Indiana has submitted an offer.
Do you remember when the Board of Directors of the National Football League’s Chicago Bears franchise released a statement on June 5th, that the Board met and voted to advance their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana? Do you remember when in August that the Bears’ franchise President and CEO Kevin Warren was quoted. “Our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world-class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana”? Then one of the owners George McCaskey added. “As Kevin said, our focus is on Hammond. That’s where we’re advancing our efforts and that’s where the bulk of our time, attention and resources are being devoted.” Apparently, there has been a change in plans as the Illinois legislature might be coming up with some sort of plan that would enable Bears ownership to build a stadium in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights where the franchise owners have property to build a stadium-village.
The Bears’ franchise ownership group soured on Arlington Heights when presented with the property tax assessment and decided to look elsewhere. Indiana lawmakers came up with a plan that apparently would give the Bears’ ownership group a deal that the ownership group could tolerate. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said that the upcoming November legislative veto session could provide an opportunity to advance a stadium plan. Indiana Governor Mike Braun has signed a bill creating a path to Hammond. An Indiana stadium finance authority could authorize taxes on football tickets, hotel rooms, restaurants and tolls to raise money to help build the publicly owned stadium. Bears ownership would retain all game, concert and event-related revenue. The Bears would play rent-free for at least 30 years with the option to purchase the stadium for a dollar after 40 years. The Bears’ stadium game continues.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
https://evanweiner1.substack.com
