Decisions will be made in Chicago and in Tampa.
It is the last work week in May for sports owners and politicians in Tampa, Florida and in Chicago, Illinois in the stadium game. In the Tampa Bay market, the ownership group of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays franchise wants a stadium financial deal by June 1st. There is some sort of agreement between the baseball business and the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County Commissioners along with state politicians that Rays’ ownership might be in line for some public funding to build a stadium surrounded by businesses and residential space. The operative word is could as there is no definite agreement between the various government levels and baseball business that could kick public money into that private business’s plan to build a sports complex. There is just an understanding that the public will be required to pony up money for a private business, a business that probably would not be giving the public good return on the investment. The Rays’ ownership wants the deal done by June 1st or else. The Rays’ ownership has not specified what else means.
There is one thing certain in Illinois. The National Football League’s Chicago Bears franchise ownership will honor its lease to have its team play in Chicago this year and next year and the year after. Bears ownership is waiting for the Illinois legislature to come up with a financial package to help Bears’ ownership build a stadium-village in suburban Arlington Heights. The Illinois legislative session ends on May 31st and Bears ownership wants a financial proposal from Springfield lawmakers very soon so it will have the ability to compare what Illinois is offering in public money with what Indiana lawmakers are offering to build a stadium-village in Hammond. Sports ownerships want public money to build stadiums, stadiums that most of the taxpayers will never step foot in.
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