Chicago Bears news: What’s next for Bears stadium plans after Indiana lawmakers make push for Hammond site?
CHICAGO (WLS) — Time is ticking for Illinois lawmakers to make a better offer for the Bears.
On Thursday, Indiana pushed legislation forward that clears the way for the Bears to build a new stadium in Hammond.
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That bill is likely to pass Indiana’s House by next week.
The Bears called Indiana lawmakers move a “meaningful step forward” in efforts to build a stadium in the Wolf Lake area.
“We’ve known for the last three to four weeks that we are running out of time in Springfield to get a bill done. And I think the Bears statement yesterday while carefully crafter was intended to send a message,” Ernie Rose of the group Touchdown Arlington, said.
Hammond leaders believe the move is a win for Indiana and Bears fans in the Chicagoland area.
“Downtown Chicago or on the South Side, of Chicago, they should be applauding this move because we’re going to be much closer to you, the fan, than if the Bears move to Arlington Heights,” Mayor McDermott Jr. said.
The “mega project bill” was supposed to go before an Illinois House committee Thursday, but was suddenly canceled.
That bill could pave the way for a stadium in Arlington Heights.
But it would require lawmakers across the state to get on the same page says Ernie Rose from Touchdown Arlington.
“Something unusual is going to have to happen to keep the Bears here,” Rose said. “We’re going to need all of leadership to get on board, one with moving the Bears to Arlington Heights. I’m still hearing comments about a possibility of a Chicago statement coming from leadership and we’ve got to disabuse that notion. There’s one option and the only option at this point is Arlington Heights.”
Illinois officials said they wanted to tweak the bill and believe they are close to a deal on bringing the Bears to Arlington Heights.
Governor JB Pritzker again addressed he stadium talks with the Bears Friday.
“These are complicated matters and sometimes things are unintended that happen so I am hopeful that every will be able to get back on track and get what the I think what bears want and what the people of Illinois want, but again, we are not going to overpay or take advantage of the taxpayers to get it down,” Governor Pritzker said.
A hearing for the mega project bill has been rescheduled for next Thursday.
Time is ticking for Illinois lawmakers to make a counter-offer to the Chicago Bears.
This comes after Indiana advanced legislation that clears the way for the Bears to build a new stadium in Hammond.
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That bill is likely to pass Indiana’s house by next week.
The Bears called the move out of Indiana’s “meaningful step forward” in efforts to build a stadium in the Wolf Lake area.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. believes this is a win for Indiana and Bears fans.
“Downtown Chicago or on the South Side, of Chicago, they should be applauding this move because we’re going to be much closer to you, the fan, than if the Bears move to Arlington Heights,” Mayor McDermott Jr. said.
RELATED: Chicago Bears signal shift to Hammond as Indiana committee passes stadium bill
However, Governor JB Pritzker said he was disappointed by the Bears statement Thursday.
Pritzker said two days ago his team and the Bears had a three-hour positive discussion about plans in Illinois.
“I’ve been a Bears fan for a very long time, and I wanted them to, you know, perform, stay play here, continue to believe that that’s the best thing for them. I believe they understand in their hearts that that may be the best thing for them,” Governor Pritzker said.
The mega project bill that was supposed to go before an Illinois House committee Thursday has since been rescheduled for next Thursday.
State officials said they wanted to tweak it and believe they are close to a deal on bringing the Bears to Arlington Heights.
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