It is Arlington Heights or Hammond.
If you believe the political rhetoric and statements from the National Football League’s Chicago Bears’ business’s public relation department, Bears’ ownership has no interest in building a new stadium in Chicago. The Bears’ business put out a statement that made no mention of staying in Chicago. “There are only two viable stadium locations under consideration, Arlington Heights and Hammond, and a decision is expected between the two later this spring or early summer.” Bears ownership is waiting for the Illinois legislature to come up with a financial package that would allow them to build a stadium-village in suburban Arlington Heights. Bears ownership has a financial package on the table that would allow them to build a stadium-village in Hammond which is about 30 miles south of Chicago.
Bears’ ownership bought the Arlington Park racetrack property in the Chicago suburb in February 2023 for $197 million. Bears’ ownership was set to build a stadium-village in town but then came the property tax bill. Bears’ ownership was alarmed with the tab and decided Chicago was a better option. In April 2024, Bears’ ownership unveiled a plan to build a domed lakefront stadium but that never materialized. The McCaskey family, the owners of the football business, claimed they were willing to throw in about $2 billion to help finance the Arlington Heights venture but they also said they needed public support. 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 public-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 stadium game continues.
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