The Bears “still considers” Arlington Heights, Ill., and Hammond, Ind., as the “only two viable sites” for a new stadium, a point the team will “reiterate” Tuesday when they update the 31 other NFL teams at the league meetings. The Bears updated the NFL Stadium Committee on the two sites in a virtual meeting three weeks ago. Then, as is the case now, the Bears stressed that Arlington Heights and Hammond were the “only two realistic locations for their domed stadium.” The team has said that it “plans to decide between the two in late spring or early summer.” The Illinois General Assembly is “set to adjourn at the end of the month,” and the clock is “ticking” for the Senate to pass the mega-projects bill that would allow the Bears to negotiate a property tax break with Arlington Heights (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/18).
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker expressed confidence that the megaproject legislation that could bring the Bears to Arlington Heights “would get done.” He said he “put the structure of a deal together with the Bears” and now the Senate “has some work to do.” Pritzker said the Senate will “no doubt” make some changes to the bill, adding he expects “we’ll see something before May 31″ and that both the Senate and House will “vote on that.” He also “leveled criticism” at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying “he has ‘no plan’ to keep the Bears in the city” (CHICAGO DAILY HERALD, 5/18).
