Chicago Bears address

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yes and no. I was speaking about a team going against the NFL's wishes. Moving a team to another city without NFL approval took more balls than a team playing 32 miles away. They're still staying in the same media market (Giants/Jets) unlike the Raiders going to LA. I still think Indiana is wasting a lot of taxpayer money trying to lure the Bears. It's not going to happen IMO.

I found this interesting.

That's the key here. They are not physically moving the franchise to St. Louis or San Diego. It's new stadium construction. I don't think it happens either because nobody actually wants it. The Bears have botched the entire process from the get go to the point that Goodell is now getting involved and having conversations with JB Pritzker and the state lawmakers on his own with George and Kevin.

Soldier Field has a very small capacity and the franchise has a lease with the Chicago Park District there. It would make a lot more sense for one of the biggest NFL markets (NY and LA have two teams each, Chicago has one) to own their own stadium and have it enclosed so that it could eventually host a Super Bowl (Lucas Oil 2012, US Bank 2018) in addition to various other events year round. Roger Goodell does not want to host a Super Bowl in Hammond, Indiana. Median household income in Arlington Heights, IL is about $117k. The land where the stadium would be is right by a Metra train station. It's perfect.

If the Bears have counted on one thing, it is that this situation would feed into certain political divides and narratives. That's a train that is never late today. The lack of accurate and proper media coverage on this has been horrible. People are finally starting to get it a little bit nationally as well as locally. People are going after the state of Illinois government and city of Chicago government out of habit, bias, whatever. The Bears are an NFL franchise worth $10 billion and they own a $200M piece of land already zoned for a stadium. They don't need to do anything but build. The state, the city, the county don't owe them anything. They have counted on a lack of information and complete ignorance by the media and public to make people think this is somehow the state legislature's responsibility to keep them in Illinois.

It absolutely, positively, is NOT the state's job to build this NFL franchise a stadium.

 

[Bantry19]

Yes and no. I was speaking about a team going against the NFL's wishes. Moving a team to another city without NFL approval took more balls than a team playing 32 miles away. They're still staying in the same media market (Giants/Jets) unlike the Raiders going to LA. I still think Indiana is wasting a lot of taxpayer money trying to lure the Bears. It's not going to happen IMO.

I found this interesting.

But why would the NFL care about the state tax battle? Doesn’t affect the NFL in any way.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

But why would the NFL care about the state tax battle? Doesn’t affect the NFL in any way.

Correct. They don't and it doesn't. The league does not receive state sales, income, or property taxes.

The profitability and stadium infrastructure of the Bears is what they care about. They probably do not want this 107 year old storied franchise to move to a place in Indiana that smells like shit. For a variety of reasons.

Detroit, Indianapolis and Minneapolis have all hosted Super Bowls. They want this thing done in Arlington Heights so they can eventually host a Super Bowl in the Chicago market.

 

[Irish#1]

But why would the NFL care about the state tax battle? Doesn’t affect the NFL in any way.

I have no idea. That's what AI returned when I inquired. My guess is they want to play nicely and not see revenue taken from Illinois since Indiana gets theirs from the Colts.

 

[The Backer]

Where are they currently with a potential Arlington Heights build? My understanding is

• the Bears have the financing for the stadium itself
• they are waiting on Illinois to come back with a tax rate that isn't multiples higher than similar NFL stadiums in places like California
• they are waiting on Illinois to come back with an infrastructure improvement plan (i.e. highways, power) for a stadium in AH

Is that right?

 

[Crazy Balki]

The Bears don't have any money to build a stadium. That isn't any government's fault. Sure as hell isn't my problem as a tax paying resident of the state. Building a new stadium for the Bears is not Illinois' job. It isn't Indiana's job either.

Northwestern got a new stadium. The Chicago Fire are getting one. These are in Illinois. Jerry Reinsdorf went to the state about a new baseball stadium. They said thanks but no to whatever he proposed. At least the old man went down there and went into a room. George and Kevin won't do the work. That's not the state's fault. Governor Pritzker told them a few months ago: do the work. Tell us what you want. The state is willing to work with them. They're not giving them a plan.

