It became apparent that the Chicago Bears might be gaining the attention of Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois state government when he stated he was willing to discuss the idea of infrastructure help for the new stadium project. This was not a concession Pritzker had made public during the previous three years. It was the first sign that the Bears’ decision to entertain the idea of leaving Illinois for a possible new home in Northwest Indiana may have finally raised eyebrows in Springfield.
Well, it seems team president Kevin Warren and the team’s media machine decided to ratchet up the pressure. It came in two parts. First, the announcement that Indiana Senate Bill 27, intended to help establish stadium funding, had reached the floor. Expectations are that it will pass.
A few minutes later, the Bears delivered the second punch with a public statement expressing their excitement over the bill’s arrival and their appreciation for the cooperation they’ve received. If it didn’t feel real before, it has to now.
The Chicago Bears never had a credible threat before. They do now.
Part of the reason the organization had never made headway in stadium talks before was that it lacked true leverage. George Halas and the McCaskey family would threaten to leave, but nobody took them seriously. It was felt they didn’t have the stomach to do it. For all that time, they were correct. However, this time is different. The organization now has a clear path to a new home. Indiana is willing to pay a large share of the bill, while Illinois has repeatedly said it won’t. If money is the bottom line, this is a fundamental truth Pritzker can’t ignore.
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This feels like the next step in a process that is rapidly escalating. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was spotted touring potential sites in Northwest Indiana. Now you have the bill being introduced and the Chicago Bears making that statement. If this is a leverage play, it might be the most elaborate in modern history. The truth is, this feels real. The Bears have exhausted every avenue to work something out with Illinois, only to be brushed off. Why stay where you’re not appreciated? Pritzker is running out of time to do something.
