From State Senators Craig Wilcox and Don DeWitte:
Keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois
Cartoon by Eric Allie of the Illinois Policy Institute.
| The Chicago Bears have long been part of the fabric of Illinois. The Bears are an iconic franchise that brings pride to our communities and drives meaningful economic activity across the Chicago region and state. As discussions continue about the team’s future stadium, Illinois has a clear opportunity to retain a generational asset that supports jobs, tourism, and regional investment. State and local leaders have been working with the Bears toward a framework for a new stadium development in Arlington Heights. At the same time, officials in neighboring Indiana have advanced a competing proposal in Hammond. This regional competition underscores the significant economic value major sports franchises bring to their home states. Keeping the Bears in Illinois is the right outcome for our economy and our identity. The team has called our state home for more than a century, and Illinois offers the market strength, infrastructure, and fan support needed for long-term success. Any stadium agreement, however, must be transparent, fiscally responsible, and fair to taxpayers. Projects of this scale should deliver lasting public benefit alongside private investment. I remain hopeful that state, local, and team leaders can secure an agreement that keeps the Bears in Illinois while protecting taxpayers and strengthening our regional economy. |