It probably would have been a good idea for George and Kevin to have been in Springfield during that final legislative session, but I'm not part of a private business of which there are only 32 of a kind, so maybe that was a smart tactic on their part. To not be around and get something done. When you haven't really said what it is you want to begin with. They also purchased land for $200M and have not done anything with it for half a decade. That's their fault. No one else's.

In the end, yes, the Bears are a business. The city and state don't have to do anything for them or give them anything.

Yeah, no.

The government telling them to "do the work" falls on deaf ears when they've done next to no work for the better part of 25 years. Illinois and Chicago politicians telling anybody to do the work is a textbook "pot meet kettle" situation.

You say the Bears had half a decade and did nothing with the AH location. Brother, that's because the state government sat on their asses and just refused any and every request the Bears made. Why would the Bears move forward with any sort of project if they are out there on their own? That's a stupid business decision. Not to mention, the county turned around after the Bears purchased the AH location and immediately spiked the property value tax to what the Bears bought it for, rather than what it was valued at under the previous owner. They eventually settled, but if I'm the Bears, that gives me pause to keep trying to work with the state and the county, if they're going to pull that kind of sleazy shit.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yeah, no.

The government telling them to "do the work" falls on deaf ears when they've done next to no work for the better part of 25 years. Illinois and Chicago politicians telling anybody to do the work is a textbook "pot meet kettle" situation.

You say the Bears had half a decade and did nothing with the AH location. Brother, that's because the state government sat on their asses and just refused any and every request the Bears made. Why would the Bears move forward with any sort of project if they are out there on their own? That's a stupid business decision. Not to mention, the county turned around after the Bears purchased the AH location and immediately spiked the property value tax to what the Bears bought it for, rather than what it was valued at under the previous owner. They eventually settled, but if I'm the Bears, that gives me pause to keep trying to work with the state and the county, if they're going to pull that kind of sleazy shit.

The Bears have done absolutely NOTHING to let anyone know what it is they want specifically. And can we please forget Chicago politicians because they're talking about a bill in the STATE legislature for a site in Arlington Heights which is in Cook County, IL. Chicago is not part of the process. There isn't land in Chicago and they're not at the table at the moment. The Chicago Fire seemed to have no issues getting their new stadium project done with the city. Probably because the Chicago Fire had a comprehensive plan in hand done by competent individuals who actually put something together and communicated with city and county officials. Which is not what is happening with the Bears, despite your criticisms and grievances with the state government.

They are not and have not been perfect, of course, but sticking to this situation it has to be repeated again: it is not the state government's job to fund a stadium for an NFL franchise. That's not why they are there and I'm fairly certain no voters from either party elected these people for that reason.

Cast your ballot in November if you live here. You're clearly unhappy with things. Doesn't change the fact that the Bears are fucking morons in this situation more than any other party involved by a significant long shot. What has happened in Illinois for the last 25 years is not relevant to the situation. Kevin Warren was hired to get this stadium done. He should have already been fired. That isn't any elected officials fault at any level of government in Illinois or Indiana. George McCaskey hired this guy and Kevin is taking them on a ride, collecting very nice paychecks he is not at all earning.

The Bears have not made any requests. They hired lobbyists to help them with the process and Kevin Warren is not listening to them. Kevin and George not even talking to the state legislators. There was no one from the Bears in Springfield during the last session. Hard to get a bill done when you're not even in the room where it happens, but that's by design because They. Have. No. Money.

As for the property tax on the AH land, yes, the Bears and Churchill downs disputed this. It was appealed and settled lowering and stabilizing assessments and reaching local tax agreements. That's very much settled and in the past.

There is a version of a bill in the state senate and version of a bill in the state house that Kevin and George have not said or done anything about. They were not and are not in the room where it happens. They want a handout. This NFL franchise worth $10B wants a handout for a stadium.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Buy land for $197M. Project for a new domed stadium there is set to cost $5B. You don't have that.

