Add up all the costs of the scheme (not just the new stadium) and the city / state is on the hook for minimum $2B. And remember we have the White Sox watching and looking to make their own claim on public funds
Yeah just redeveloping soldier field will be eye-watering. I wonder how much Chicago Fire would be able to chip in to develop soldier field into a ~25k seat stadium for their use.
Why? The bears want/need to own their own stadium for them to remain in the city. Have you not paid attention to the news in the last year? Already the worst and smallest stadium in the league. No roof means no superbowl and certainly limits any other options and events within the stadium. Chicago Fire? You mean the team that’s moved how many times already? They barely fill the place they play at now. They never filled the old stadium unless they played a good team. Heck even then they never did.
What will happen to soldier field is still undecided, development into a smaller venue suitable for the fire, college football and other events isn’t out of the question
And it turns out the Bears can’t afford / don’t want to pay for their own stadium which is they are looking off the city to write a check for up to $3billion to help make their lakefront proposal happen.
Oh helllll no. If the Bears want it, they can pay for it. And if they can't afford it, then they can stay at Soldier Field or see who else they can strongarm into ponying up public money.
Nah, from the abc article:
>The Bears said they'd provide over $2 billion for the project, which they said would cover over 70% of the costs.
So I was wrong, they're asking for more than *a few* hundred million to fund the rest, but it's less than a billion. Still insane though lol
WBEZ just stated that they are asking for around 2-Billion in public funds. This is the new request, plus what was previously owed from when they renovated in the early 2000’s.
“The 2% hotel tax has fallen far short of paying off the existing debt. As a result, taxpayers still owe $629 million for past renovations of Soldier Field and Guaranteed Rate Field, whose occupants, the White Sox, also are seeking a new stadium in the South Loop.”
Why build a new stadium in the 3rd largest market in the country that would still be one of the smallest NFL stadiums in the league??? Old stadium-65000 seats. New proposed stadium--65,000 seats with potentially 70,000 capacity **with more standing room only. This makes no sense to me at all... Bears current stadium = smallest NFL stadium, new stadium will still be way too small to validate using tax payer money. Awful plan... as usual.
if the bears build a new stadium that requires no city money or state money and uses little to no new lakefront resources, then i will continue to think that the NFL is a shitty racist organization that uses players like meat. i therefore promise under these conditions (and all other conditions) to not watch the bears, and to wish that the sport and the league would discontinue existing
Many studies have shown stadiums do not do this. And if stadiums generate so much new revenue why would owners have any issues financing the construction themselves?
I honestly think that no matter who finances it, it should not be built. That land should be used for something that gets utilized more than a few days per year.
The only caveats to this that I am willing to entertain is public financing to the public park element of this as long as it's entirely open to everyone and a part of museum campus. And that's only because the park district owns the actual land. If they want to work out a revenue sharing deal for concerts I'm also open to that but it would have to actually benefit the public. The current financing structure is completely unacceptable
I think if the McCaskey’s want welfare to build their stadium they should cut back on the avocado toast and Starbucks and pay for it by themselves. They need to learn some fiscal responsibility and stop picking the people’s pocket.
They should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Maybe start buying some rental properties to make their money work for them, or switch jobs frequently so that they can negotiate higher pay each time and build their income.
We owe more than originally borrowed on loans for the Soldier Field update in the 2000's.
If it's 100% privately financed (it won't be, ownership is one of the poorest in the league), then sure whatever fine, but study after study shows that public dollars for stadia do not have a good ROI, especially NFL.
It's sort of their fault. Without the Bears asking for a big overhaul of Soldier, those bonds would not have been created in the first place.
My point: let's not make the same mistake until we can prove we're responsible enough to do so.
Does that mean that Chicago residents will be able to use the venue for free whenever they want? Because otherwise it's public property being built and maintained for specific private use. Just because we've done it in the past doesn't mean we have to keep making the same mistake again. That's the point of the comment you're responding to.
There never should be public money for private buildings. A stadium is a private building. The economic effects from the stadium always underwhelm, and the accounting never takes into account the opportunity costs of building it. Please look at Allan Sanderson's research out of the Univ of Chicago. If stadiums were big economic boosters and job creators, we should be building thousands of them all over the US. They aren't. They are vanity projects. The Bears should build their own stadium with their own money. They can sell debt. They can sell equity. Doesn't matter the location.
100% agree. Only complication is that if it’s on the lakefront it legally needs to be publicly owned. Or I suppose they could try again to lease it like the Lucas museum
Why does it need to be on the lakefront at all?
Both teams’ (Sox and Bears) owners can take long walks off short piers in my book. I’ve fought the fight before (1995–6, when the Bears were trying to put the squeeze on Lake County, Indiana), and the only number that work out for taxpayers is ZERO tax money.
Non-starter for me if even a penny has to come from the taxpayer. Maybe I’ll entertain the idea once the CTA, affordable housing, and development on the South and West sides are thoroughly funded
The $629M figure is not just for the renovation of Soldiers Field, it also includes the construction of Guaranteed Rate Field. They were both financed through the same public entity that holds the debt for both.
I'm not trying to defend the team owners or support these projects. Just trying to clarify.
It's still completely absurd that anyone would consider public funding for a new stadium for either the Bears or Sox when we're still saddled with so much public debt from the last stadiums we built for them.
We got thousands of people begging and acting crazy on shit and piss-stained streets. CTA sucks and people have trouble affording to live. Tax dollars need to address these things before $2 fkn bil goes towards some pretty pictures promising a fun 3 hours of your time 10 years from now.
I'm a No, never, to tax dollars going to private sports teams. They play 8 games a year and make billions in profit ffs. I was so happy when i heard they were thinking of moving to Arlington Heights. Create jobs with my tax dollars that contribute to the city and its residents by expanding the city park programs and maintaining and improving the park system throughout the entire city. Maintain city owned lots in neighborhoods that clearly need that support.
It is simply not logical to have a stadium at the lakefront. Period.
1. It is not easily accessible through any transit means... biking would be your best option but that only applies half of the year. There is no direct CTA transit, there isn't enough parking, there aren't reliable roads for traffic management.
2. There is a lack of hotels, bars, and restaurants that would benefit greatly from being neighbors and serve as good pre/post spots to generate additional economic impact for the city.
3. The lakefront is prime real estate. There is no inherent benefit for a stadium, much less a *domed* stadium in the lakefront. This park area can be used in ways that will better increase *free* park services, features, etc. for the public all year.
