Chicago Bears address

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I don't live in Chicago and don't really seek this info out, so thanks for keeping us outsiders in the loop. I've been to a couple of games at Soldier Field and the thought of them not playing there anymore does piss me off.

I've seen Notre Dame at Soldier Field more than I've seen the Bears there. I've always enjoyed watching ND play there.

They don't have to be in the city or in Illinois. I don't care one way or the other. A lot of people have sentiment about seeing them move to the suburbs and even more so about seeing them leave for Indiana. It doesn't really matter.

What matters in the ineptitude they've displayed throughout this process. I think it shows that a change in leadership, if not ownership, is needed. The people trying to blame the Illinois legislature and "blue states" falls on deaf ears to anyone paying attention to what's really happening.

The Bears are paying former legislators and current lobbyists to guide them through this. Kevin Warren is not listening to them. He has proven to be difficult to deal with for everyone involved.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

OK... I'm now convinced they aren't going to the region. I hope Hammond got some small kickback for playing along at least.

They're not. They don't want to go there. The NFL doesn't want them to go there. This all happened with Gary in 1995. It's happening all over again. Difference is it is 30 years later and both the media and political landscapes are massive hellholes compared to then.

The Bears have completely fucked this process up from the get go. Kevin Warren in particular since he came in and has assumed his role in it.

 

[Irish#1]

I don't live in Chicago and don't really seek this info out, so thanks for keeping us outsiders in the loop. I've been to a couple of games at Soldier Field and the thought of them not playing there anymore does piss me off.

You're not pissed that they don't play at Wrigley anymore? lol

OK... I'm now convinced they aren't going to the region. I hope Hammond got some small kickback for playing along at least.

New Yorkers survived the Giants and Jets playing across the state line and Bears fans would if it happens, but I've never been convinced they would play in Hammond.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I've seen Notre Dame at Soldier Field more than I've seen the Bears there. I've always enjoyed watching ND play there.

They don't have to be in the city or in Illinois. I don't care one way or the other. A lot of people have sentiment about seeing them move to the suburbs and even more so about seeing them leave for Indiana. It doesn't really matter.

What matters in the ineptitude they've displayed throughout this process. I think it shows that a change in leadership, if not ownership, is needed. The people trying to blame the Illinois legislature and "blue states" falls on deaf ears to anyone paying attention to what's really happening.

The Bears are paying former legislators and current lobbyists to guide them through this. Kevin Warren is not listening to them. He has proven to be difficult to deal with for everyone involved.

If a team moving out a city/state is the consequence of that city/state refusing to cave to unreasonable demands from ownership, then so be it I guess. Fans will have to blame someone, and for a lot of simple-minded folk that someone will be the city/state.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

You're not pissed that they don't play at Wrigley anymore? lol


New Yorkers survived the Giants and Jets playing across the state line and Bears fans would if it happens, but I've never been convinced they would play in Hammond.

The Bears playing at Wrigley was just a little before my time. And I've seen the PR charades disguised as college football games that are played there. So no.

 

[Irish#1]

The Bears playing at Wrigley was just a little before my time. And I've seen the PR charades disguised as college football games that are played there. So no.

Billy Wade, Ditka, Butkus, Sayers. Good times.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Bears played at Wrigley from 1921 to 1970. If you can remember that, you've moved on well beyond the lower back pain part of aging.

 

[Wild Bill]

OK... I'm now convinced they aren't going to the region. I hope Hammond got some small kickback for playing along at least.

I mentioned some of the same shit they noted in this video the other day in this thread - I don't see how they pull this off.

The "best" location in the region is probably the land near the Hard Rock Casino on Burr Street off I94. It was discussed a while back as a possible site. The only problem is that it's in Gary. And if they've struggled dealing with the politics in IL and Chicago, just wait until they get a load of the assholes running Gary.

By next year, we'll be talking about the Cedar Lake Bears

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I mentioned some of the same shit they noted in this video the other day in this thread - I don't see how they pull this off.

