Welch on Bears Stadium Pitch: "Insensitive"
House Speaker Chris Welch addresses the City Club of Chicago Tuesday. (Photo: Speaker’s Office)
If there was further proof of the Chicago Bears face an uphill battle with the General Assembly in the organization’s effort to get state support for a new stadium, House Speaker Chris Welch Tuesday continued to cast doubt on any deal for the team.
Speaking at the City Club of Chicago, Welch said a handout for a professional sports team’s stadium sets a bad tone.
“When folks say what’s your priority going into the legislative session, we’re trying to bring down the cost of living,” Welch said. “Talking about a brand new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old, that’s insensitive to what real people are going through right now.”
The Bears initially asked for $1.5 billion in state infrastructure support for a new stadium on Chicago’s lakefront, but have redirected their plans to the former Arlington Park site in suburban Arlington Heights.
The team has continued to ask for significant tax breaks through a “megaproject” development bill that has, so far, stalled at the Statehouse.
Nearly $600 million in outstanding debt remains from the state-financed bonds for the 2002 renovation of Soldier Field.
Numerous lawmakers, including Gov. JB Pritzker, have said they’re open to helping the team with infrastructure improvements, but political hurdles remain to convince Chicago lawmakers to vote to allow the team to leave the city.
In a letter to ticket holders last month, the Bears further rankled state leaders by announcing they were considering other sites for a new stadium, including in Indiana.
