Could the Bears stay in Illinois? A possible stadium deal is back in play
Bears stadium update: How close is a deal to keep team in Illinois?
Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business joins us to discuss why he thinks the Bears are close to a deal that would keep them in Illinois.
A new stadium deal could give the Chicago Bears a path to remain in Illinois, but key details still need to be worked out.
The speculation
What they're saying:
A recent analysis by Crain's Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz explores the possibility that Illinois lawmakers could revive a proposal that would help keep the Bears from moving across state lines.
The piece points to renewed momentum in Springfield around a measure that passed the Illinois Senate late in the spring legislative session but stalled in the House. Lawmakers later advanced a competing plan, adding uncertainty to the stadium debate.
What could be on the table
Breakdown:
The proposal discussed by Hinz could support a stadium in Arlington Heights rather than Chicago proper. According to the analysis, the measure would allow municipalities to establish authorities to finance and operate stadiums and other major projects, potentially including Chicago.
One provision could give a publicly owned stadium facility an exemption from property taxes, offering the Bears greater tax certainty — an issue the team has sought to resolve as it pursues a potential move to Arlington Heights.
The authority could also be eligible to collect additional sales tax revenue generated by the project, according to Crain’s.
What's next:
The editorial notes that revisions still need to be resolved. While the proposal could offer a path toward keeping the Bears in Illinois, the available information does not establish that a final agreement has been reached.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that the referenced Crain’s Chicago Business piece is an analysis of a potential stadium deal.
The Source: The information in this report came from Crain’s Chicago Business and columnist Greg Hinz’s analysis of a potential Illinois stadium deal for the Chicago Bears.