The "best" location in the region is probably the land near the Hard Rock Casino on Burr Street off I94. It was discussed a while back as a possible site. The only problem is that it's in Gary. And if they've struggled dealing with the politics in IL and Chicago, just wait until they get a load of the assholes running Gary.

By next year, we'll be talking about the Cedar Lake Bears

I hear Benton Harbor, MI is nice.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I mentioned some of the same shit they noted in this video the other day in this thread - I don't see how they pull this off.

The "best" location in the region is probably the land near the Hard Rock Casino on Burr Street off I94. It was discussed a while back as a possible site. The only problem is that it's in Gary. And if they've struggled dealing with the politics in IL and Chicago, just wait until they get a load of the assholes running Gary.

By next year, we'll be talking about the Cedar Lake Bears

This isn't the issue, though.

The Bears hired lobbyists that know their way around the Illinois state capitol and Kevin Warren has not listened to any of them. They bought a piece of land in Arlington Heights and had no discussions prior to or immediately after with the county, city of Arlington Heights and the school district about "tax certainty." They haven't even looked at the bills proposed by the state house and state senate, nor did they have any leadership at the state capitol for the last session that ended a few weeks ago without a bill being passed. They should be part of the process in WRITING this legislation but they've taken themselves out of the room.

It was screwed up before he got here, but Kevin Warren has been with the team for over three years and has completely fucked this up. The state has repeatedly asked the Bears "what do you want?" and they have not answered with specifics. They're not in the room where it's happening and the state is crafting bills without them because they're not even bothering to be in the room. The "blue state, bad" crowd should jump over to another algorithm and realize what's happened to this point. JB Pritzker just told the Bears last week they'll have a special session if that's what it takes, but you need to tell us what you want.

Indiana has promised them free money on the tax payer dime. Apart from that, there isn't a site and there is no plan. There is land in Arlington Heights they own and are paying taxes on that to this point doesn't have a for sale sign in front of it yet. To this point, the legislators from both Illinois and Indiana are the only ones who have really done any work. Kevin Warren is playing games and he's fooling some people, but not everyone.

 

[ulukinatme]

Is this whole Hammond thing not leverage? I assume Illinois puts together something to "win" the Bears back.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

https://wgntv.com/sports/column-its-time-to-swallow-your-pride-bears-ownership/

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Is this whole Hammond thing not leverage? I assume Illinois puts together something to "win" the Bears back.

They're talking about land in Hammond environmentally protected until 2050 by the Artist Formerly Known as the Federal Government.

Kevin Warren is a con man. He's taken the McCaskeys for a ride just like he did the Big Ten. Ask the Big Ten about the TV deal Warren did before he skipped off to the Bears. The guy is a bozo and people keeping falling for it.

 

[Bantry19]

I still can’t get past the whole, Warren hadn’t so much as ordered a traffic study despite requesting over $800M for infrastructure upgrades, and Warren calling Chicago about revisiting talks while legislatures are trying to push the midnight bill for Arlington over the finish line. Very impressive ineptitude.

What makes this even more interesting to me is the backdrop notion of the Bears selling once the stadium is built and the NFL wanting them to be the first $10B franchise. And, the Bears show out with this display. Almost explains the discrepancy in penalties over the years.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I still can’t get past the whole, Warren hadn’t so much as ordered a traffic study despite requesting over $800M for infrastructure upgrades, and Warren calling Chicago about revisiting talks while legislatures are trying to push the midnight bill over the finish line. Very impressive ineptitude.

What makes this even more interesting to me is the backdrop notion of the Bears selling once the stadium is built and the NFL wanting them to be the first $10B franchise. And, the Bears show out with this display. Almost explains the discrepancy in penalties over the years.

People are slowly starting to catch on. The media is starting to figure it out too. Brian Urlacher is saying Illinois can't afford tax breaks for the Bears because of illegal immigrants. The rubes will follow him just as they're following Kevin Warren. Slowly, though, the tide is turning.

