All articles tagged with #arlington heights
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he has spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois, stressing that lawmakers should stay in discussions with both the Bears and the commissioner to achieve the best outcome. He notes the stadium talks involve Chicago, Arlington Heights, and potentially Indiana, but aims to pass a single taxpayer-protective bill in Illinois that keeps the Bears from moving.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he recently met with Illinois lawmakers about a new Bears stadium, with the team weighing options in Indiana or Arlington Heights, Illinois. An Illinois bill to incentivize a move to Arlington Heights hasn’t cleared a floor vote yet, and Goodell stressed there’s no timetable, as the Bears continue to consider alternate groups in Indiana or Illinois and give both states a chance to present their case.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell privately met with select Illinois lawmakers to discuss the Bears’ stadium plans, with Hammond, Indiana cited as leverage to spur a decision in Arlington Heights or Chicago; rising project costs complicate a solution, leaving the Bears’ future location uncertain.
Chicago Bears officials say a decision on relocating to Indiana is imminent but have not announced a timeline, with Hammond’s Lost Marsh and the nearby Wolf Lake site cited as viable options. Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a stadium bill, leaving Arlington Heights in limbo while the team continues financing talks and prioritizes a world‑class stadium experience, prompting fan frustration over years of shifting plans and delays.
Chicago Bears are weighing a move from Soldier Field with Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana as leading options; Hammond has received official backing for a stadium project, while Illinois lawmakers adjourned without advancing a key megaproject bill, prompting a decision by spring or summer on a 2030 opening. The plan contemplates about $3.2 billion in costs, with roughly $2 billion from private sources, about $900 million from the state and NFL support, financed through bonds repaid by a hotel-tax levy; Halas Hall will stay in Lake Forest. A relocation would reshape the region and draw scrutiny over taxes, traffic and community impact.
The Bears are prioritizing a domed stadium project in northwest Indiana, with due diligence on a Hammond site (Wolf Lake Terminals) and officials promising more updates soon. Illinois progress stalled after a failed PILOT bill, and there’s no movement yet on Arlington Heights, while Indiana incentives—up to $1 billion—keep the push alive and Gov. Braun remains confident the deal will close.
Caleb Williams says he’ll play wherever the Bears’ stadium ends up, stressing he’s focused on football as the team weighs options in Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana after the board continued exploring potential sites.
Chicago Bears explore a Hammond, Indiana site (including near the Lost Marsh golf course) for a potential new stadium after advancing the project there, even as Illinois Republicans propose bills to keep the team in Illinois with incentives toward Arlington Heights. Gov. Pritzker says he’s willing to work on a deal without taxpayers bearing the cost, while Hammond remains optimistic about securing the project; the plan could involve a pricey stadium with a large anticipated return on investment.
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia pressed Gov. JB Pritzker to take an active, coach-like role to unite state lawmakers and push a Bears stadium bill at Arlington Park, aiming to keep the team from moving to Indiana; with the Bears’ Indiana bid public and the Illinois legislature adjourning without a final deal, Tinaglia says talks with the team aren’t closed and remains hopeful a consensus could draw the project back home.
The Chicago Bears announced they will move forward with their Hammond stadium plans, signaling urgency for Illinois lawmakers to act quickly; with Arlington Heights still a live option, the window to seal a deal is narrowing.
The Chicago Bears reportedly spoke with city officials in April about a potential stadium deal as a contingency plan if Arlington Heights falls through, with discussions centering on a Soldier Field lease; a April 22 Illinois House action could make Arlington Heights more attractive, keeping Chicago in the mix and leaving the final outcome uncertain.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson repeated that the Bears are likely to stay in Chicago, with ongoing discussions with Springfield to advance a publicly owned stadium plan. The team has narrowed potential sites to Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana, while Johnson says there is no plan for Hammond and that Chicago is further along than other locations in the process. Illinois lawmakers have not yet voted on the stadium proposal.
With the Illinois legislature ending its spring session without passing a bill to lay the groundwork for the Bears’ stadium at Arlington Heights, Chicago argues it offers the strongest path to keeping the team, citing a publicly owned site, an existing sports authority with a dedicated revenue stream, and a framework for moving a deal forward, while Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana remain as alternatives.
Illinois lawmakers adjourned the spring session without voting on HB 958, a bill to let municipalities create stadium authorities to privately finance a publicly owned Chicago Bears stadium. The proposal would affect sites including Arlington Heights and Hammond, while Chicago touts a public-ownership framework; the Bears said they will continue evaluating options and timelines.
Illinois lawmakers adjourned without passing the Municipal Stadium Authority Act, stalling the Bears’ plan to build a new stadium in Illinois; with Arlington Heights and Hammond as Illinois options and Indiana still in contention, the team will reassess its path, hoping for clarity after a fall veto session, while Soldier Field’s 2033 lease provides no immediate pressure to move.