Pritzker Sits Out First Meeting with Bears
Governor JB Pritzker did not participate in a meeting Wednesday with top brass from the Chicago Bears as the team advocates for state assistance to build a new stadium on Chicago’s lakefront.
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
Advocates for a new Chicago Bears stadium on Chicago’s lakefront met with two of Governor JB Pritzker’s top aides Wednesday but Pritzker wasn’t with them.
Instead, Pritzker’s Chief of Staff, Anne Caprara, and Deputy Governor Andy Manar, a former State Senator, will meet with the Bears delegation. Bears President Kevin Warren and Chief Financial Officer Karen Murphy met with the Governor’s staff virtually.
We asked Pritzker Wednesday why he was “skipping” the meeting, and he denied the claim.
“I’m didn’t skip anything,” he said. “I just have a busy schedule, that’s all. Right now, we’re just getting a lot of technical information from them. Now we’re just talking about numbers.”
Pritzker has repeatedly called himself “skeptical” of the Bears plan, which includes $900 million in new state bonds plus refinancing of existing stadium debt to build the new stadium just south of the current Soldier Field site.
The Bears are also asking for an additional $1.5 billion in state funding to help pay for infrastructure improvements around the domed stadium, which has been considered a red flag in the proposal.
Another source supportive of the Bears bid didn’t raise alarm by Pritzker’s absence.
“This is an opening salvo, I think,” said the source, who asked not to be named. “It’s going to be a big process, and it’s important to get a baseline with the Governor’s staff.”
A Democratic legislator told The Illinoize Tuesday night it appears Pritzker is keeping his distance from the Bears.
“It doesn’t do [Pritzker] any good to sit in the room on May 1st and tell the Bears “no,” the lawmaker said. “He’s being smart keeping his options open.”
Multiple legislators The Illinoize spoke to Tuesday, both Democrats and Republicans, were skeptical the Bears could get legislative approval for any sort of stadium deal before the scheduled May 24th adjournment date.
Top Bears brass, like Warren, have not been in Springfield to pitch the proposal yet, but Pritzker made a point not to criticize their strategy.
“I think they’re doing a fine job talking to folks that they need to. I think it’s important that they talk to my office,” Pritzker said. “This is gonna take a little bit of time and, you know, its unclear if there’s going to be something put on the table that the General Assembly can pass and I could sign.”
After the meeting, the Bears issued a short statement calling the meeting with the Governor’s staff “productive.”
“We had a productive conversation with the Governor’s office,” the team said. “We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions.”
The Governor’s press office did not respond to our request for a comment after the meeting (as is their usual manner), but a statement provided to other outlets continued to call the Bears proposal a “non-starter.”
“Today, Chief of Staff Anne Caprara and Deputy Governor Andy Manar met with the Chicago Bears organization to discuss the team’s stadium proposal. The Governor’s Office appreciates the opportunity to discuss the Bears’ proposal and appreciates the organization for taking the time to discuss it,” Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said. “As the Governor has said, the current proposal is a non-starter for the state. In order to subsidize a brand new stadium for a privately owned sports team, the Governor would need to see a demonstrable and tangible benefit to the taxpayers of Illinois. The Governor’s office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers, and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of tax-payer dollars remains the foremost priority.”