The Bears wanted Illinois to provide long-term property-tax certainty and help with infrastructure. Illinois lawmakers were unwilling to give the Bears the deal they wanted without specifics.

The Senate passed a proposal, House did not vote on it. Bears were not present, session ended without anything done.

The Cook County Treasurer's Office estimated the Arlington Heights proposal could have reduced the Bears' property-tax bill by about $39 million per year, or more than $1.5 billion over 40 years. That dog doesn't hunt, especially in an election year.

They haven't done anything in Hammond as far as traffic studies, soil samples, pulled any permits of any kind. They're jacking themselves off hoping Illinois gives them a deal.

 

[sfk324]

Yeah, no.

The government telling them to "do the work" falls on deaf ears when they've done next to no work for the better part of 25 years. Illinois and Chicago politicians telling anybody to do the work is a textbook "pot meet kettle" situation.

You say the Bears had half a decade and did nothing with the AH location. Brother, that's because the state government sat on their asses and just refused any and every request the Bears made. Why would the Bears move forward with any sort of project if they are out there on their own? That's a stupid business decision. Not to mention, the county turned around after the Bears purchased the AH location and immediately spiked the property value tax to what the Bears bought it for, rather than what it was valued at under the previous owner. They eventually settled, but if I'm the Bears, that gives me pause to keep trying to work with the state and the county, if they're going to pull that kind of sleazy shit.

Yeah, no.

Illinois has two bills on the table that address the two things that the Bears say need to be add: property tax certainty and infrastructure spending. The Bears have said nothing about what works or doesn't about either bill. The Bears hired lobbyists to help with the state legislative process. Kevin Warren has full-on ignored their advice. The Bears have dropped the ball so badly that Roger Goodell has had to meet with state politicians.

As for the property taxes on the AH site, the taxes were raised based on the property valuation that the Bears paid (previously valued under the Berrios-Madigan property tax scheme at well below market because that's how things were done in the quid pro quo that screwed average residential property owners). Why would the Bears pay $197 million for a $37 million piece of property? What well-run business would pay 5 times what a property is worth? Unless, of course, as the assessor argued, the price per square foot was in-line with other property valuations, and the Bears paid market rate, meaning the assessment was valid and not some contrivance to screw them.

But why take any of that into consideration when you can just say "Illinois Dems bad! Raaarr!"

 

[Bantry19]

Yeah, no.

The government telling them to "do the work" falls on deaf ears when they've done next to no work for the better part of 25 years. Illinois and Chicago politicians telling anybody to do the work is a textbook "pot meet kettle" situation.

You say the Bears had half a decade and did nothing with the AH location. Brother, that's because the state government sat on their asses and just refused any and every request the Bears made. Why would the Bears move forward with any sort of project if they are out there on their own? That's a stupid business decision. Not to mention, the county turned around after the Bears purchased the AH location and immediately spiked the property value tax to what the Bears bought it for, rather than what it was valued at under the previous owner. They eventually settled, but if I'm the Bears, that gives me pause to keep trying to work with the state and the county, if they're going to pull that kind of sleazy shit.

Typically, the infrastructure funding would have been negotiated before purchasing a parcel for such a large development.

Obviously, when land is sold, the property value goes up. The Bears knew this and could have negotiated some abatements, special assessments, PILOT agreements, or development incentives before closing. When they had leverage.

They’ve done the ass backwards opposite.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Kevin and George are calling pressers about building in Hammond but the governor of Indiana and mayor of Hammond know nothing about it and have no idea what Kevin and George going to say during these pressers when they're asked. Tells you all you need to know about this fiasco.

Meanwhile, Gary, IN hasn't had electricity in 8 days.

 

[sfk324]

Kevin and George are calling pressers about building in Hammond but the governor of Indiana and mayor of Hammond know nothing about it and have no idea what they're going to say during these pressers when they're asked. Tells you all you need to know about this fiasco.