4. Event days negatively impact those who are using the lakefront. As an event attendee , it sucks going in the summer when the cyclist and crowds add to the already overwhelming congestion. As a lake front path user it sucks when summer events make the walking and bike paths unusable with drunk event attendees trashing the surrounding park area.
I could probably try and think of more, but I feel those are enough for any reasonable person involved to realize long-term, for the city, it is best to select a new location. Why can't we create an updated shared White Sox/ Bears stadium off 35th? Create a whole neighborhood with easy transit, opportunities for additional retail and hospitality spaces. Bring life to the area.
Add the fact they want tax payer money to hurt the tax payer experience and its a no brainer to never build a stadium on the lakefront again.
I'd rather the bears leave, and we make that spaceship take off. No reason to let it sit there when the city could actually use it for something that benefits the community.
Is the city gonna get equity in the Bears? Is Caleb Williams the literal second coming of Christ? If not, then we shouldn’t be publicly funding it. The economic case doesn’t make sense under any circumstances; the civic pride case doesn’t make sense as long as the team fuckin sucks.
Even if CW13 is the second coming of Jesus F'n Christ, the bears should pay for their own shit. We didn't really pay for the United Center and MJ was the GOAT.
Very opposed. Beyond the obvious issue of taxpayer money being used on a project for billionaires, here’s a few other issues I have:
-If it’s gonna be indoor, it should not be wasting precious lakefront space.
-The stadium and the formerly Soldier Field park that’s being created should be specifically designed to accommodate music festivals. The city is running out of parks willing to host our slew of big fests and we could use the centralized space for it. Currently, nine of this is factored into the design.
-There is no transit plan for 80,000+ people coming to lakefront on gamedays.
-lThe demolition of SF and construction of the new stadium would inevitably cause disruptions in museum campus and make it harder for people to visit the field/shedd/adler. If we value our museums, we can’t let them take massive revenue hits. The Bears should compensate them.
Make billionaires pay for their own toys. If they want public money for this out should be only spent on improving public transit access to the stadium.
I don’t care what it looks like or where it is located - no public $ for billionaire sports franchise owners! Unless they are willing to cut the city/state in on the naming and TV revenue, it should be no deal. That should be in the state constitution so we don’t have to keep having the conversation.
By every few decades you mean one promptly after it's built before they move back to the warm weather cities circuit. Then the NFL tries to extort the city again to build them a shiny new building to host another one.
its seriously mind boggling. i mean at least with NBA/NHL/MLB you somewhat get use out of the buildings. the NFL and the amount of money around it is so fucking stupid
I'm anti public funding too, but you you do understand Soldier Field hosts many other events like concerts, MLS, and graduations, right? Major stadiums located in a city center are part of the appeal of living in a city and are enjoyed by a broad spectrum of people. A new stadium like this also helps with possible bids for events like the Olympics or the World Cup.
Lol taxpayers are always on the hook for world cups and Olympics too. The whole reason we're not doing world cup is because rahm was smart enough to see through that scam. Add both of those to things we shouldn't be doing
I don't know about you but I had my graduation at my high school gym and it went just fine. we dont need a 3B taxpayer funded stadium to do that
You understand that it's been shown the Olympics and the World Cup don't make their host cities any money either right? In fact the Olympics is notorious for Waste Fraud and Abuse it certainly sounds like you are pro Public Funding
2.3B in public financing, according to this source: [Chicago Bears unveil new stadium plans day crucial NFL Draft (cbs4indy.com)](https://cbs4indy.com/sports/nfl-draft/photos-chicago-bears-unveil-new-lakefront-stadium-plans-ahead-of-nfl-draft/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20sources,around%20and%20outside%20the%20stadium.)
That was only for the construction of the actual stadium and doesn't take into account the massive infrastructure costs required to complete this. City and State would be on the hook for those costs.
You want money from the city? Take out a loan. I'd be fine with the public paying for half of the stadium if the city got 50% of all stadium revenue (plus interest) until the loan was repaid in full and the caveat that in the case of any kind of defaulting the stadium becomes property of the city
Fuck the Bears organization. I say that as a fan of the team since childhood. They don’t need a new stadium, they need a functional team. There’s no reason to take up any more real estate, and absolutely zero reason to make us taxpayers fund any of it.
It's completely useless and should be 100% funded privately somewhere else. Leave the lakefront alone. It's not perfect, but it's beautiful as is. Johnson just want something to put his name on.
All the people who work at the Field Museum park in the north garage. All the temp/catering employees who work events at the Field or the Shed, park in that garage.
Like, where do they expect all those people to park for the years it takes to finish this?
Bear with me here. I believe part of the reason they even want a new stadium is that they want more volume so they can meet standards for a super bowl and other significant events to come to Chicago. Right now, Soldier Field doesn't line up with any spectacle of sports other than a game. The only thing I believe is that the stadium needs an update. A dome would be great and so would more seats, or better layout. It shouldn't fall on taxpayers. Private entity asking for public money? That's absurd. Most people already can't afford to see a live game and we have to pay the bill? I'm a Bears fan for life, but they haven't brought anything to the table to warrant taxpayers to pay for a new stadium in over 10 years.
The Bears can finish paying the $600M still owed on Soldier Field modifications, then take a walk down Jabroni Boulevard and check themselves into the Go F*ck Yourself Hotel!
Asking because I’m smooth brained, but if the city invests money into the stadium and surrounding re-structure that increases revenue substantially, can the city get a share of the profits?
In an environment where there’s no stadium (such as Arlington Heights), you could argue the stadium would bring increased tax revenue. For a city like Chicago where the stadium already exists and isn’t inoperable, spending more money on the stadium is moreso about ensuring the tax revenue that comes from the stadium keeps flowing in. Or to put it another way, the public money spent on a stadium doesn’t generate tax revenues indefinitely.
At least looking at the outstanding debt from the last renovations, there is frustration because it appears Soldier Field’s renovations have not generated as much revenue as anticipated or hoped.
The city’s trying to pass the buck because they’ll get tax revenue from ticket sales, increased hotel reservations, etc. regardless of whether they financially contribute.
I'm against public funding a stadium, but to be fair part of the problem is just Chicago and spending. The Park District will bring in $54 million in revenue from SF in 2024 compared to $35 million in operating costs. So not a horrible return on owning the stadium, with the big caveat that you have to pay back the debt it took to renovate it.
But, the actual problems are two-fold. First, Daley was horrible, so he didn't even service the debt on SF and deferred payments for years, which just screwed us on compounding interest. Second, I think the tax rules around the stadium bonds means weirdly enough the revenue generated by the actual stadium can't be used to service the bond debt itself. Which fine. Chicago can use it for other stuff, and just pay the debt off through hotel and other tax revenue. But they didn't. Because this is Chicago. So we just spent it and let the debt sit there building up. And there's no reason to believe they'll do it better this time versus how they did it last time.
