Team president Kevin Warren stated he wanted to work out a stadium deal with the state of Illinois by 2025. This meant building it would be completed around 2028. It was an aggressive timetable, but one he felt was workable. We may finally know why the Chicago Bears are showing such urgency in their push to get this done. That became apparent over the past 24 hours when not one but two other franchises reached agreements with their respective cities on stadium deals.
It began with the Carolina Panthers, who secured $650 million from the city of Charlotte to renovate Bank of America Stadium. Given how the organization has looked in recent years, this seems like a surprising victory. Barely a day later, the Jacksonville Jaguars scored an agreement with the city for $625 million in public money to renovate Everbank Stadium. The renovation includes the installation of a new roof. While this is happening, the Bears seem to be spinning their wheel in efforts to bring the Illinois state government to the negotiating table.
The Chicago Bears don’t face the same dilemma as other teams.
Unlike Jacksonville and Carolina, they want a brand new stadium with all the infrastructure required to build around it. This isn’t a renovation plan like 20 years ago with Soldier Field. It is far more costly. Initial estimates are the Bears require $900 million in public money. Governor J.B. Pritzker has said from the outset that his regime has zero interest in entertaining such an idea. He’s more focused on other economic issues facing the state, particularly food and housing. Such a hard stance may have compelled the Bears to change course.
A recent report suggests they’ve made progress with Arlington Heights over the persistent property tax disputes with local schools. If a deal can be reached there, the Chicago Bears may move forward with the original plan. They already own the property, so they won’t need permission from the state to build there. The question is, how much pressure do they feel to get something done now that other teams are making progress? Warren is a competitive guy. He may wish to force the issue at some point soon.
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