Bears’ new stadium plans take major hit from Illinois governor

The Chicago Bears’ plans to construct a brand new stadium within the coming years had been hit with some unhealthy information after the governor of Illinois revealed the state won’t foot any of the payments for the billion-dollar endeavor.

Throughout an look in Peoria, In poor health. this week, Gov. JB Pritzker was requested if the state would assist pay for the workforce’s growth plans in Arlington Heights. This can be a widespread observe as organizations and native governments work collectively on new stadiums due to the mutual advantages of such a challenge.

Nevertheless, Pritzker shut down that risk when he stated, “I’m of the opinion that it’s not our obligation because the state to step in and supply main funding, and I actually don’t wish to burden taxpayers with main assist for a non-public enterprise.”

The information is a giant hit to the workforce’s stadium plans after Sen. Ann Gillespie filed a invoice not too long ago that might permit as much as 40 years price of tax breaks to main organizations just like the Bears in Arlington Heights.

Subsequent yr, legendary stadium Soldier Area will flip 100 years previous. Whereas it is likely one of the oldest lively sports activities venues within the nation, it doesn’t have the identical historic worth and allure as classics like Wrigley Area and Fenway Park. That’s the reason there have lengthy been talks of the Bears trying to lastly assemble a brand new area for Illinois’ hottest soccer workforce.

In 2021, the franchise set the wheels in movement for an eventual construct when it paid $197 million to buy the property the Arlington Heights Racetrack as soon as sat on. Since then, the Bears have revealed hopes to assemble a large $5 billion leisure district centered round what could be a $2.2 billion domed stadium.

Such a growth would in all probability require some assist from the state, however the prime official in Illinois shouldn’t be considering giving a “non-public enterprise” just like the Chicago Bears help to pay for the challenge.