposal
The Chicago Bears are proposing pitching in $2 billion for a new stadium on Chicago’s lakefront, an idea that members of the General Assembly from Chicago appear to be warming to.
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The Chicago Bears have confirmed the team is willing to pony up some $2 billion as part of a proposal to build a new stadium just south of the current Soldier Field site along the Chicago lakefront.
“The future stadium of the Chicago Bears will bring a transformative opportunity to our region, boosting the economy, creating jobs, facilitating mega events and generating millions in tax revenue,” Bears President Kevin Warren said in a statement. “We look forward to sharing more information when our plans are finalized.”
The project will still require overcoming significant political and legal hurdles.
The city restricts private development along the lakefront, and a project would likely face a lawsuit from advocacy group “Friends of the Parks,” which previously killed a proposed museum for filmmaker George Lucas.
The Bears would also require additional bonding through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which owns Guaranteed Rate Field and controlled the bonding for the 2001 Soldier Field renovation that taxpayers still owe hundreds of millions of dollars on.
Lawmakers have not been presented with any formal package for a new stadium yet, but numerous conversations with Chicago Democratic lawmakers Monday indicated the ground was thawing between the Bears and legislature.
“I think you’re going to see [Democrats] more receptive to a plan to keep the Bears in the city,” said one longtime lawmaker on the condition of anonymity. “The state has an obligation to our neighborhoods and communities before a football stadium, so I don’t think anything is a done deal.”
Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), a former Chicago mayoral candidate who played football at the University of Illinois, says a heavy private investment into a stadium plan makes it immediately more viable.
“I’ve never seen a situation [in Illinois] where a team comes to the table with $2 billion in hand,” Buckner said. “There are still questions about what they’re going to ask for and what the entirety of the proposal looks like, but this is a good start.”
The move also appears to end the team’s flirtation with a move to suburban Arlington Heights. The team purchased the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse with the intention of building a $5 billion stadium and entertainment complex, but financing proposals were met with significant legislative pushback, including from Governor JB Pritzker.
“I trust the Bears when they say they’re exploring all options in the best interest of their company,” Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) wrote in a statement to the Daily Herald. “If they go forward with their lakefront plan, it’s our responsibility to make the best decision for Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, and our neighboring communities as well.”
Walker represents the area immediately surrounding the Arlington Park site and has taken the lead among local legislators on the project.
One difficult political hurdle an Arlington Park stadium would always face would be convincing Chicago legislators to vote to allow the Bears to leave the city.
Buckner says it will be “easier” for dozens of city lawmakers to vote for a package that keeps the Bears in the city of Chicago.
It isn’t clear if the Bears and lawmakers will have any sort of bond issue ready for a vote before the General Assembly adjourns in about two months.
“Anything can happen,” Buckner said.