Meanwhile, Gary, IN hasn't had electricity in 8 days.

If the Bears actually wanted to be in Indiana, they would have had shovels in the ground at the press conference, not standing behind mics saying the same thing they said two months ago while the Commissioner of their league is having meetings with Illinois legislators.

But the Bears absolutely do not want to go to Hammond. They bought the land for a reason, and it wasn't as a play on real estate values in the northwest suburbs. If they don't build there, they will almost immediately have to sell because they will not want to pay the property taxes on it, especially when the county and local taxing bodies will have zero incentive to negotiate a compromise.

It's entirely possible that the situational inertia results in the Bears ultimately being in Hammond. That doesn't change the fact they very obviously don't want to be there. But they would hardly be the first to be in Hammond despite not wanting to be.

 

[pumpdog20]

I'm very proud to be from Hammond. Then again, I never moved back once I became an adult.... maybe I don't love it as much as I say. LOL

 

[Crazy Balki]

The Bears have done absolutely NOTHING to let anyone know what it is they want. And can we please forget Chicago politicians because they're talking about a bill in the STATE legislature for a site in Arlington Heights which is in Cook County, IL. Chicago is not part of the process. There isn't land in Chicago and they're not at the table at the moment. The Chicago Fire seemed to have no issues getting their new stadium project done with the city. Probably because the Chicago Fire had a comprehensive plan in hand done by competent individuals who actually put something together and communicated with city and county officials. Which is not what is happening with the Bears, despite your criticisms and grievances with the state government.

They are not and have not been perfect, of course, but sticking to this situation it has to be repeated again: it is not the state government's job to fund a stadium for an NFL franchise. That's not why they are there and I'm fairly certain no voters from either party elected these people for that reason.

Cast your ballot in November if you live here. You're clearly unhappy with things. Doesn't change the fact that the Bears are fucking morons in this situation more than any other party involved by a significant long shot. What has happened in Illinois for the last 25 years is not relevant to the situation. Kevin Warren was hired to get this stadium done. He should have already been fired. That isn't any elected officials fault at any level of government in Illinois or Indiana. George McCaskey hired this guy and Kevin is taking them on a ride, collecting very nice paychecks he is not at all earning.

The Bears have not made any requests. They hired lobbyists to help them with the process and Kevin Warren is not listening to them. Kevin and George not even talking to the state legislators. There was no one from the Bears in Springfield during the last session. Hard to get a bill done when you're not even in the room where it happens, but that's by design because They. Have. No. Money.

As for the property tax on the AH land, yes, the Bears and Churchill downs disputed this. It was appealed and settled lowering and stabilizing assessments and reaching local tax agreements. That's very much settled and in the past.

There is a version of a bill in the state senate and version of a bill in the state house that Kevin and George have not said or done anything about. They were not and are not in the room where it happens. They want a handout. This NFL franchise worth $10B wants a handout for a stadium.

Why should the county pulling a sleazy ass sales chase just be left in the past? If the Bears are going to do business with the county moving forward and they're willing to pull that kind of stunt off the bat, why should they just forget it? That's not a good business decision. It's actually very stupid. Never forget a business partner's shady practices.

I'm not saying they should just immediately stop talks and pull out of the AH location, but that is absolutely warranting of skepticism moving forward in any sort of negotiations with the county and state. Nearly every major new stadium has at least a sizable chunk publicly funded.

The Bears tried to talk with Illinois leadership and they kept running into brick walls, which is why the pivot towards Indiana. The version of the bill in question is a nonstarter, because it is facing immense pushback from state leaders and Pritzker himself. I mean, for fuck sake, the house adjourned without ever even voting on it. It's a complete cluster fuck in Springfield. So, the second it comes back around, it'll be in a veto session.

And for the notion that the Bears have no money, they've stated already that they are willing to front 2 billion for the stadium in AH. The issue isn't a lack of money, it's that Illinois lawmakers are soft-locked when it comes to putting up money for the nearby infrastructure.