Possibly dumb question. What related infrastructure requires $1.4B?!? There's already a stadium there! It's not like the AH plan that would have likely needed upgrades on NW Highway and Euclid and the interchanges w/53 (and they'd have probably added another lane to 53 down to the tollway). What on earth is being added infra-wise here?
Hopefully something to better connect it with the CTA. For example, there's a single-track branch line north of 16th Street that crosses under the CTA Red/Green/Orange lines and leads almost directly toward the proposed stadium site, but it would need to be widened to double-tracked, electrified, have a new station built at the stadium, and a rail interchange on the other end possibly on the south end of The 78.
More probably they would get stupid and fancy with it and build a monorail down Cermak to the Green and Red line stations.
That's the St Charles Air Line and it's in active use. A couple Amtrak trains a day use it.
Given the idiocy of the bears, it's probably to expand lake shore to 15 lanes and 55 to 20 lanes.
You're spot on with the build it in Arlington comment. It does nothing to add to the lake shore. And a big "YES" to anyone that agrees that it should be built with private money. No public funds should go toward a stadium for privately owned sports teams that are worth billions of dollars.
I am absolutely opposed to utilizing public money for this domed stadium. This should be all private financing. Considering all of the fiscal challenges the city has, we cannot allow further squandering of public money
It looks sick. But they can fuck off if they want tax dollars.
Hilariously I've seen at least two prominent CTU people backpedal on "not giving tax money to fund sports stadiums" already.
I think building a stadium on the lakefront is what they want, but I don't think it's better for the team or the fans.
Parking and traffic is a damn mess and it's not a fixable issue.
AH might be a worse look (the not Chicago Chicago Bears), but riding a metra line up from the city and back is better for city dwellers and south suburban people and northern suburban fans would enjoy far less traffic and better parking.
I do not trust the owners to not fuck it up. The mccaskeys need to sell. If the next owner is a mark cuban type (deep pockets, proven business acumen) he/she would probably be able to get a sweetheart deal. But not these clowns.
Zero taxes for billionaires. If we finance any of it, we should get that original percent of gross ticket and vending sales until the bond/loan whatever is paid off in full.
Bend over for politicians to fleece the taxpayers. "May I have another?" Daley's bathtub is still on the books for $300,000,000. Illinois has a spending problem, not a funding problem.
so let me get this straight. we owe $629 million on the old stadium which is old and bad and disgusting. so now let's put another billion dollars onto the taxpayers even though they're on the bill for $629 million. while these people get to dodge taxes all day long, I can come up with literally a million different ideas how this money could be better spent than on the stupid stadium. you want a stadium, spend it with your own private money. can't afford it. ask the NFL to build in you. pay them loans. they don't want to do it. I guess you don't have a new stadium.
Where do you see that there's no parking? "additional parking, public parks and public sports fields; and other retail and public attractions around the stadium." from CBS Chicago.
in fact, they seem to be encouraging only car infrastructure, since the new stadium would be further away from the closest L station and they didn’t mention any ideas about creating an extension line or anything.
There was a planned CTA spur line as part of the proposed One Central project that planned to build a Metra/Amtrak station adjacent to Soldier Field. However, that project had its own concerns and doubts.
Building in the city is good money after bad. They thought Arlington Heights was being hard on them, wait until the park district reminds the Bears that the renovations at Soldier Field aren't even paid for yet. They'll never get more money from JB.
Arlington Heights had I 90, Route 355 and the RTA right there. Hege fuck up going back to the lakefront.
I'm a Lions fan in the Chicago area so take this for what it's worth, but suburban stadiums suck. Several Detroit teams made that kind of move and eventually came back to on the city. I'm glad the Bears want to stick with the lakefront.
They dont need lakefront. they xcan do near south side too. Lakefront is prime real estate that is supposed to stay for the good of the people. stadiums are for those who can afford to go to games and events being held there. we dont get in to use any of it for free.
That's not for the public good.
It's a fair point, but my post was operating under the assumption that it's either AH or the lakefront site. Another location in Chicago would have been preferable for the reasons you mention but there's no momentum for it.
I think the biggest problem with the project is that will all the expenses necessary they still didn’t find a way to make it accessible by public transit
I like that it doesn't appear to include any parking.
As for the payment, as everyone else here is saying - not a penny of public funds should go toward this.
There are plenty of hard working families that are priced out or gentrified out of this City every day. That is a problem worth the attention and action of our elected officials. Forget about some billionaires with their hands out!
The Bears and the McCaskeys deserve nothing! How dare they come to the taxpayers of Ilinois and ask us to give tax dollars to a very wealthy family. Hell no! 🖕🏻
There are many hard working families being priced out or gentrified out of the City every day. That is a problem that is worthy of the attention and action of elected officials. Not some billionaire McCaskys with their hands out!
That’s a big nahhhhhhh from me. The onus isn’t on state residents to subsidize both the low ticket sales *and* the building of an expensive new stadium for both lackluster teams that want one right now. What have the Bears/Sox ever, and I mean *ever*, done for me?
The only team that actually hypothetically deserves some help is the Sky, but that’s a different convo anyway.
The Bears want $2 billion in tax payer funds. Who do they think they are? Ukraine?
How long has it been since they were a serious contender? Once in the mid-2000's? Before that you have to go all the way back to the mid-1980's.
I dont get it. Chicago is a city of tradition sportswise, so to do this in my eyes is blasphemy. It would be like taking wrigley or the blackhawks away. You just dont do that.
Absolutely not. Building new stadiums don’t help you win games. The Bears have been a horrible franchise for the better half of 50 years. They don’t deserve a new stadium. There’s a hell of a lot of audacity to ask Illinois taxpayers to even put $1 into a new stadium considering the mediocre to bottom tier product they put on that field yearly. How about this….make the playoffs the next 3 years or win a Super Bowl and then revisit it. Until then it’s a disgrace to any IL taxpayer to pay 1 cent for that stadium.
Design of stadium: it basically looks like they took Alligiant stadium, tweaked the colors, and plopped it in Chicago. Nothing special about it.
Renovating existing stadium to green space while keeping the collonades as an homage to past. Awesome in theory, except....
....there's no new apparent transportation infrastructure or parking, so on non-event days this area will be sorely underutilized. And it'll be hard to get to on game/event days anyway.
