Since the Chicago Bears hit a monetary roadblock of their proposed transfer to Arlington Heights, different municipalities have been vying in a kind of roulette to draw — or in Chicago’s case, hold — the workforce.
Naperville, Rockford, Chicago and, most lately, Waukegan have positioned themselves within the working to land the white whale of the NFL — although some officers concede the workforce could also be utilizing them for leverage in negotiations with Arlington Heights.
The franchise, a founding member of the league, valued at $5.8 billion by Forbes, is searching for a brand new dwelling. Team officers hadn’t been planning a right away transfer from Chicago’s Soldier Field till Arlington International Racecourse went up on the market in 2021. They jumped on the probability and closed the deal to purchase the property for $197 million this yr.
But Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi raised the valuation of the 326-acre property to almost the sale worth, which might have quadrupled the taxes to about $16 million yr. Local college districts lately agreed with former proprietor Churchill Downs Inc. to a tax of about half that a lot, however the Bears mentioned it’s an excessive amount of for a vacant property, and promptly started tearing down the majestic grandstand to decrease the worth.
After beforehand focusing solely on Arlington Heights, the workforce issued a press release that its plans to maneuver there are “at risk,” and that it’s “no longer our singular focus.” Here is a fast rundown of the place various websites stand.
Naperville
The Bears have shortly had two conferences with metropolis officers, after Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli invited the workforce to speak. The mayor mentioned he’s had very preliminary discussions with Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren.
Wehrli has mentioned he needs to develop underused properties alongside the Interstate 88 tollway, the place the previous BP Amoco website can be greater than sufficiently big at 187 acres.
If the Bears submit conceptual plans for a stadium, metropolis officers mentioned they might be totally reviewed and obtain public remark earlier than any determination.
The response from Naperville City Council members has been cautious, with issues raised about site visitors and security. Councilman Ian Holzhauer mentioned he doesn’t plan to gamble away Naperville’s status as one of the best place to boost a household.
Waukegan
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor wrote a letter Monday to Warren, proposing that the Bears construct a stadium on lakefront property.
Several places Taylor cited have the area for a stadium and leisure space with entry to Interstate 94, U.S. Route 41 and public transportation. The Bears prepare in Lake Forest, 9 miles south of Waukegan. The Bears didn’t instantly reply publicly to the invitation.
Arlington Heights
The foremost distinction between Arlington Heights and the opposite websites, after all, is that the Bears personal property there. The website is sufficiently big for a stadium and an enormous proposed housing and leisure advanced. It has a Metra prepare station and is subsequent to Route 53, not removed from the I-90 tollway.
Village officers typically have welcomed the proposal, whereas saying they’ll have to deal with site visitors issues and analyze the deal to ensure it’s a internet monetary achieve for the realm. But the Bears demand that their property taxes be set upfront, and so they need taxpayer assist constructing infrastructure resembling roads and utilities. The workforce mentioned the native faculties’ proposal for property taxes on the positioning has left them at a standstill.
A ballot final yr by the libertarian Americans for Prosperity-Illinois, a bunch based by the conservative billionaire Koch brothers, discovered that many of the 300 registered voters questioned wished the Bears to come back there, however didn’t wish to pay taxes for it.
Americans for Prosperity submitted a petition for a referendum on the difficulty, however the Village Board rejected it. The group nonetheless hopes to get the query on the poll.
Local state lawmakers proposed letting the workforce negotiate taxes as a part of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, program, however it went nowhere in Springfield. Another proposal to separate the stadium revenues with surrounding suburbs and have the followers pay $3 a ticket to assist repay excellent debt for the Bears’ present dwelling at Soldier Field in Chicago additionally gained no traction.
Rockford
State Rep. Dave Vella, a Democrat from Rockford, informed the Tribune he’d like his metropolis to have an opportunity at bringing the Bears there.
While acknowledging that Rockford is 90 miles from Chicago, he touted Rockford’s transportation growth and the way that might be used at Bears followers’ comfort.
“Rockford is right on I-90. We have the fastest-run cargo airport. We have passenger rail coming soon. We have tons of space. I think it’s the perfect location for the Bears,” Vella mentioned. “Let’s put a pitch in too.
“I always say Rockford is an uncut gem. And good things are happening in Rockford right now,” he mentioned. “Just getting the Bears to jump on board would be a great thing for them and a great thing for us.”
Chicago
Mayor Brandon Johnson mentioned he wished to maintain the workforce within the metropolis and met with Warren final week about what they referred to as their shared dedication to town.
The two launched this obscure joint assertion: “Today we met and discussed our shared values and commitment to the city of Chicago, the importance of deep roots and the need for equitable community investment throughout the city. We are both committed to the idea that the city and its major civic institutions must grow and evolve together to meet the needs of the future. We look forward to continuing the dialogue around these shared values.”
Johnson didn’t supply any specifics, however the mayor mentioned it’s vital to have conversations to maintain the Bears “shuffling” in Chicago, a reference to the workforce’s solely Super Bowl win, in 1986.
As for the Bears, they issued the next assertion June 2, the day of their first assembly with Naperville:
“We will continue the ongoing demolition activity and work toward a path forward in Arlington Heights, but it is no longer our singular focus,” workforce officers wrote. “It is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club and the state of Illinois.”
Chicago Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner contributed.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com