Mayor Brandon Johnson stated he desires to maintain the Bears in Chicago because the NFL franchise floats curiosity in probably transferring to a suburb apart from Arlington Heights.
Johnson made the feedback at an unrelated information convention when requested in regards to the Bears flirting with a transfer to Naperville because the franchise’s push for state monetary help and property tax breaks has stalled.
The mayor didn’t supply specifics about how he can persuade the group to stay in Chicago, however stated it’s essential to “have conversations.”
“I grew up with the ‘Super Bowl Shuffle.’ As I would say, as older people would say to young people when I was young, ’85 Bears, Super Bowl shuffle, y’all don’t know nothing about that,” stated Johnson, who was raised in suburban Elgin. “We want to make sure we can keep shuffling here in the city of Chicago with the Bears.”
The mayor didn’t supply specifics about how he can persuade the group to stay in Chicago, however stated it’s essential to “have conversations.”
“I want to make sure the ownership of the Chicago Bears, the Park District and the residents of the city of Chicago have a real seat at the table to discuss a pathway forward,” Johnson stated, declaring himself “the hardest-working person in the city of Chicago” and promising to method the discussions with “care sensitivity and thoughtfulness.”
Keeping the Bears in Chicago or Soldier Field would require greater than care, sensitivity or thoughtfulness because the group pursued a contemporary stadium that may compete with different websites throughout the nation for nationwide occasions just like the Super Bowl or NCAA contests.
Bears officers met with Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli on Friday to debate the opportunity of abandoning their plans for a brand new stadium improvement in Arlington Heights in favor of constructing it within the massive western suburb, a transfer that might be used as bargaining leverage.
The Bears objected that current tax hikes on the previous Arlington Park racetrack, which the Bears purchased this 12 months and have begun demolishing, would end in taxes far increased than the property’s price whereas it’s not operational.
The group has additionally pursued monetary incentives for infrastructure on the venture which have struggled to seek out help within the state Legislature.
But the group is raring to go away Soldier Field, the smallest and one of many least trendy stadiums within the NFL.
Dealing with the Bears’ threatened departure is a political problem. While few folks help public funding for a brand new stadium — notably as metropolis taxpayers stay on the hook for pricey renovations to Soldier subject designed to maintain the group in 2004 — dropping the NFL franchise might be a blow to the town’s picture.
Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, tried to move off criticism by floating plans to put in a dome over Soldier Field, a pricey concept that the Bears haven’t expressed curiosity in. It’s unclear what steps Johnson is keen to take to maintain the group within the metropolis limits.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com