You keep mentioning the Fire's stadium deal with the city. Forget apples and oranges, you might as well be comparing apples and hydrogen bombs. The Fire is a significantly smaller enterprise, requiring far less infrastructure. They just built a 22,000 seat stadium. The Bears are a MUCH bigger enterprise, requiring a much larger stadium and infrastructure. It is a FAR more financially cumbersome investment than the Fire's stadium.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Typically, the infrastructure funding would have been negotiated before purchasing a parcel for such a large development.

Obviously, when land is sold, the property value goes up. The Bears knew this and could have negotiated some abatements, special assessments, PILOT agreements, or development incentives before closing. When they had leverage.

They’ve done the ass backwards opposite.

They didn't do it ass backwards, that is standard for a lot of corporate entities, for which the Bears are that at the end of the day. This is because they needed to create leverage by having the property in place.

The current agreement in Soldier Field gave the Bears both very limited leverage but also heavily limited revenue streams.

The state and city have been the beneficiary of the single most one-sided property agreement in the NFL for a quarter century. And they've done fuck all with that sweetheart deal, to the detriment of the taxpayers. It not only limited revenue streams for the Bears, but it left taxpayers continuously fronting money for a debt that continues to remain stagnant.

Essentially Illinois and the city are now reaping what they have sown with their inept financing decisions when it comes to Soldier Field and the Bears are coming back around and saying, give us the money for new infrastructure or we're leaving the city and the state. Basically, it's on the state to make the most of a bad situation, or to make it worse. But it is one of their own making. If the state and city were more competent lease owners and didn't utterly botch the Soldier Field finances, this likely wouldn't have been necessary.

 

[Southside Sully]

It isn't the state government's job to help the Bears build a new stadium. They are a private business worth $10B and there are 31 others in the world just like them. Seems like an easy civics lesson, but they don't really teach civics anymore, and the media has done a galactically stupid job of covering this when the reality is it is a bigger story than it's getting credit for. This storied NFL franchise doesn't have the money to build a new stadium on land they already own and they are looking for a handout from Illinois. It's gotten so dysfunctional that Roger Goodell is meeting with Illinois lawmakers on his own, without the Bears.

George McCaskey and Kevin Warren have done a good job of feeding red meat to people who are not informed and creating a political divide that makes people believe "the state isn't doing it's job" to keep the Bears in Illinois. Government, at any level, does not owe the Bears anything. They're a private entity that owns a $200M piece of land in Arlington Heights, IL that used to be racetrack. They should have a stadium built there already.

Owning an NFL team is a billionaires game. The McCaskeys are not billionaires. Really feels like it's time for them to sell the team, and I hope Roger Goodell begins the process of compelling them to do so soon.

This, all day long

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Why should the county pulling a sleazy ass sales chase just be left in the past? If the Bears are going to do business with the county moving forward and they're willing to pull that kind of stunt off the bat, why should they just forget it? That's not a good business decision. It's actually very stupid. Never forget a business partner's shady practices.

I'm not saying they should just immediately stop talks and pull out of the AH location, but that is absolutely warranting of skepticism moving forward in any sort of negotiations with the county and state. Nearly every major new stadium has at least a sizable chunk publicly funded.

The Bears tried to talk with Illinois leadership and they kept running into brick walls, which is why the pivot towards Indiana. The version of the bill in question is a nonstarter, because it is facing immense pushback from state leaders and Pritzker himself. I mean, for fuck sake, the house adjourned without ever even voting on it. It's a complete cluster fuck in Springfield. So, the second it comes back around, it'll be in a veto session.

And for the notion that the Bears have no money, they've stated already that they are willing to front 2 billion for the stadium in AH. The issue isn't a lack of money, it's that Illinois lawmakers are soft-locked when it comes to putting up money for the nearby infrastructure.

