State lawmakers in Illinois are grappling with the fallout from a failed tax relief plan intended to keep the Chicago Bears from moving to Arlington Heights. The expiry of the tax plan has spurred legislators into action to find a new solution to keep the team in the state.
The Chicago Bears, a founding member of the National Football League, have called various locations home, including Decatur’s Staley Field, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and Soldier Field. Now, facing the possibility of relocation to a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, Illinois lawmakers are working to prevent the team from moving out of the state. Indiana has prepared an enticing offer, which includes a taxpayer-funded stadium and entertainment district in close proximity to Chicago.
The Illinois House and Senate have been meeting alternate weeks throughout the spring session, causing difficulties in coordinating efforts on the Bears issue. State Representative Kam Buckner led the effort in the House, proposing a bill to provide the Bears with property tax certainty at the Arlington Heights site. This proposal involved freezing property tax assessments for 25 to 45 years in exchange for payments to local tax bodies from the team. However, the Senate, led by Senator Bill Cunningham, found insufficient support for the bill, especially from senators opposed to giving tax breaks to a wealthy sports franchise. Some Chicago Democrats also opposed the team’s potential move to a suburban location.
Cunningham noted the desire among lawmakers to ensure any proposal protects taxpayers. Despite the potential relocation, some legislators preferred to consider a city stadium site. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s visit to Springfield had revived interest in a prior $4.7 billion lakefront stadium proposal, raising questions about the Arlington Heights focus.
An alternative plan gaining attention involves creating local stadium finance authorities to establish public-private partnerships. This model allows municipalities to own stadiums, thus avoiding property taxes. The Bears have expressed willingness to spend around $2.5 billion on a new stadium under this setup. Currently, Soldier Field is owned by the Chicago Park District, so it is tax-exempt. Municipal ownership mirrors existing NFL stadium arrangements, many of which are publicly owned.
The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority already handles state-level stadium projects and owns Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. This offers a precedent for public ownership and tax exemptions. Cunningham mentioned that while a municipal stadium may free the Bears from property taxes, revenue distribution would still need negotiation.
Despite this conversation, by the session’s end on Sunday, no firm legislation had emerged, leaving key issues unresolved. These include whether the Bears would accept the plan, details of local stadium authority operations, and funding requirements. The Bears’ spokesperson, Scott Hagel, provided no updates on the negotiation status.
Another significant concern remains the Bear’s request for $855 million in infrastructure funding for Arlington Heights. Representative Buckner expressed uncertainty about Cunningham’s alternative plan, but indicated willingness to work with the Senate’s proposals.
As talks continue, the language used in forthcoming proposals will be crucial. Details of any agreements and plans will be decisive in determining the future steps lawmakers can take to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois.
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