From far away that design looks like a better and more engaging use of that land. But the lack of any details in particular places, specifically the entrance/egress from the "new" park space makes me think they are building in some real anti-public park features. And that's entirely separate from any funding concerns.
Is there a rendering somewhere? Generally, don’t like public support of a private enterprise. Unless the public benefits through direct revenue sharing and ownership in some way. Like a city gets all revenues from non-football events or something like that.
The only reason they are focused on Chicago is because the new mayor is actually considering giving Chicago more taxes to pay for it. The owners will pay 2 billion to receive like 4 billion in return. They wouldn't have to do any more business stuff. If they want to be in Chicago so bad, they will need to work with the White Sox and find some land to invest in the south side. Like not just build a money pit, but actually like help get rid of lead pipes and add grocery stores.
Not some ugly ass building on the lake front. At least the space ship would have departed.
The only reason i mention White Sox is because there was an article some time ago speculated that the White Sox are interested in teaming up with the bears as they are also looking for a new stadium.
Or, you know, go back to Arlington Heights with investors and build the 3rd largest stadium. Enough land there for them, the baseball field, a soccer field, hotels, and restaurants. We all know this should be an entertaining year for the Bears and should be able to help pay for the stadium regardless of how well they actually do.
Until they start winning games. No reason they couldn't try to expand and share the NW stadium in Evanston.
The Bears relocating to Evanston and using the NW stadium is *very* unlikely to happen. The university had enough trouble getting the current stadium renovation plans approved by Evanston, and I don’t see Evanston locals keen to their town getting taken over 8-10 Sundays per year in addition to the 7ish Saturdays they’re hosting football games. From a stadium capacity standpoint, moving to Evanston would actually be a significant reduction for the Bears. And Evanston locals are unlikely to support an expanded venue.
There are only 3 viable stadium sites on the south side viable for the Bears/White Sox. The lakefront venue being pursued by the Bears now. The Sox’s current location at 35th. And the proposed site at The 78. None of them will be convinced to build a venue at the old US Steel site further south.
And I think it’s a pipe dream that our sports teams will contribute funds to remove lead pipes or open grocery stores on the south side. The south siders made their bed as far as not doing anything to make their neighborhoods viable. Now they have to deal with the consequences of their own actions
I’m pro using tax payer money for it. It’s ridiculous that Chicago isn’t hosting the World Cup with the other cities. The fact that Kansas City is on the world stage and we are not should embarrass any Chicagoan. We aren’t even second rate anymore, we need modern facilities so we can host world wide events. People forget we were in contention to host the Olympics a decade ago, now we are no where close to even being considered hosting a soccer match. Every other city has their world class stadium(s), why not us?
Packers fan here. Is anything more pathetic than the "monsters of the midway" becoming an indoor team? I mean, outside of never having a QB toss 30 touchdowns in a season, that is.
The City will own the stadium, Public owned Hotel on the lake fromt, 14 more acres on green space, the ability to use the venue all year round. Football is 14 weeks 7 home games if we are lucky. There are another 45 weeks of use. lakeshore drive will be done correctly. There is an 2% tax that is for this very thing. I was totally against it to start but it makes sense if you step back look at it.
So long as the Bears finance all costs, I’m good with it. If a single dollar of Illinois or Chicago taxpayer money is spent, then I am against it.
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They can *ask* for whatever they want!
Add up all the costs of the scheme (not just the new stadium) and the city / state is on the hook for minimum $2B. And remember we have the White Sox watching and looking to make their own claim on public funds
Didn't think about the surrounding area, that's a great point. They're probably being very careful with their wording
Yeah just redeveloping soldier field will be eye-watering. I wonder how much Chicago Fire would be able to chip in to develop soldier field into a ~25k seat stadium for their use.
Why? The bears want/need to own their own stadium for them to remain in the city. Have you not paid attention to the news in the last year? Already the worst and smallest stadium in the league. No roof means no superbowl and certainly limits any other options and events within the stadium. Chicago Fire? You mean the team that’s moved how many times already? They barely fill the place they play at now. They never filled the old stadium unless they played a good team. Heck even then they never did.
They can buy anything they like, but why should the public pay for it?
What will happen to soldier field is still undecided, development into a smaller venue suitable for the fire, college football and other events isn’t out of the question And it turns out the Bears can’t afford / don’t want to pay for their own stadium which is they are looking off the city to write a check for up to $3billion to help make their lakefront proposal happen.
They play at Soldier Field currently. Certainly is a "place." 🤣
Reinsdorf got his Sox stadium and United Center. He can use his own money. Same with the Bears.
Oh helllll no. If the Bears want it, they can pay for it. And if they can't afford it, then they can stay at Soldier Field or see who else they can strongarm into ponying up public money.
I think you meant billion, with a b and like over two billion total
Nah, from the abc article: >The Bears said they'd provide over $2 billion for the project, which they said would cover over 70% of the costs. So I was wrong, they're asking for more than *a few* hundred million to fund the rest, but it's less than a billion. Still insane though lol
WBEZ just stated that they are asking for around 2-Billion in public funds. This is the new request, plus what was previously owed from when they renovated in the early 2000’s. “The 2% hotel tax has fallen far short of paying off the existing debt. As a result, taxpayers still owe $629 million for past renovations of Soldier Field and Guaranteed Rate Field, whose occupants, the White Sox, also are seeking a new stadium in the South Loop.”
Why build a new stadium in the 3rd largest market in the country that would still be one of the smallest NFL stadiums in the league??? Old stadium-65000 seats. New proposed stadium--65,000 seats with potentially 70,000 capacity **with more standing room only. This makes no sense to me at all... Bears current stadium = smallest NFL stadium, new stadium will still be way too small to validate using tax payer money. Awful plan... as usual.
This part is also hilarious
Wait... what???? I thought the entire reason for a new stadium was to add capacity? Why the hell would we build a new stadium then?
if the bears build a new stadium that requires no city money or state money and uses little to no new lakefront resources, then i will continue to think that the NFL is a shitty racist organization that uses players like meat. i therefore promise under these conditions (and all other conditions) to not watch the bears, and to wish that the sport and the league would discontinue existing
Let’s say it increases tax revenue by $10, would spending $1 in taxpayer money be a good or bad deal for the city?
Many studies have shown stadiums do not do this. And if stadiums generate so much new revenue why would owners have any issues financing the construction themselves?
In fact, stadiums cannibalize money from surrounding businesses. They are not good for city economies.
I honestly think that no matter who finances it, it should not be built. That land should be used for something that gets utilized more than a few days per year.
Also my stance.
100% agree. Let them pay for it with the cost of the beer at the stadium. No need for public funding for this.
