Rep: Bears ‘can pick what they want’ in stadium bill

By Jim Talamonti
The Center Square

The architect of megaprojects legislation in the Illinois House says the Chicago Bears can pick what they want in new stadium legislation, but taxpayer protection has to be at the center of the conversation.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, joined Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other legislative leaders in a meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month.

Buckner said after an Illinois House Executive Committee hearing in Chicago on Tuesday that it’s not really important who would own a new stadium, but the Bears need control over things like naming rights and concessions.

“It’s up to them. They can pick what they want, but we want to make sure we give them the options here in this state,” Buckner said.

A reporter from The Center Square asked Buckner if it would be possible to give the Bears control and still protect taxpayers.

“Yeah, I think that’s a conversation that, number one, has to be at the center of this. I don’t know what that part looks like. You’ve got to work through the details, obviously,” Buckner said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a WTTW News gubernatorial forum on Tuesday night that a billionaire family owning a team valued at $9 billion does not need the state to buy or build a stadium, but he would be willing to spend taxpayer dollars on infrastructure.

“I believe that in November, we’re going to be able to get something done to keep the Bears in the state of Illinois, but I’m not going to do it at the expense of the taxpayers,” Pritzker said.

Bailey said Indiana Gov. Mike Braun assured him that the team is going to the Hoosier state.

“I’m just glad I’m not going to be known as the governor that lost the Bears. You want to know why he’s going to wait until November? Because the Bears are going to Indiana,” Bailey said.

Bears officials said in August they would move forward with stadium plans in Hammond, Indiana, but they have yet to announce the selection of a specific site.

Buckner said he doesn’t think lawmakers are that far off from being able to reconcile separate bills that passed the Illinois House and Senate last spring but failed to gain approval from both chambers.

The Chicago Democrat said a payment in lieu of taxes bill or legislation providing for a stadium finance authority remained part of the conversation.