Kevin Warren and George McCaskey announced last week what many had expected was coming. After extensive efforts to get a new downtown stadium off the ground, the Chicago Bears brass have shifted their focus back to Arlington Heights. They have all the resources in place to begin construction by the end of this year. There is only one hurdle left. Legislation from the state is needed to provide the necessary tax clarity for them to move forward. A veto session in October is their best chance to get that done.
Part of the problem is Governor JB Pritzker. He has stonewalled the Bears at every turn, stating he has no interest in giving the franchise any tax breaks when it doesn’t benefit the state. Longtime stadium expert Marc Ganis told 670 The Score that this hardline approach could have dire consequences.
“Gov. (JB) Pritzker is acting like there isn’t a state just a few minutes away that has legislation that wants to try to bring the Bears to Northwest Indiana,” Ganis said. “He’s acting like he’s the only game in town and the Bears haven’t approached (Indiana). They’ve ignored what Indiana has put forth, but if this keeps going in the state of Illinois — and the state of Illinois continues to act the way it has — maybe they won’t have a choice but to at least open the door to that option.”
Rumors surfaced a few months ago that lawmakers in Indiana quietly approached the Bears about a stadium deal. It would establish the organization somewhere between East Chicago and Gary, just across the state line. This would be a significant blow to Illinois’ overall revenue, shifting it to Indiana.
The Chicago Bears would forever change history if they did that.
For over a century, the organization has played every one of its NFL home games in Illinois. Such a move would end that, leaving the state without a professional football team for the first time since 1919. Does Pritzker want that to be part of his legacy? It certainly won’t make him popular with a lot of the Illinois voting bloc, despite his well-meaning intentions. William Stratton was the state governor for most of the 1950s. Then the Chicago Cardinals left town after the 1959 season. Barely over a year later, Stratton lost his reelection bid. The team’s leaving wasn’t the only reason that happened, but it probably didn’t help. That is the danger Pritzker faces if he maintains his stubborn stance against the Chicago Bears. He won against the push for an expensive downtown stadium. The Bears will pay for the Arlington Heights one without public money. All they need is a little tax help.
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