Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday acknowledged the possibility that the Bears could move to Indiana, though he indicated that it would be something “he can live with if it means keeping a fair playing field for taxpayers.” The Illinois state Senate early Monday morning “failed to get a vote in the House before legislators gaveled out of session for the summer” regarding a stadium bill. Pritzker said, “As much of an emotional connection as many of us have to the Bears, and to keeping them in the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, (the) No. 1 principle is we’re not going to foist this on the taxpayers of the state of Illinois” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/1). Meanwhile, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said Monday city officials are “‘truly disappointed’ and will continue to seek opportunities to redevelop the former Arlington Park site.” He called the lack of a bill “clearly a fumble for the state of Illinois” (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/1).
The Bears issued a statement on Monday saying that the club will “finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated.” House Speaker Emanuel Welch said that conversations on the Bears stadium issue “would continue over the summer” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/1).
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson welcomed a new proposal as an “opening to reconsider Chicago as the site for a new Bears stadium.” Johnson voiced tentative support for efforts that would allow municipalities in Cook County with populations of more than 70,000, including Chicago and Arlington Heights, to create a stadium authority that would let the Bears “pay to build the stadium, but make it publicly-owned so it would avoid paying property taxes.” The proposal Johnson referred to was “introduced in the waning hours of the spring legislative session, which technically ended Sunday night” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/1).