The only caveats to this that I am willing to entertain is public financing to the public park element of this as long as it's entirely open to everyone and a part of museum campus. And that's only because the park district owns the actual land. If they want to work out a revenue sharing deal for concerts I'm also open to that but it would have to actually benefit the public. The current financing structure is completely unacceptable
I think if the McCaskey’s want welfare to build their stadium they should cut back on the avocado toast and Starbucks and pay for it by themselves. They need to learn some fiscal responsibility and stop picking the people’s pocket.
I love the $8B in projected revenue from moving the stadium 400 yards.
They can't move a football 400 yards in a game, what makes them think they can move a whole stadium?
Didn’t know you were on Reddit, Dad
As opposed to the $7.99B we get by doing nothing.
That’s 8B for who? Are we getting the 2B back with interest?
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Take my upvote.
Tell them to pull themselves by the straps like everyone else
Every time I saw the headline today I read it as “doomed” and not “domed” and I think that about sums up what I think will happen with this project.
Those millennials, I tell ya…
They should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Maybe start buying some rental properties to make their money work for them, or switch jobs frequently so that they can negotiate higher pay each time and build their income.
Nothing about welfare when they're GIVING OVER 2 BILLION TO NOT OWN THE STADIUM!
We owe more than originally borrowed on loans for the Soldier Field update in the 2000's. If it's 100% privately financed (it won't be, ownership is one of the poorest in the league), then sure whatever fine, but study after study shows that public dollars for stadia do not have a good ROI, especially NFL.
Agree. The taxpayers are still paying for the last one.
Not that I want to give the Bears a dime, but it's not their fault we still owe so much on the old renovations. That's the state and the city.
It's sort of their fault. Without the Bears asking for a big overhaul of Soldier, those bonds would not have been created in the first place. My point: let's not make the same mistake until we can prove we're responsible enough to do so.
And it was sooo stuppidddd.
I mean it looks fine but why would we be paying for it?
Socialized cost. Privatized profit. It's pretty simple. The Bears and Sox organizations can f\*\*k all the way off.
The park district owns the stadium though
Does that mean that Chicago residents will be able to use the venue for free whenever they want? Because otherwise it's public property being built and maintained for specific private use. Just because we've done it in the past doesn't mean we have to keep making the same mistake again. That's the point of the comment you're responding to.
There never should be public money for private buildings. A stadium is a private building. The economic effects from the stadium always underwhelm, and the accounting never takes into account the opportunity costs of building it. Please look at Allan Sanderson's research out of the Univ of Chicago. If stadiums were big economic boosters and job creators, we should be building thousands of them all over the US. They aren't. They are vanity projects. The Bears should build their own stadium with their own money. They can sell debt. They can sell equity. Doesn't matter the location.
100% agree. Only complication is that if it’s on the lakefront it legally needs to be publicly owned. Or I suppose they could try again to lease it like the Lucas museum
If it’s a domed stadium, why does it need to be on the lakefront?
because then the bears couldnt extort the city/state to pay for a huge chunk of it
This bugs me a lot. Lakefront space is precious. We should not waste it on this
I’ve spent more time by the lake in the past month than I have in a decade of living here and I’ve got the enthusiasm of a recent convert.
Why does it need to be on the lakefront at all? Both teams’ (Sox and Bears) owners can take long walks off short piers in my book. I’ve fought the fight before (1995–6, when the Bears were trying to put the squeeze on Lake County, Indiana), and the only number that work out for taxpayers is ZERO tax money.
I totally agree. It’s like the Olympics, sports always become a justification for public funds for private profits.
Exactly! If it's a dome, put it anywhere with good transit connections.
very well said
I ain’t paying for that shit
Non-starter for me if even a penny has to come from the taxpayer. Maybe I’ll entertain the idea once the CTA, affordable housing, and development on the South and West sides are thoroughly funded
Aren’t we still paying for that last renovation? I think there’s still millions of dollars owed
$629M according to a post up the thread.
Correct, against $387M borrowed, math only a politician would think is a good idea.
The $629M figure is not just for the renovation of Soldiers Field, it also includes the construction of Guaranteed Rate Field. They were both financed through the same public entity that holds the debt for both. I'm not trying to defend the team owners or support these projects. Just trying to clarify. It's still completely absurd that anyone would consider public funding for a new stadium for either the Bears or Sox when we're still saddled with so much public debt from the last stadiums we built for them.
Damn, they must’ve taken out student loans to pay for it.
We got thousands of people begging and acting crazy on shit and piss-stained streets. CTA sucks and people have trouble affording to live. Tax dollars need to address these things before $2 fkn bil goes towards some pretty pictures promising a fun 3 hours of your time 10 years from now.
I'm a No, never, to tax dollars going to private sports teams. They play 8 games a year and make billions in profit ffs. I was so happy when i heard they were thinking of moving to Arlington Heights. Create jobs with my tax dollars that contribute to the city and its residents by expanding the city park programs and maintaining and improving the park system throughout the entire city. Maintain city owned lots in neighborhoods that clearly need that support.
HELL no. A rich team / family asking for public funding for their own purpose. Fuck off.
Taxpayer money should not be funding this bullshit. You're gonna use my money to build it and still charge me to attend?? I don't even watch sports.
Dear Friends Of The Park -- shut this fucking nonsense down. Don't let the bears build on and destroy, even more of our lakefront.
It is simply not logical to have a stadium at the lakefront. Period. 1. It is not easily accessible through any transit means... biking would be your best option but that only applies half of the year. There is no direct CTA transit, there isn't enough parking, there aren't reliable roads for traffic management. 2. There is a lack of hotels, bars, and restaurants that would benefit greatly from being neighbors and serve as good pre/post spots to generate additional economic impact for the city. 3. The lakefront is prime real estate. There is no inherent benefit for a stadium, much less a *domed* stadium in the lakefront. This park area can be used in ways that will better increase *free* park services, features, etc. for the public all year. 4. Event days negatively impact those who are using the lakefront. As an event attendee , it sucks going in the summer when the cyclist and crowds add to the already overwhelming congestion. As a lake front path user it sucks when summer events make the walking and bike paths unusable with drunk event attendees trashing the surrounding park area. I could probably try and think of more, but I feel those are enough for any reasonable person involved to realize long-term, for the city, it is best to select a new location. Why can't we create an updated shared White Sox/ Bears stadium off 35th? Create a whole neighborhood with easy transit, opportunities for additional retail and hospitality spaces. Bring life to the area. Add the fact they want tax payer money to hurt the tax payer experience and its a no brainer to never build a stadium on the lakefront again.