Warren is a con man, and the con is tricking Bears fans into believing they're going to build a stadium in Indiana. He thinks he's clever, but in reality, Kevin Warren is just a con man who fools wealthy people that aren't very smart. That's the thing about the McCaskeys: They're not football people, they're not business people, they're not political people. So Kevin Warren formerly of the Vikings and Big Ten comes along and says "I'll get you a stadium."

Nobody is supervising Kevin Warren at the moment. That would be George McCaskey's job, and George isn't asking the right questions if he's asking any questions at all. This hire will go down as a total blunder.

There is nowhere for them to build in Hammond, which is perfect considering they have a $200M piece of land they own in Arlington Heights they've been paying taxes on just waiting for a stadium to be built on.

 

[Southside Sully]

I have two buddies who have board connections, who say they have heard, the stadium will be in Chicago. Which may mean southern border, but it will be in Chicago. I get it, we all know a guy, but the one guys dad is unbelievably well connected.

 

[Bantry19]

Illinois trades downstate border counties that want to secede to Indiana for the region?

Who says no?

 

[Irish#1]

Illinois trades downstate border counties that want to secede to Indiana for the region?

Who says no?

That's more far fetched than the Bears in Hammond.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I have two buddies who have board connections, who say they have heard, the stadium will be in Chicago. Which may mean southern border, but it will be in Chicago. I get it, we all know a guy, but the one guys dad is unbelievably well connected.

https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/lawmaker-proposes-southeast-side-site-for-bears-stadium/

This is the latest.

They own a $200M piece of land in Arlington Heights they've been paying property taxes on. Yesterday was the five year anniversary.

They don't have the money and they don't have a plan. No permits, traffic studies, soil samples, nothing. They've completely fucked this up.

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

https://wgntv.com/sports/column-its-time-to-swallow-your-pride-bears-ownership/

That article makes a great point. Basically every other ownership group in the city is actively building something. Now, I'm not saying all the projects are smooth sailing, but none are near the clusterfuck that is the Bears stadium project.

Frankly, I think there is something else in there the Bears should take a lesson from. The Bulls and Hawks are building up the land around the stadium they already have instead of trying to build a new stadium with everything around it. The Bears could do the same. While they obviously cannot build on the lakefront next to the stadium, there was a proposal for a mega project right next to the stadium. The proposed project was called One Central. It was an absolutely massive development of several skyscrapers coming out of a shared podium covering all the train tracks west of the stadium. It also included a massive transportation hub, entertainment district, Chicago sports museum, etc. The proposal is basically dead in the water because of the subsidy ask.

I think they should do a three way trade of sorts. If the Bears agree to stay at Soldier Field and pay for whatever renovations they want (like the Lightfoot proposal for a roof and addition), the various governments will agree to the necessary subsidies for the One Central project, and the developer will allow the Bears to buy in to a percentage of the project at a reduced price.

 

[Bantry19]

https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-the-point-politics-chicago-illinois/lawmaker-proposes-southeast-side-site-for-bears-stadium/

This is the latest.

They own a $200M piece of land in Arlington Heights they've been paying property taxes on. Yesterday was the five year anniversary.

They don't have the money and they don't have a plan. No permits, traffic studies, soil samples, nothing. They've completely fucked this up.

Isn't the quantum data canter campus already being built at the South Works site?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

That article makes a great point. Basically every other ownership group in the city is actively building something. Now, I'm not saying all the projects are smooth sailing, but none are near the clusterfuck that is the Bears stadium project.

Frankly, I think there is something else in there the Bears should take a lesson from. The Bulls and Hawks are building up the land around the stadium they already have instead of trying to build a new stadium with everything around it. The Bears could do the same. While they obviously cannot build on the lakefront next to the stadium, there was a proposal for a mega project right next to the stadium. The proposed project was called One Central. It was an absolutely massive development of several skyscrapers coming out of a shared podium covering all the train tracks west of the stadium. It also included a massive transportation hub, entertainment district, Chicago sports museum, etc. The proposal is basically dead in the water because of the subsidy ask.