You keep mentioning the Fire's stadium deal with the city. Forget apples and oranges, you might as well be comparing apples and hydrogen bombs. The Fire is a significantly smaller enterprise, requiring far less infrastructure. They just built a 22,000 seat stadium. The Bears are a MUCH bigger enterprise, requiring a much larger stadium and infrastructure. It is a FAR more financially cumbersome investment than the Fire's stadium.

They're going to front $2B for a stadium that costs $5B. Very generous of them.

The team had no one in Springfield during that last session when the bills were being voted on. Why?

 

[Irish#1]

Buy land for $197M. Project for a new domed stadium there is set to cost $5B. You don't have that.

The Bears wanted Illinois to provide long-term property-tax certainty and help with infrastructure. Illinois lawmakers were unwilling to give the Bears the deal they wanted without specifics.

The Senate passed a proposal, House did not vote on it. Bears were not present, session ended without anything done.

The Cook County Treasurer's Office estimated the Arlington Heights proposal could have reduced the Bears' property-tax bill by about $39 million per year, or more than $1.5 billion over 40 years. That dog doesn't hunt, especially in an election year.

They haven't done anything in Hammond as far as traffic studies, soil samples, pulled any permits of any kind. They're jacking themselves off hoping Illinois gives them a deal.

They completed testing on the Lost Marsh Golf Course and testing at Wolf Lake is underway. That started in late June.

You may not like what I'm about to write and I'm not disagreeing with what you've posted, but two things come to mind:

1. While the Bears may not have attended any government sessions or published what they want, it doesn't mean they don't have something in mind. I learned a long time ago from a guy that was great in negotiating contracts not to say the first word or tell them what you want. It immediately weakens your position. Maybe the Bears are waiting on an offer because they don't want to ask for $ when they could have gotten $$.

2. It's not the governments job to fund or pay for a teams facility, but states have been doing it for years. Although, MetLife and SoFi are recent examples of teams going to the private funds route. Lucas Oil was a combo. Irsay contributed about $100M with IN/Indy covering the other $700M+. States have been providing incentives for corporations to move to their state forever.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

They completed testing on the Lost Marsh Golf Course and testing at Wolf Lake is underway. That started in late June.

You may not like what I'm about to write and I'm not disagreeing with what you've posted, but two things come to mind:

1. While the Bears may not have attended any government sessions or published what they want, it doesn't mean they don't have something in mind. I learned a long time ago from a guy that was great in negotiating contracts not to say the first word or tell them what you want. It immediately weakens your position. Maybe the Bears are waiting on an offer because they don't want to ask for $ when they could have gotten $$.

2. It's not the governments job to fund or pay for a teams facility, but states have been doing it for years. Although, MetLife and SoFi are recent examples of teams going to the private funds route. Lucas Oil was a combo. Irsay contributed about $100M with IN/Indy covering the other $700M+. States have been providing incentives for corporations to move to their state forever.

That's federally protected wet lands they can't build on until 2050 or something, if ever.

The land in Arlington Heights should be for sale. It isn't.

"It's not the government's job to fund for pay for a teams' facility." Period.

Appreciate the mention of MetLife and SoFi. That's come up more than once in the last several months. Can't imagine why nobody would want to invest and partner with the Bears, though.

Kevin Warren says they have not made any mistakes during this process and wouldn't change anything. I suppose people are entitled to agree with him.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If the Bears actually wanted to be in Indiana, they would have had shovels in the ground at the press conference, not standing behind mics saying the same thing they said two months ago while the Commissioner of their league is having meetings with Illinois legislators.

But the Bears absolutely do not want to go to Hammond. They bought the land for a reason, and it wasn't as a play on real estate values in the northwest suburbs. If they don't build there, they will almost immediately have to sell because they will not want to pay the property taxes on it, especially when the county and local taxing bodies will have zero incentive to negotiate a compromise.

It's entirely possible that the situational inertia results in the Bears ultimately being in Hammond. That doesn't change the fact they very obviously don't want to be there. But they would hardly be the first to be in Hammond despite not wanting to be.

