As the city of Chicago gears up for the NFL playoffs at Soldier Field this weekend, officials in Arlington Heights will hold a “Keep the Bears in Illinois” press conference Friday morning, urging state leaders to approve a Mega Project Bill to help redevelopment of a new stadium.
The event comes hours after Indiana lawmakers continue to lure the team to northwest Indiana, most recently creating a bill that would help the team finance a stadium there.
The Bears described the legislation presented by Indiana this week as a :significant milestone” in discussions around a potential stadium development in northwest Indiana.
“We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively,” the statement continued.
The latest development in the Bears’ stadium saga follows a survey sent to Bears season ticket holders earlier this week, asking their opinions on a potential new dome stadium in Indiana. At the same time, the Bears were recently spotted showing their Arlington Heights property to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week when he was in town for the Bears-Packers Wildcard game.
The press conference, with Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia, state leaders and other local officials, will take place at 10 a.m. Friday. The update will stream in the video player above once it begins.
Latest updates on the Chicago Bears Stadium
The soap opera around the stadium has taken a variety of twists and turns in recent months, with the team announcing that they would potentially look at property in Indiana after being told by state officials that the project “wasn’t a priority,” according to team CEO Kevin Warren.
Still, the team owns property in Arlington Heights — the former Arlington Park race track — that they could develop into a stadium, and the Bears are seeking what’s known as a “payment in lieu of taxes,” or PILOT bill to help with costs. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has opposed using state money for the construction of the stadium.
The bill would allow for companies like the Bears to freeze property tax breaks obtained to help facilitate large-scale developments. The Bears would then be permitted to negotiate an annual payment with Arlington Heights officials in lieu of a standard property tax assessment and payment.
“We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size,” Warren said in a letter to fans in December. “Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.”
Warren has said the team would be unable to move forward with a stadium project without a PILOT bill in place and noted that “for a project of this scale, uncertainty has significant consequences.”
The Bears have said they will not seek public financing of the stadium itself, but rather for assistance in infrastructure improvements around the site in Arlington Heights, including new roads, utility construction and public transit.
Pritzker and other state officials have said they are willing to negotiate those bills, along with possibilities of locking in property tax rates for the Bears and other large-scale projects in the state.
“The bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers,” Pritzker said.
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