Pritzker Appears to Back Off of Bears Debt Demands
Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a business roundtable in Chicago Tuesday. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
For much of the ongoing saga over the construction of a new stadium for the Chicago Bears, Governor JB Pritzker has been consistent in messaging a few things: that taxpayers weren’t going to foot the bill for the stadium itself (though the team never made that ask), that the state was willing to provide infrastructure help, to a point, and that property tax concerns in Arlington Heights were an issue for the team and local taxing bodies.
Pritzker has also maintained the Bears should be responsible for the roughly $500 million in outstanding bonds from the 2001-2003 renovation at Soldier Field. The state is responsible for the bonds, but they are generally paid back by the hotel/motel tax in the city.
Now, as the team has started serious flirtation with an Indiana state government that appears ready to back up a proverbial Brinks truck up to build the organization a stadium, Pritzker appears to be slightly softening his stance.
Asked about the debt at a separate bill signing last week, Pritzker appeared to step back from his hard line on the team’s responsibility for the debt.
“The Bears don’t owe that [debt]. That is a decision that government leaders made years ago to borrow that money to create the Bears stadium,” he said. “The actual fiscal responsibility, the financial responsibility for that debt, does not fall on the Bears.”
Some legislative Democrats say privately they would never allow the Bears to leave the city on the hook for the 24-year-old renovations without some plan to pay down the debt.
Some Bears supporters believe the flirtation with Indiana has Illinois officials backtracking.
“I think it’s obvious they’re spooked,” said one longtime insider who asked not to be named. “Imagine the PR of being the guy, or being the legislature, that allowed the Chicago Bears to move to Gary-freakin’-Indiana. They can’t let it happen.”
Many statehouse insiders have said privately they believe the Indiana moves are a “leverage play” or “bluff,” but sources tell The Illinoize the team is seriously considering the entreaties from our Hoosier neighbors.
“Previously, the Bears were negotiating with themselves, now they’ve pitted Indiana vs. Illinois,” a longtime Democratic source said. “The Bears have managed to flip the script for the first time in years.”