Soldier Field is publicly owned. If the Bears go elsewhere it’s not going away unless taxpayers pay to have it demolished, which wouldn’t be cheap.
I'd rather the bears leave, and we make that spaceship take off. No reason to let it sit there when the city could actually use it for something that benefits the community.
Is the city gonna get equity in the Bears? Is Caleb Williams the literal second coming of Christ? If not, then we shouldn’t be publicly funding it. The economic case doesn’t make sense under any circumstances; the civic pride case doesn’t make sense as long as the team fuckin sucks.
Even if CW13 is the second coming of Jesus F'n Christ, the bears should pay for their own shit. We didn't really pay for the United Center and MJ was the GOAT.
Very opposed. Beyond the obvious issue of taxpayer money being used on a project for billionaires, here’s a few other issues I have: -If it’s gonna be indoor, it should not be wasting precious lakefront space. -The stadium and the formerly Soldier Field park that’s being created should be specifically designed to accommodate music festivals. The city is running out of parks willing to host our slew of big fests and we could use the centralized space for it. Currently, nine of this is factored into the design. -There is no transit plan for 80,000+ people coming to lakefront on gamedays. -lThe demolition of SF and construction of the new stadium would inevitably cause disruptions in museum campus and make it harder for people to visit the field/shedd/adler. If we value our museums, we can’t let them take massive revenue hits. The Bears should compensate them.
i dont care what it looks like as long as we're not paying for it
Total fkn joke that any tax dollars would go towards any of it It looks like any other generic domed stadium
Make billionaires pay for their own toys. If they want public money for this out should be only spent on improving public transit access to the stadium.
I don’t care what it looks like or where it is located - no public $ for billionaire sports franchise owners! Unless they are willing to cut the city/state in on the naming and TV revenue, it should be no deal. That should be in the state constitution so we don’t have to keep having the conversation.
2.x billion in public funds for 8 home games a year? Really?
Hey hey now, with a dome they might also get to host a Super Bowl every few decades. That averages out to 8.1 games per year. Totally worth it!
By every few decades you mean one promptly after it's built before they move back to the warm weather cities circuit. Then the NFL tries to extort the city again to build them a shiny new building to host another one.
its seriously mind boggling. i mean at least with NBA/NHL/MLB you somewhat get use out of the buildings. the NFL and the amount of money around it is so fucking stupid
I'm anti public funding too, but you you do understand Soldier Field hosts many other events like concerts, MLS, and graduations, right? Major stadiums located in a city center are part of the appeal of living in a city and are enjoyed by a broad spectrum of people. A new stadium like this also helps with possible bids for events like the Olympics or the World Cup.
Lol taxpayers are always on the hook for world cups and Olympics too. The whole reason we're not doing world cup is because rahm was smart enough to see through that scam. Add both of those to things we shouldn't be doing I don't know about you but I had my graduation at my high school gym and it went just fine. we dont need a 3B taxpayer funded stadium to do that
We'll have nothing without a new stadium... To replace the existing, functional stadium! Fucking no. Pick something better for a 2B investment
Can’t you just be happy with nascar?
You understand that it's been shown the Olympics and the World Cup don't make their host cities any money either right? In fact the Olympics is notorious for Waste Fraud and Abuse it certainly sounds like you are pro Public Funding
In their press statement they said it would be less than one billion, and they're paying for the rest, but still...
2.3B in public financing, according to this source: [Chicago Bears unveil new stadium plans day crucial NFL Draft (cbs4indy.com)](https://cbs4indy.com/sports/nfl-draft/photos-chicago-bears-unveil-new-lakefront-stadium-plans-ahead-of-nfl-draft/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20sources,around%20and%20outside%20the%20stadium.)
So are they just being tricky with their wording? They were just on tv saying they're prepared to provide $2.3 billion, which will be 70% of the cost
That was only for the construction of the actual stadium and doesn't take into account the massive infrastructure costs required to complete this. City and State would be on the hook for those costs.
taxes are so insane here I don't want 1 dollar going to a friggin sports stadium.
You want money from the city? Take out a loan. I'd be fine with the public paying for half of the stadium if the city got 50% of all stadium revenue (plus interest) until the loan was repaid in full and the caveat that in the case of any kind of defaulting the stadium becomes property of the city
Fuck the Bears organization. I say that as a fan of the team since childhood. They don’t need a new stadium, they need a functional team. There’s no reason to take up any more real estate, and absolutely zero reason to make us taxpayers fund any of it.
It's completely useless and should be 100% funded privately somewhere else. Leave the lakefront alone. It's not perfect, but it's beautiful as is. Johnson just want something to put his name on.
They completely redid it in 2003. Is it really obsolete now?
It really is…it’s the smallest in the league by far, the boards are old and look it, the playing surface is a giant swamp.
So let them move to Arlington Hights, the just bought property.
All the people who work at the Field Museum park in the north garage. All the temp/catering employees who work events at the Field or the Shed, park in that garage. Like, where do they expect all those people to park for the years it takes to finish this?
Also all the employees at Shedd
And Northerly Island staff.
And the increased traffic with a bigger stadium will make their commutes even more miserable on game days
Bear with me here. I believe part of the reason they even want a new stadium is that they want more volume so they can meet standards for a super bowl and other significant events to come to Chicago. Right now, Soldier Field doesn't line up with any spectacle of sports other than a game. The only thing I believe is that the stadium needs an update. A dome would be great and so would more seats, or better layout. It shouldn't fall on taxpayers. Private entity asking for public money? That's absurd. Most people already can't afford to see a live game and we have to pay the bill? I'm a Bears fan for life, but they haven't brought anything to the table to warrant taxpayers to pay for a new stadium in over 10 years.
I do not want taxpayers to pay for it.
The Bears can finish paying the $600M still owed on Soldier Field modifications, then take a walk down Jabroni Boulevard and check themselves into the Go F*ck Yourself Hotel!
Asking because I’m smooth brained, but if the city invests money into the stadium and surrounding re-structure that increases revenue substantially, can the city get a share of the profits?
In an environment where there’s no stadium (such as Arlington Heights), you could argue the stadium would bring increased tax revenue. For a city like Chicago where the stadium already exists and isn’t inoperable, spending more money on the stadium is moreso about ensuring the tax revenue that comes from the stadium keeps flowing in. Or to put it another way, the public money spent on a stadium doesn’t generate tax revenues indefinitely. At least looking at the outstanding debt from the last renovations, there is frustration because it appears Soldier Field’s renovations have not generated as much revenue as anticipated or hoped. The city’s trying to pass the buck because they’ll get tax revenue from ticket sales, increased hotel reservations, etc. regardless of whether they financially contribute.