They have not said anything new for months. The presser last week is one they do every year before the first preseason game. Someone just happened to ask a stadium question and it was more of the same nonsense. George did a halftime interview during that preseason game and had an opportunity to put something out there. It was an even worse stuttering fumbling bumbling mess than the last time he spoke. Any sane, logical person should be looking at this and wondering what the hell it is they're doing. Alas, there is a large contingent of people who think the Bears are master negotiators taking on the big bad, blue state machine of Illinois.

They've been paying property taxes on the AH racetrack land for five years and it's just sitting there. The longer they wait, wherever they build, the more expensive it will be. The cost of things isn't getting any lower. I think most people would be fine with infrastructure improvements around the stadium in that area. Roads, water, sewer, etc. Build up around the area with a hotel, shops, bars, restaurants, whatever. That seems to be where public sentiment ends, though.

I think they wind up staying in Soldier Field until the lease ends and will probably have to extend said lease. Maybe the Chicago Park District will tell them to go scratch, and they'd really be screwed. They could play in Champaign again. What a time to be alive that was.

I still think it's hilarious that anyone believes the Bears WANT to go to Hammond because they don't. The League absolutely doesn't want them there either. The longer this plays out, I continue to hope that it ends with Kevin Warren getting fired and Goodell telling George he should sell the team. The McCaskeys are millionaires playing in a billionaire's game.

 

[Crazy Balki]

They're going to front $2B for a stadium that costs $5B. Very generous of them.

The team had no one in Springfield during that last session when the bills were being voted on. Why?

The stadium would cost roughly 2 billion, which the Bears are putting forth the cash for. The rest is for the surrounding infrastructure. The Arlington Height's area needs significant infrastructural investment. This is why the Bears request 855 million from the state to invest in the infrastructure.

That 5 billion number includes the development of housing units, hotels, restaurants, office spaces, retail/shopping and entertainment venues. Those would be funded by 3rd party private real estate investors, not the taxpayers.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The stadium would cost roughly 2 billion, which the Bears are putting forth the cash for. The rest is for the surrounding infrastructure. The Arlington Height's area needs significant infrastructural investment. This is why the Bears request 855 million from the state to invest in the infrastructure.

That 5 billion number includes the development of housing units, hotels, restaurants, office spaces, retail/shopping and entertainment venues. Those would be funded by 3rd party private real estate investors, not the taxpayers.

Right, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re asking taxpayers for $855 million to make their private development possible. Infrastructure around the site is a cost, regardless of who is paying. Again, SoFi and MetLife are great examples of the best case scenarios.

The state has actually said they are willing to do some this, regardless, which makes sense because that's all going to benefit the surrounding areas. The team hired former legislators and lobbyists to work with Kevin Warren on this. He's not listening to them. The McCaskeys also have no other assets other than the franchise itself. You can't really leverage that.

If this is such an grand opportunity, they should be willing to cover the infrastructure costs necessary to make their project work. They are a business of which the likes of only 31 others exist on this Earth. Record revenue year after year. An entertainment district around the stadium won't necessarily happen because the Bears say it or want it. Private investors are looking at them and this process wondering WTF it is they're doing. Rightfully. I don't really care where they build because I'll be watching games in my living room until I die, but to me Arlington Heights seems like a tremendous opportunity. There are people out there with disposable income to purchase season tickets and the people who are already going to Soldier Field now would probably prefer it to Hammond or even the lakefront (massive pain in the ass). The Metra line is right there too.

Very little of this should be subsidized. They want a handout. Everyone sees that. It is difficult when we're in an election year and the governor is probably gearing up for a POTUS run in 2028.

 

[The Backer]

Right, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re asking taxpayers for $855 million to make their private development possible. Infrastructure around the site is a cost, regardless of who is paying. Again, SoFi and MetLife are great examples of the best case scenarios.

