The Chicago Bears have insisted for months that the plan moving forward is to pay for the new Arlington Heights stadium themselves. That is true, for the most part. They will use various forms of private funding to build the complex. However, it’s never that simple with projects of this size. The organization was always going to need some form of public support to make things work. That has remained the sticking point between them and the Illinois state government, who seem dead set against any public support for this “vanity” project.
It’s something the Bears have been careful about bringing up because they know how sensitive the topic is. Unfortunately, they can’t avoid it much longer. Robert McCoppin of the Chicago Tribune has been on top of this situation since it began. He revealed new details from team sources, stating that the primary goal is to install new exit and entrance ramps to the highway near the property, while also adjusting the Metra Line nearby. Something of such scope will cost a lot of money.
We finally have a number.
Construction of a new Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights would generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, but would also require substantial taxpayer support for infrastructure, according to team projections released Tuesday.
Infrastructure such as entrance and exit ramps from near Route 53 and changes to the adjacent Metra train line would cost $855 million in public funds, the team’s consultant estimated in its report. The report attempts to assuage concerns about the price tag by pointing to gross state tax revenues of almost $1.3 billion over 40 years, according to projections from HR&A Advisors, Inc…
…The 60,000-seat stadium would hold an estimated 370 events a year, with most of those dates being private events and tours, according to the village report. However, there are plans for 10 home Bears games, two college football showcases, two high school football games, one international soccer match, wrestling and boxing events, and eight concerts each year, generating an estimated 1.5 million visitors combined. The team also hopes to occasionally host major events such as the NCAA Final Four, Big Ten championships and a Super Bowl.
The Chicago Bears still don’t have a solid commitment from Springfield.
They’ve remained hopeful that a deal is near. While an agreement is unlikely by next month, the expectation is that the state legislature will come around next spring. That is when team president Kevin Warren plans to have shovels in the ground. If all goes as planned, the new stadium is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2030 season. Of course, nothing is ever simple with this state’s government. It is notorious for having some of the worst bureaucracy in the country. So much red tape must be crossed to get anything done. These are waters the McCaskey family has no idea how to navigate. It is why they hired Warren. Yet even he seemed unprepared for how challenging it has become.
That price tag isn’t likely to make things any easier as the next push comes a few months from now.
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