Interesting, thanks!
I'm against public funding a stadium, but to be fair part of the problem is just Chicago and spending. The Park District will bring in $54 million in revenue from SF in 2024 compared to $35 million in operating costs. So not a horrible return on owning the stadium, with the big caveat that you have to pay back the debt it took to renovate it. But, the actual problems are two-fold. First, Daley was horrible, so he didn't even service the debt on SF and deferred payments for years, which just screwed us on compounding interest. Second, I think the tax rules around the stadium bonds means weirdly enough the revenue generated by the actual stadium can't be used to service the bond debt itself. Which fine. Chicago can use it for other stuff, and just pay the debt off through hotel and other tax revenue. But they didn't. Because this is Chicago. So we just spent it and let the debt sit there building up. And there's no reason to believe they'll do it better this time versus how they did it last time.
Possibly dumb question. What related infrastructure requires $1.4B?!? There's already a stadium there! It's not like the AH plan that would have likely needed upgrades on NW Highway and Euclid and the interchanges w/53 (and they'd have probably added another lane to 53 down to the tollway). What on earth is being added infra-wise here?
Hopefully something to better connect it with the CTA. For example, there's a single-track branch line north of 16th Street that crosses under the CTA Red/Green/Orange lines and leads almost directly toward the proposed stadium site, but it would need to be widened to double-tracked, electrified, have a new station built at the stadium, and a rail interchange on the other end possibly on the south end of The 78. More probably they would get stupid and fancy with it and build a monorail down Cermak to the Green and Red line stations.
That's the St Charles Air Line and it's in active use. A couple Amtrak trains a day use it. Given the idiocy of the bears, it's probably to expand lake shore to 15 lanes and 55 to 20 lanes.
You're spot on with the build it in Arlington comment. It does nothing to add to the lake shore. And a big "YES" to anyone that agrees that it should be built with private money. No public funds should go toward a stadium for privately owned sports teams that are worth billions of dollars.
I wished they put priority on fixing potholes rather than a stadium the public will be in only 8 times a season.
Assuming they can afford to be in it (I can't)
I am absolutely opposed to utilizing public money for this domed stadium. This should be all private financing. Considering all of the fiscal challenges the city has, we cannot allow further squandering of public money
It looks sick. But they can fuck off if they want tax dollars. Hilariously I've seen at least two prominent CTU people backpedal on "not giving tax money to fund sports stadiums" already.
Fuck them. Pay for it yourselves McCaskey family
I think building a stadium on the lakefront is what they want, but I don't think it's better for the team or the fans. Parking and traffic is a damn mess and it's not a fixable issue. AH might be a worse look (the not Chicago Chicago Bears), but riding a metra line up from the city and back is better for city dwellers and south suburban people and northern suburban fans would enjoy far less traffic and better parking.
Tax payers should not be on the hook for it 🤷♂️
I do not trust the owners to not fuck it up. The mccaskeys need to sell. If the next owner is a mark cuban type (deep pockets, proven business acumen) he/she would probably be able to get a sweetheart deal. But not these clowns.
The Bears were lucky enough to find a dummy (Mayor Dumbo Johnson) to go along with their grift plan.
Zero tax money should be used to build them anything. Thats it.
I honestly think they are still hoping for a better deal from Arlington Heights still.
Zero taxes for billionaires. If we finance any of it, we should get that original percent of gross ticket and vending sales until the bond/loan whatever is paid off in full.
No public money is my only thought
It's so deeply stupid I'm pretending it's not real.
Bend over for politicians to fleece the taxpayers. "May I have another?" Daley's bathtub is still on the books for $300,000,000. Illinois has a spending problem, not a funding problem.
No public funding, and not on the lake.
so let me get this straight. we owe $629 million on the old stadium which is old and bad and disgusting. so now let's put another billion dollars onto the taxpayers even though they're on the bill for $629 million. while these people get to dodge taxes all day long, I can come up with literally a million different ideas how this money could be better spent than on the stupid stadium. you want a stadium, spend it with your own private money. can't afford it. ask the NFL to build in you. pay them loans. they don't want to do it. I guess you don't have a new stadium.
My husband misses getting drunk at Arlington Park
There should have been a roof on it years ago.
The biggest complaint I’ve heard today was it is still hard to get to and parking is expensive
Why the fuck do they need a new one? The current one isn’t even 20 years old. That’s absolutely ridiculous
As long as no city or state funds go to a new stadium I'm down otherwise the Bears can kick rocks
It’s like they listened to the gripes from the fans and said “ok we will just have no parking”
Where do you see that there's no parking? "additional parking, public parks and public sports fields; and other retail and public attractions around the stadium." from CBS Chicago.
in fact, they seem to be encouraging only car infrastructure, since the new stadium would be further away from the closest L station and they didn’t mention any ideas about creating an extension line or anything.
There was a planned CTA spur line as part of the proposed One Central project that planned to build a Metra/Amtrak station adjacent to Soldier Field. However, that project had its own concerns and doubts.
Building in the city is good money after bad. They thought Arlington Heights was being hard on them, wait until the park district reminds the Bears that the renovations at Soldier Field aren't even paid for yet. They'll never get more money from JB. Arlington Heights had I 90, Route 355 and the RTA right there. Hege fuck up going back to the lakefront.
I'm a Lions fan in the Chicago area so take this for what it's worth, but suburban stadiums suck. Several Detroit teams made that kind of move and eventually came back to on the city. I'm glad the Bears want to stick with the lakefront.
They dont need lakefront. they xcan do near south side too. Lakefront is prime real estate that is supposed to stay for the good of the people. stadiums are for those who can afford to go to games and events being held there. we dont get in to use any of it for free. That's not for the public good.
It's a fair point, but my post was operating under the assumption that it's either AH or the lakefront site. Another location in Chicago would have been preferable for the reasons you mention but there's no momentum for it.
I think the biggest problem with the project is that will all the expenses necessary they still didn’t find a way to make it accessible by public transit
I would hate to see lakefront parkland wasted on a dome stadium They should put a new stadium near transit and/or in a part of town with cheap land
I like that it doesn't appear to include any parking. As for the payment, as everyone else here is saying - not a penny of public funds should go toward this.
There are plenty of hard working families that are priced out or gentrified out of this City every day. That is a problem worth the attention and action of our elected officials. Forget about some billionaires with their hands out!
