We’re really crawling towards the finish line of the Chicago Bears stadium saga.
More from ESPN’s Courtney Cronin (via Twitter/X):
Per source, the committee members agreed that these 2 sites are the only viable options and expressed a need to move the process forward “expeditiously.” There was no vote taken but the Stadium Committee will meet again within 2 weeks. Source says that the committee also acknowledged the Illinois legislature needs to continue to work to move the process forward, which will now require the PILOT bill to move through the senate.
Patrick Finley (Sun-Times) also reports the Bears met with the NFL’s stadium committee this week. It was a virtual meeting that didn’t yield much beyond what has already been established via previous reporting. However, Finley’s story provides some insight into why the league would want to accelerate the process. A vote of approval from owners at the league’s meetings in May is an important first step toward the Bears borrowing up to $250 million for stadium construction, which Finley notes is part of the NFL’s G-5 funding program. The sooner the team can get things finalized, the sooner it can get the money it needs to kickstart the project.
This also helps explain why Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s newfound willingness to publicly push for the project’s approval in the Senate.
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /AllsportNews and notes from the Bears stadium news watch
I thought these were some telling quotes from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (via WGN and the Tribune), who is pushing for the Senate to make a quick decision on the megaprojects bill — which has a section in it that is aimed to help convince the Bears from leaving for a stadium site in Indiana:
“Within the legislation that was passed was the deal that the Bears are willing to accept, that it’s good for the taxpayers, which is what I want. There were also things that were added on top of that that I think are not great for the taxpayers and that we probably need to make some changes to and most importantly, that won’t work for the Bears.”
“We want the Bears to stay in Illinois. So that deal, I think, is within the framework of what passed the House. We’ve got to see if the Senate is able to make the changes that are necessary while keeping some of the things that the House wanted to have in that bill.”
“We’ve got to see if the Senate is able to make the changes that are necessary, while keeping some of the things that the House wanted to have in that bill in addition. Soon, is what I would say, is the best thing to do, in part, because we’re competing, right? We have to be competitive. We want to make sure that the Bears see Illinois as the best alternative for them and that they have something that they can make a decision about that’s in front of them. So, as fast as possible, is what I’m advocating for.”
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)“You’ve got to go through both the House and the Senate. It takes time to get those things done. I wish it took less time, but I understand that you’ve got to make sure you got all the votes and you’ve got all the provisions in it that are workable for both sides on this.”
“I have actually put forward a deal that they’re now willing to accept that is now passed the House of Representatives and is going to go to the Senate. So I think we have a real chance of them staying in Illinois. I think that’s where they want to be, and I think that their fans, including me, will be very upset if they try to get up and move across the border and become the Hammond Hams, I guess we’ll call them.”
Sure, the quotes above from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker come off as encouraging, but there is still so much work to be done. And I can’t imagine folks in The Hoosier State are going to take too kindly to that “Hammond Hams” remark. Hammond’s mayor has already fired back a salvo after that one.
In the end, I find myself thinking about about how passing the pending bill — while incentivizing the Bears to build their new stadium in Arlington Heights — doesn’t mean the team will actually go through with erecting a stadium on the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse. The state could get this deal done and still watch the team crosss the border and head to Indiana. But at least we’re getting movement.
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