I think they should do a three way trade of sorts. If the Bears agree to stay at Soldier Field and pay for whatever renovations they want (like the Lightfoot proposal for a roof and addition), the various governments will agree to the necessary subsidies for the One Central project, and the developer will allow the Bears to buy in to a percentage of the project at a reduced price.

None of those other projects are remotely close to the clusterfuck this is. It did bring up a good point, though.

Mayor Brandon Johnson just proposed a TIF on the new Chicago Fire stadium. That's not going to go over well: Mayor Johnson proposes $425M TIF subsidy for The 78

I don't see a new stadium being built in Chicago or anywhere else other than Arlington Heights. You don't pay for that land and pay the property taxes on it for half a decade only to build elsewhere. If they have to sell the AH land, they're going to take a massive it on it. They've lost so much time and money already.

I think they want to own their own stadium. Soldier Field is run by the park district. That's the main issue. That and the Bears don't have the money to build a new stadium, which is why they're looking for whatever money they can get. They may very well end up staying in Soldier Field because they have no choice. They're no closer to a new stadium than they were the day the acquired the Arlington Park land.

They can have an entertainment district in Arlington Heights with hotels, bars, restaurants, retail, etc. They need to listen to the lobbyists they hired, get in the room where it happens and tell Illinois what it is they want.

And fire Kevin Warren.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Isn't the quantum data canter campus already being built at the South Works site?

That's the plan. Nobody wants it, though, so that's why Tarver probably floated this concept out there.

They need to vote into law what they had proposed a few weeks ago. They're lost so much time, money and energy already. Get something done and start building in AH.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

People are slowly starting to catch on. The media is starting to figure it out too. Brian Urlacher is saying Illinois can't afford tax breaks for the Bears because of illegal immigrants. The rubes will follow him just as they're following Kevin Warren. Slowly, though, the tide is turning.

Warren is a con man, and the con is tricking Bears fans into believing they're going to build a stadium in Indiana. He thinks he's clever, but in reality, Kevin Warren is just a con man who fools wealthy people that aren't very smart. That's the thing about the McCaskeys: They're not football people, they're not business people, they're not political people. So Kevin Warren formerly of the Vikings and Big Ten comes along and says "I'll get you a stadium."

Nobody is supervising Kevin Warren at the moment. That would be George McCaskey's job, and George isn't asking the right questions if he's asking any questions at all. This hire will go down as a total blunder.

There is nowhere for them to build in Hammond, which is perfect considering they have a $200M piece of land they own in Arlington Heights they've been paying taxes on just waiting for a stadium to be built on.

Brian Urlacher is an absolute fucking scumbag to the core. So glad he's not around the ND program anymore.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Brian Urlacher is an absolute fucking scumbag to the core. So glad he's not around the ND program anymore.

His brother Casey is even scummier. They're not the sharpest knives in the drawer, regardless of their political opinions.

Brian made some very questionable lifestyle choices as a player/younger man.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

His brother Casey is even scummier. They're not the sharpest knives in the drawer, regardless of their political opinions.

Brian made some very questionable lifestyle choices as a player/younger man.

Haven't met his brother and don't know anything about him. But saying Brian is not the sharpest knife in the drawer is an understatement. The guy is basically CTE proof.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/06/22/bears-are-back-in-play-00969412

Fong'ed to Arlington Heights.

Because Hammond was, is and always has been bullshit.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

McCook visits Bears HQ to hand-deliver stadium pitch letters - Desplaines Valley News

Mayor Terrance Carr and McCook officials visited Chicago Bears HQ in Lake Forest to hand deliver pitch letters for building a stadium.

southwestregionalpublishing.com

LOL. This is classic.

 

[Fbolt]

Damn they look like small town pols

 

[Bantry19]

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