ABC7 is learning new details about the Chicago Bears’ stadium plans on Tuesday.
NFL owners and executives met in Orlando for a number of important decisions, including awarding the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville. But with the Bears looking for a chance to host their own Super Bowl, they are focused on building a new domed stadium, and team executives provided a briefing to NFL owners at Tuesday’s meeting.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The NFL’s chief spokesman told ABC7 that team owners are getting antsy for the Bears to decide on their future home. But the Bears are, in some ways, at the mercy of state lawmakers, who are still working out details of the so-called mega projects bill that would provide property tax breaks for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
NFL owners and executives from all 32 teams held a one-day meeting in Orlando that included a briefing from Bears Chairman George McCaskey and Team President Kevin Warren.
It was a chance for the team to update the league on its stadium and financing plans that are focused on only two sites: the 326-acre former racetrack property in Arlington Heights, which the team purchased three years ago, and a site near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, which would be a heavily taxpayer-supported project.
Lawmakers are in the final two weeks of the legislative session but still have work to do to rework the mega-projects bill that will provide property tax breaks for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
“We are focused very much on what’s good for the taxpayers when we’re making decisions about whether and how we’re going to incentivize the Bears to stay. We have a deal on the table with the Bears that works for the Bears and works for the taxpayers,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
While Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to insist there is a way to keep the Bears at Soldier Field, the team has made it clear they have moved on from that site.
Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said even though there has been a fight between the Pritzker and Johnson surrounding whether or not the Bears go to the suburbs or stay in the city, he has faith tgat the Bears will move in the right direction.
“This is part of the process,” Buckner said. “You know, politics ain’t being bad, and it is a contact sport, and it requires, I think, you know, some back and forth at times…we have put together pieces of a package already that make it very clear that Illinois is a much better option than anything you know east of our border.”
The 32 owners are anxious for some answer from the Bears about where they want to build a new stadium, something that will require support from 24 teams in order for the Bears to move forward. Lawmakers hope to do what’s needed to keep the Bears in Illinois.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to put together a package. We have put together pieces of a package already that make it very clear that Illinois is a much better option than anything, you know, east of our border,” Buckner said. “Their job is to make this happen as quick as possible. Our jobs in the state legislature and the state government is to make sure we do it in the way that does not negate the fact that we are responsible to the taxpayers of Illinois.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell provided an update after the meeting concluded.
“There was a specific update on the Bears with respect to the two sites that they’re evaluating that are viable in the Bears’ mind and others and ours, both one in Illinois and one in Indiana,” Goodell said. “They’re getting into the final days of their session… I’ve spoken to the governor recently, and I think there’s a focus on trying to get something done there, and then they’ll have two viable sites that the Bears can make their decision from.”
That was the extent of the NFL update, other details that may or may not have been shared in the meeting were not disclosed. But the point that seems to reverberate from what Goodell said is that there are only two viable sites, and Chicago is not one of them.
Both Pritzker and Buckner expressed optimism that lawmakers will get a deal done for the Bears before May 31, when the legislative session end.
The Bears had no comment after the owners meeting ended on Tuesday afternoon. Warren has said the team will have a decision on new stadium plans by “late spring, early summer.”