Gov. JB Pritzker just dropped a bombshell, saying he’s hoping lawmakers in Illinois hit the gas during next month’s veto session on a stadium plan to lock down the Chicago Bears in state. This isn’t just talk, either. It comes hot on the heels of new whispers that the Bears might not even be fully committed to that Hammond, Indiana suburb they were so laser-focused on this summer. What an absolute swerve!
The Publicly Owned Stadium Idea Is Back On The Table
This whole thing exploded after Pritzker met in Chicago with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, key legislative leaders, and even one of the Bears’ minority owners. It’s clear they’re putting the pressure on. ABC7 learned Friday night that a potential bill in Illinois could be the ticket to keeping the Bears right where they are by making the stadium publicly owned. Think about it: a publicly owned stadium, managed by a stadium authority, would mean ZERO property taxes for the Bears. That’s a massive incentive! We saw a similar bill pass the Illinois Senate earlier this year, but it never even got a vote in the House. ABC7 was told this is just one idea, and there’s no deal sealed yet, but Pritzker told Capital News Illinois he is “hopeful and expects that the legislature should take up sometime in the veto session a bill that would advance the cause of keeping the Bears in the state of Illinois.” Lawmakers are back in Springfield on November 17th.
Arlington Heights Back From The Dead For The Bears?
Remember that 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, the former Arlington Park racetrack the Bears bought three years ago? Well, it might be back in contention as a stadium site. Pritzker said acting during the veto session “would be very important for us to advance, you know, sooner rather than later. And indeed, I think the veto session is exactly the right time.” The team only looked at Hammond because competing House and Senate bills completely stalled at the end of the spring legislative session. Now, with 43 lawmakers representing Chicago, the big question is whether enough of them will rally behind new legislation to incentivize the team to move from Chicago to Arlington Heights. State Rep. La Shawn Ford summed it up: “You don’t vote to send the Bears away.” He believes lawmakers will back keeping the Bears in state, saying, “I don’t think that anyone that represents Chicago will vote to send the Bears to Indiana. But they will be voting to make sure that we keep the Bears in Illinois.”
Chicago’s Mayor Still Wants The Bears, But Sites Are Limited
Even House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch weighed in on social media, writing that lawmakers’ focus “remains on responsible steps that protect taxpayers while keeping the Bears in Illinois.” He also mentioned it was his second meeting with Commissioner Goodell recently, which shows just how seriously these talks are going down. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose administration wasn’t even at Thursday’s meeting, reiterated his stance that the team belongs in the city, saying he’s “grateful that conversations, you know, have continued. You know, I’ve never, you know, closed my door to this conversation.” But sources say the Bears have actually ruled out a new stadium within Chicago city limits because, get this, no suitable sites exist! Some folks have floated the possibility of using the Rate Field site in Bridgeport if the White Sox ever move out, but for now, the Bears’ only real options look limited to Hammond or Arlington Heights, assuming lawmakers can make it happen.
So, what’s next for the Bears and their stadium drama? That November 17th veto session in Springfield is looking like a heavyweight bout. Lawmakers are going to have to show their hand: keep the Bears in Illinois with a new plan, or let them potentially pack up for Indiana. It’s go-time for the future of the Bears in the Prairie State.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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