Chicago Bears stadium news: Illinois General Assembly ends session without passing Chicago Bears stadium bill

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Illinois General Assembly adjourned their spring session Monday without passing a Chicago Bears stadium bill.

What it came down to was there just was not enough time and not any consensus on what the legislation needed to look like to make a Bears stadium deal happen.

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Now the team is left mulling what to do and lawmakers considering an overtime plan to make something happen.

The Illinois Senate scrambled overnight to pass a revised Bears stadium bill, in a desperate attempt to keep the team in Illinois.

But the House blocked a vote due to questions about whether there was enough support to pass it, and now the team is left in limbo.

The Bears issuing a statement saying, “We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated. We will provide an update when we have a decision to share.”

“What I saw here in the legislator is the Bears of old, where they’re running around 1/2 left to play, try a Hail, Hail Mary and end up being sacked due to lack of leadership, lack of coaching, lack of organization and the clock ran out,” state Senator Seth Lewis, (R, 24th District) said.

The original plan passed by the House would have created a framework for the Bears to have the property tax certainty they wanted if they built a stadium in Arlington Heights.

The so-called mega projects bill would have allowed developers to make a special payment in lieu of taxes to local municipalities.

In Chicago, Bears fans are still waiting for answers on the team’s future home.

But the Bears, the governor and the Senate saw flaws with the plan and so late last night the senate passed an alternative option:

“Which would then allow the Bears, should they choose to enter into an agreement with the municipality, to privately finance that the stadium, and then the stadium would be owned by the municipality. Because it would be a public building, it would not pay any property taxes,” state Sen. Bill Cunningham, (D, Chicago) said.

After the House adjourned without voting on the measure Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said he expects the legislature will take up a bill sooner rather than later, but not in a special session.

He defended the no vote decision saying, “I think our caucus is used to processes… Our caucus is used to taking our time and doing it right.”

All this raising concerns that the Bears could make a move across state lines to Indiana where a site has been approved for a publicly owned stadium in Hammond.

“The Bears are a multibillion dollar professional organization, and they’re looking for a partner to offer them the same information and be treated like a valuable partner. We didn’t do that,” Lewis said.

What’s next for lawmakers and the Bears is now the big question. Underlying concerns about appearing to give tax breaks to a billion dollar corporation like the Bears remains a linger problem to address.

the Village of Arlington Heights said in a press release it is disappointed Springfield did not pass stadium legislation, but it remains committed to further discussions of future redevelopment proposals with the Bears.

“The Village of Arlington Heights has spent the past five years working diligently to prepare for the redevelopment of Arlington Park. We are truly disappointed with the outcome from the spring legislative session yet again,” said Mayor Jim Tinaglia. “Although we recognize that these discussions are complex and involve many stakeholders, this is clearly a fumble for the State of Illinois. My commitment to the residents and businesses of Arlington Heights is unwavering, and we will continue to represent the interests of our community as future opportunities and next steps are considered.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement on Monday, “Last night, the Illinois General Assembly decided to forgo a vote on HB 958, legislation that would have established a framework for the creation of municipal stadium finance authorities to build publicly owned sports stadiums in Cook County.”

“I appreciate the bill’s proponents and their acknowledgment of the value of public stadium ownership and their desire to create a pathway for a new Chicago stadium. While questions remained about the legislation’s design, legislators ultimately reached the same conclusion the City reached in 2024: the strongest proposal for a new stadium centers public ownership, the use of a sports authority and a commitment to public infrastructure..”

“Chicago’s 2024 plan relied on the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and its existing 2% hotel tax to fund public infrastructure, a model that reflects the same principles the legislature ultimately centered in its framework.”

“Chicago continues to offer the strongest opportunity to retain the Bears. We have a publicly owned site the team has already vetted and approved, an existing sports authority with a dedicated revenue stream, and a framework for moving a deal forward.”

“I am grateful for the support of the Chicago delegation in our advocacy efforts and for helping ensure Chicago remains a viable path forward. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to pursue a deal that keeps the Bears while protecting property taxpayers.”

Several Chicago residents said if the house not passing the bill means the Bears leave for Indiana, that it will be one of the worst mistakes to happen in state history.

“Soldier Field and the Museum Park and the lakefront and all of those things, they go together,” Bears fan Tom Crumbley said.

For Crumbley, a Bears team anywhere else but Chicago just doesn’t sound right.

“Having the Bears in Indiana, which is closer to my home, even though I’m living in Illinois, I still wish they were here in Chicago,” Crumbley said.

After the House chose not to vote on legislation that would give the Bears a more likely chance at building brand new stadium in Arlington Heights, Chicagoans find themselves disappointed, even those who root for the “other” team.

“I’m from Houston,” Ana Ortiz-Manasterio Dree said. “I’m an Oilers fan. I’ve done this before. I’ve watched a city give away their NFL franchise. It’s, we’re still kicking ourselves. It’s the stupidest thing in the world. And I can’t believe Chicago didn’t learn from Houston’s example.”

One Chicago resident and Packers fan said if the Bears find themselves over the border – nobody wins.

“As a Chicago taxpayer, I don’t want my tax dollars going to bat, I want my tax dollars going to infrastructure, right?” Ortiz-Monasterio Draa said.

The legislation would allow the bears to privately finance a stadium and that stadium would then be owned by the municipality – in this case Arlington Heights and because it’s a public building, the bears would not pay property taxes on it. But without that bill, it could make it harder for the Bears to stay in Illinois.

“I could sit on my couch, I guess. I mean, I’m not really interested in driving out there to go to those games, Bears fan Anthony Bosco said.

Right now there is no timetable on whether or not the bill could voted on by the House but the Bears have said they moving along with their timeline no matter what.

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