The Chicago Bears surprised many, including fans, when they unexpectedly announced Wednesday that they were considering options outside of Illinois for their new stadium build, despite having seemingly committed to Arlington Heights earlier in this year. So why did things shift?
While many have differing opinions on the matter, Bears CEO and President Kevin Warren cited one thing in particular: Illinois legislation.
According to an open letter to fans, penned by Warren, the team has been told their project is “not a priority” in Springfield next year.
“We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size,” Warren said in the letter. “Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.”
Arlington Heights officials similarly argued “restrictive legislation in Illinois” could force the team out.
“Both the Village and the Chicago Bears remain confident that their Arlington Park property in Arlington Heights is the best option for their new stadium and entertainment district,” a statement read. “However, we understand their need to explore any and all viable locations as part of their due diligence process. Due to restrictive legislation in Illinois, this exploration now includes moving to Indiana.”
The bill the Bears are seeking is known as a “payment in lieu of taxes” or PILOT, bill. The bill would allow for companies like the Bears to freeze property tax breaks obtained to help facilitate large-scale developments. The Bears would then be permitted to negotiate an annual payment with Arlington Heights officials in lieu of a standard property tax assessment and payment.
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the Bears would also pursue a separate program that would allow them to tap into the expanded sales tax revenue the project in Arlington Heights would generate.
“We encourage our Illinois State legislators to move forward with the Megaproject bill,” said Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia in the statement. “This legislation will help to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, within the limits of Cook County, and ultimately – in Arlington Heights.”
Warren has said the team would be unable to move forward with a stadium project without a PILOT bill in place.
“Over the past several years, we have worked in good faith with Illinois leaders and made clear our commitment and readiness to invest more than $2 billion by the Chicago Bears, one of the largest private investments in state and NFL history,” the letter read. “We have not asked for state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium at Arlington Park. We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size. Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.”
Warren noted that “for a project of this scale, uncertainty has significant consequences.”
He criticized lawmakers’ lack of “urgency or appreciation” and said they have received “no legislative partnership.” As a result, he noted the team now needs to expand its search, which will include northwest Indiana.
When asked about the possibility of passing such a bill, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said his administration is “still considering” the legislation.
“We’re going to evaluate what the costs are for the people of Illinois to do this, the benefits that come from attracting businesses as a result of providing that ability to use those tax dollars,” he said during an unrelated event.
A spokesperson for Pritzker called the move from the Bears “a startling slap in the face” to fans.
“Suggesting the Bears would move to Indiana is a startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season,” a statement read. “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.”
The governor also maintained his opposition to providing additional taxpayer funding for the project, saying the Bears needed to continue investing private money into the massive proposed construction project. He did say, however, the state would be willing to negotiate on potential infrastructure costs.
“I do not think that the taxpayers of the state of Illinois should be propping up what now is an $8.5 billion valued business. They seem to be doing okay for themselves,” he said. “And I just don’t think, you know, obviously all of us, we build roads for everybody no matter who you are. You know, we support business coming to or staying in the state of Illinois.”
Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner, in a lengthy series of posts on X, wrote he doesn’t disagree with the team’s assessment, but argued lawmakers have bigger issues at hand.
“It’s true that public dollars for a new stadium has not been a legislative priority. That’s because giving public money to a professional sports franchise doesn’t crack the top 100 things the people of Illinois are asking for, expecting, or willing to tolerate right now,” Buckner wrote. “The General Assembly has been focused on affordability, housing costs, transit reliability, education, healthcare, public safety, and keeping the state on stable financial footing, because that’s what we hear about every single day from our constituents.”
He questioned the timing of the announcement, saying the team should be focused on their big rivalry match against the Packers Saturday, and noted their stadium strategy seems “familiar.”
“In the 1990s, when the Bears were unhappy with the situation at Soldier Field, Indiana was floated as a possible alternative. That play didn’t work then,” he wrote. “Since then, we’ve heard different versions of this conversation repeatedly; leaving Soldier Field, leaving Chicago, leaving Arlington Heights, and now Indiana again. This plan has a lot of rushing yards in it. But too few of them are straight forward. But generational projects aren’t built on a hurry up offense or relocation rhetoric. They’re built through balanced, sensible conversations that respect public priorities and fiscal reality. And it’s important to say this out loud: as people across Illinois are reeling from the weight of rising property taxes, they are not interested in a professional sports franchise cutting to the front of the line for a property tax break while families are still fighting to make their own tax bills make sense. I would hope the Bears are willing to come to the table in that spirit, because Illinois residents deserve a process that’s fair, thoughtful, and grounded in reality. Indiana residents would too.”
At the same time, in Indiana, efforts have been made to attempt to attract professional sports franchises.
House Bill 1292, which passed by large margins in the Indiana legislature, created the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission, aiming to “attract professional sports franchises to Northwest Indiana,” according to the text of the bill.
“Northwest Indiana has a unique opportunity for economic development,” Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris said in a statement. “Capitalizing on The Region’s proximity to Chicago by bringing professional sports teams here makes sense for all parties involved. This is a chance to bring great investments and jobs to our community, and we know that The Region offers a great base of operation and amazing fans for any sports franchise looking for a home.”
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