The future of the Chicago Bears in Illinois faces uncertainty following the failure of state lawmakers to approve a stadium deal designed to encourage the team to remain in the state.
In the early hours of Monday, the Senate passed a revised proposal, but the House chose not to act on it. Key Democratic figures defended this inaction.
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With elections looming, Democrats focused heavily on affordability concerns, showing little interest in approving a deal that seemed to favor the Bears—a billion-dollar franchise—without clear taxpayer benefits.
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon summed up the public sentiment, saying, “Everyone in our communities essentially conveyed the same message: Keep the Bears here, but don’t spend a penny.”
Plans for the Bears to leave Soldier Field for a new venue stalled in Springfield as the legislative session concluded without a decision.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch remarked, “We didn’t have sufficient time to examine it thoroughly or gather opinions on the bill. Feedback from our members is essential before we can proceed. We must continue discussions about the Bears stadium issue, review the bill that came over early this morning, and understand the Bears’ position. It’s crucial to take the necessary time to get this right.”
The Bears were counting on legislation passing to give them long term property tax certainty before they commit to building a stadium in Arlington Heights on the old racetrack property that the team bought for nearly $200 million three years ago.
The only other site the team said it is considering is in Hammond, Indiana. After the legislative inaction, the Bears issued a statement, saying, “We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share.”
“What I saw here in the legislature is the Bears of old, where they’re running around, one half left to play, try a Hail Mary, and end up being sacked due to lack of leadership, lack of coaching, lack of organization,” said Illinois state Sen. Seth Lewis, R-DuPage and Collar Cook counties. “The Bears are a multibillion-dollar professional organization, and they’re looking for a partner to offer them the same information and be treated like a valuable partner. We didn’t do that.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker defended himself from critics who believed he was not directly involved enough to ensure a deal got done.
“Oh gosh, I was in meetings throughout the weekend, indeed, on this, not to mention throughout the last six months,” Pritzker said. “My principles focused on the taxpayers of Illinois, making sure we weren’t doing something like paying for a stadium, a privately owned stadium for a billionaire owned team, that didn’t make any sense to me.”
Keeping the Bears in Illinois a priority, but not the ultimate one.
“The most important things that are happening right now are about what’s happening to average everyday families in the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.
Arlington Heights leaders disappointed, but not defeated
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia expressed disappointment on Monday, saying in a statement, “The Village of Arlington Heights has spent the past five years working diligently to prepare for the redevelopment of Arlington Park. We are truly disappointed with the outcome from the spring legislative session yet again. Although we recognize that these discussions are complex and involve many stakeholders, this is clearly a fumble for the State of Illinois. My commitment to the residents and businesses of Arlington Heights is unwavering, and we will continue to represent the interests of our community as future opportunities and next steps are considered.”
Many Arlington Heights leaders have been working to lure the Bears to the northwest suburb for many years. They helped lobby lawmakers in Springfield. But in the end, their efforts fell short, and some feel betrayed.
“I think all of Arlington Heights is feeling let down. It seemed like we had a lot of momentum the last couple months,” said Ernie Rose with Touchdown Arlington Heights. “In Springfield, the Democrats don’t have their caucus in order. It’s exceedingly disappointing to everyone in town.”
Despite the frustration, Tinaglia has hope for a future for the Bears in Arlington Heights.
“I don’t think the game is over. I think that this play was a fumble, but it’s just one play in the game,” Tinaglia said. “It’s a disappointment that a legislative session could go for weeks and weeks and weeks, and nothing happens until almost midnight of the last day.”
Pritzker says in his mind, it is not over for Arlington Heights and that conversations with lawmakers will continue over the summer. But the question remains whether the Bears and the NFL be willing to wait on Springfield.
As of Monday evening, there are no plans to call for a special session in Illinois this summer. Welch says he needs a lot more feedback from House members before taking the next step, whatever that might look like.
Hammond leaders hopeful Bears will cross state lines
In contrast, Indiana lawmakers were able to quickly pass legislation in just a few weeks to help the team build a new stadium in Hammond.
Pro sports stadium expert Marc Ganis with Sportscorp LTD says he expects the Bears to break ground in Hammond soon. And he believes many Illinois Bears fans will adjust.
“The team will play in a brand new state-of-the-art facility. It’ll be a lot easier to get to for most people than going to Soldier Field, and the vast majority will just watch on television,” Ganis said.
Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott says he is optimistic that his town will build a stadium soon.
“I’m hoping the Bears made a business decision. If they do, that it’s a no-brainer. The Hammond offer is the best offer,” McDermott said.
Chicago’s mayor and residents hold onto hope
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also weighed in on Monday afternoon.
“I can’t speak to Springfield. What I can say, though, is I am still ready to have conversations with all of our stakeholders to keep the Bears right here in Chicago. Again, the only viable plan for a publicly owned stadium was the one that I presented,” Johnson said.
Johnson says his stadium proposal from two years ago of a mostly Bears-funded publicly owned stadium is similar to what the Illinois Senate passed overnight.
“The framework that the Senate put together is literally the framework that we presented two years ago, so look, I’m just going to remain steady and open to conversations because this is something that I believe that we can do well, and we can do it right,” Johnson said.
Johnson says his administration last spoke with the Bears about a month-and-a-half ago. He maintains that his plan continues to be the most detailed and viable one out there.
“I’m going to just again remain consistent and steady, steady that the Chicago Bears belong in Chicago, and clearly, there’s no plan anywhere else,” Johnson said.
And several Chicago residents said if not passing the stadium bill means the Bears will leave for Indiana, that it will be one of the worst mistakes to happen in state history.
“Soldier Field and the Museum Park and the lakefront and all of those things, they go together,” Bears fan Tom Crumbley said.
For Crumbley, a Bears team anywhere else but Chicago just doesn’t sound right.
“Having the Bears in Indiana, which is closer to my home, even though I’m living in Illinois, I still wish they were here in Chicago,” Crumbley said.
Chicagoans, even those who root for the “other” team, find themselves disappointed that the team could leave the city.
“I’m from Houston,” Ana Ortiz-Manasterio Dree said. “I’m an Oilers fan. I’ve done this before. I’ve watched a city give away their NFL franchise. It’s, we’re still kicking ourselves. It’s the stupidest thing in the world. And I can’t believe Chicago didn’t learn from Houston’s example.”
One Chicago resident and Packers fan said if the Bears find themselves over the border, nobody wins.
“I could sit on my couch, I guess. I mean, I’m not really interested in driving out there to go to those games,” Bears fan Anthony Bosco said.
Full statement from Mayor Johnson:
“Last night, the Illinois General Assembly decided to forgo a vote on HB 958, legislation that would have established a framework for the creation of municipal stadium finance authorities to build publicly owned sports stadiums in Cook County.
I appreciate the bill’s proponents and their acknowledgment of the value of public stadium ownership and their desire to create a pathway for a new Chicago stadium. While questions remained about the legislation’s design, legislators ultimately reached the same conclusion the City reached in 2024: the strongest proposal for a new stadium centers public ownership, the use of a sports authority and a commitment to public infrastructure.
Chicago’s 2024 plan relied on the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and its existing 2% hotel tax to fund public infrastructure, a model that reflects the same principles the legislature ultimately centered in its framework.
Chicago continues to offer the strongest opportunity to retain the Bears. We have a publicly owned site the team has already vetted and approved, an existing sports authority with a dedicated revenue stream, and a framework for moving a deal forward.
I am grateful for the support of the Chicago delegation in our advocacy efforts and for helping ensure Chicago remains a viable path forward. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to pursue a deal that keeps the Bears while protecting property taxpayers.”
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