The state has actually said they are willing to do some this, regardless, which makes sense because that's all going to benefit the surrounding areas. The team hired former legislators and lobbyists to work with Kevin Warren on this. He's not listening to them. The McCaskeys also have no other assets other than the franchise itself. You can't really leverage that.

If this is such an grand opportunity, they should be willing to cover the infrastructure costs necessary to make their project work. They are a business of which the likes of only 31 others exist on this Earth. Record revenue year after year. An entertainment district around the stadium won't necessarily happen because the Bears say it or want it. Private investors are looking at them and this process wondering WTF it is they're doing. Rightfully. I don't really care where they build because I'll be watching games in my living room until I die, but to me Arlington Heights seems like a tremendous opportunity. There are people out there with disposable income to purchase season tickets and the people who are already going to Soldier Field now would probably prefer it to Hammond or even the lakefront (massive pain in the ass). The Metra line is right there too.

Very little of this should be subsidized. They want a handout. Everyone sees that. It is difficult when we're in an election year and the governor is probably gearing up for a POTUS run in 2028.

That's pretty normal though. Even stadiums privately financed end up having residual investment from the states and cities nearby:

• Massachusetts spent ~$75m when Kraft privately financed Gillette
• NJ spent $250m on highways, utilities, and a train station for MetLife
• DC spent $202m on utlities, roads, and transit

$855m sounds like a lot. The breakout is something like

Category	Plausible cost​
Route 53 / interchanges / regional roads	$250–350M​
Metra station + rail improvements	$100–175M​
Local arterial roads / intersections / traffic systems	$100–150M​
Water + sanitary/storm sewer	$100–150M​
Electrical / other utility infrastructure	$50–100M​
Engineering, ROW, contingency, escalation	$75–125M​
Total	~$675–1,050M​

I think it's reasonable to say the Bears should pick up a lot of the water, electrical, and local roads costs (say ~$250m) but the state definitely needs to invest ~$500m in that area.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

That's pretty normal though. Even stadiums privately financed end up having residual investment from the states and cities nearby:

• Massachusetts spent ~$75m when Kraft privately financed Gillette
• NJ spent $250m on highways, utilities, and a train station for MetLife
• DC spent $202m on utlities, roads, and transit

$855m sounds like a lot. The breakout is something like

Category	Plausible cost​
Route 53 / interchanges / regional roads	$250–350M​
Metra station + rail improvements	$100–175M​
Local arterial roads / intersections / traffic systems	$100–150M​
Water + sanitary/storm sewer	$100–150M​
Electrical / other utility infrastructure	$50–100M​
Engineering, ROW, contingency, escalation	$75–125M​
Total	~$675–1,050M​

I think it's reasonable to say the Bears should pick up a lot of the water, electrical, and local roads costs (say ~$250m) but the state definitely needs to invest ~$500m in that area.

Agreed. It sounds like they are willing to, too. Again, that land is already basically zoned for this. It was a horse racing track before. The air smells nice, too.

Have to do the work, though. Kev isn't doing that, and George is none the wiser.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Agreed. It sounds like they are willing to, too. Again, that land is already basically zoned for this. It was a horse racing track before. The air smells nice, too.

Have to do the work, though. Kev isn't doing that, and George is none the wiser.

Well shit it ain't Joliet or Decatur lol

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Well shit it ain't Joliet or Decatur lol

LOL!

My brother in law went to Millikin. I don't know how he stayed in school there for four years with the overwhelming smell of fried grease in the air.

 

[zelezo vlk]

LOL!

My brother in law went to Millikin. I don't know how he stayed in school there for four years with the overwhelming smell of fried grease in the air.

As long as the fried grease is from the Winery burgers you can live with it as a college kid. If it's the brown funk from Staley's refinery, woof. I gotta think they'd give Hammond a run for their money

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

As long as the fried grease is from the Winery burgers you can live with it as a college kid. If it's the brown funk from Staley's refinery, woof. I gotta think they'd give Hammond a run for their money

You can see why the Decatur Staleys became the Chicago Bears.

I see no reason to ever go back there again.