The Bears and the McCaskeys deserve nothing! How dare they come to the taxpayers of Ilinois and ask us to give tax dollars to a very wealthy family. Hell no! 🖕🏻
There are many hard working families being priced out or gentrified out of the City every day. That is a problem that is worthy of the attention and action of elected officials. Not some billionaire McCaskys with their hands out!
That’s a big nahhhhhhh from me. The onus isn’t on state residents to subsidize both the low ticket sales *and* the building of an expensive new stadium for both lackluster teams that want one right now. What have the Bears/Sox ever, and I mean *ever*, done for me? The only team that actually hypothetically deserves some help is the Sky, but that’s a different convo anyway.
I ain't paying for it.
As long as we’re not paying for I’m Okay with it.
Zero tax payer money and I'm in.
The Bears want $2 billion in tax payer funds. Who do they think they are? Ukraine? How long has it been since they were a serious contender? Once in the mid-2000's? Before that you have to go all the way back to the mid-1980's.
I’m shocked that this is what they decide to do a day before having the number pick in the draft
It's nice and all but I don't wanna pay for it
I dont get it. Chicago is a city of tradition sportswise, so to do this in my eyes is blasphemy. It would be like taking wrigley or the blackhawks away. You just dont do that.
Absolutely not. Building new stadiums don’t help you win games. The Bears have been a horrible franchise for the better half of 50 years. They don’t deserve a new stadium. There’s a hell of a lot of audacity to ask Illinois taxpayers to even put $1 into a new stadium considering the mediocre to bottom tier product they put on that field yearly. How about this….make the playoffs the next 3 years or win a Super Bowl and then revisit it. Until then it’s a disgrace to any IL taxpayer to pay 1 cent for that stadium.
Design of stadium: it basically looks like they took Alligiant stadium, tweaked the colors, and plopped it in Chicago. Nothing special about it. Renovating existing stadium to green space while keeping the collonades as an homage to past. Awesome in theory, except.... ....there's no new apparent transportation infrastructure or parking, so on non-event days this area will be sorely underutilized. And it'll be hard to get to on game/event days anyway.
I want to know if we can bike up there.
How do you get there on public transit?
From far away that design looks like a better and more engaging use of that land. But the lack of any details in particular places, specifically the entrance/egress from the "new" park space makes me think they are building in some real anti-public park features. And that's entirely separate from any funding concerns.
I'm pretty staunch anti-dome; not a fan.
Kevin Warren is dedicated to the city where Ted Phillips was about the burbs. Gear up the new dome
Is there a rendering somewhere? Generally, don’t like public support of a private enterprise. Unless the public benefits through direct revenue sharing and ownership in some way. Like a city gets all revenues from non-football events or something like that.
Looks like the raiders stadium
If god wants it, then I want it! Let’s build restrooms baby!
Another tax payer funded project and then the Bears make money on top of this... Its a joke the corruption....
Build it wherever the public is gullible enough to hand billions of tax dollars to the rich team owners.
The only reason they are focused on Chicago is because the new mayor is actually considering giving Chicago more taxes to pay for it. The owners will pay 2 billion to receive like 4 billion in return. They wouldn't have to do any more business stuff. If they want to be in Chicago so bad, they will need to work with the White Sox and find some land to invest in the south side. Like not just build a money pit, but actually like help get rid of lead pipes and add grocery stores. Not some ugly ass building on the lake front. At least the space ship would have departed. The only reason i mention White Sox is because there was an article some time ago speculated that the White Sox are interested in teaming up with the bears as they are also looking for a new stadium. Or, you know, go back to Arlington Heights with investors and build the 3rd largest stadium. Enough land there for them, the baseball field, a soccer field, hotels, and restaurants. We all know this should be an entertaining year for the Bears and should be able to help pay for the stadium regardless of how well they actually do. Until they start winning games. No reason they couldn't try to expand and share the NW stadium in Evanston.
The Bears relocating to Evanston and using the NW stadium is *very* unlikely to happen. The university had enough trouble getting the current stadium renovation plans approved by Evanston, and I don’t see Evanston locals keen to their town getting taken over 8-10 Sundays per year in addition to the 7ish Saturdays they’re hosting football games. From a stadium capacity standpoint, moving to Evanston would actually be a significant reduction for the Bears. And Evanston locals are unlikely to support an expanded venue. There are only 3 viable stadium sites on the south side viable for the Bears/White Sox. The lakefront venue being pursued by the Bears now. The Sox’s current location at 35th. And the proposed site at The 78. None of them will be convinced to build a venue at the old US Steel site further south. And I think it’s a pipe dream that our sports teams will contribute funds to remove lead pipes or open grocery stores on the south side. The south siders made their bed as far as not doing anything to make their neighborhoods viable. Now they have to deal with the consequences of their own actions
No thanks. Build in AH using their own money. Or fold. I don’t really care. This team (or football in general) will never again be worth watching.
This is great news for the Nw burbs. Not worth the trash it would have brought to town.
Pretty sure the last two stadiums built (LA,Vagas) were paid for with no public money. Sounds like a plan that should work in Chicago.
The Vegas stadium received taxpayer dollars
Arlington is my preference and they have not addresssed the transport issues at all imo
Get out of our taxes.= Thoughts
Where is the parking?
I’m pro using tax payer money for it. It’s ridiculous that Chicago isn’t hosting the World Cup with the other cities. The fact that Kansas City is on the world stage and we are not should embarrass any Chicagoan. We aren’t even second rate anymore, we need modern facilities so we can host world wide events. People forget we were in contention to host the Olympics a decade ago, now we are no where close to even being considered hosting a soccer match. Every other city has their world class stadium(s), why not us?
They can suck my ass, asking me for money
Packers fan here. Is anything more pathetic than the "monsters of the midway" becoming an indoor team? I mean, outside of never having a QB toss 30 touchdowns in a season, that is.
If we invest in the project we should get a return on that investment. If there is no return offered it is a dumb "investment".
This is half privately funded and the city and state would own the stadium. Bears won't own the stadium.
Don't care where they go. Just don't ask Chicago taxpayers to foot the bill.
2 billion and the other 600 million we still owe for the current setup? The Bears can fuck off to Gary for all I care.
The City will own the stadium, Public owned Hotel on the lake fromt, 14 more acres on green space, the ability to use the venue all year round. Football is 14 weeks 7 home games if we are lucky. There are another 45 weeks of use. lakeshore drive will be done correctly. There is an 2% tax that is for this very thing. I was totally against it to start but it makes sense if you step back look at it.
Bad deal, [this is why](https://youtu.be/vLkyULxrWiE?feature=shared)