The Chicago Bears finally seem charted on their course for a new stadium. After spending several months working to get a downtown stadium greenlit, the lack of progress forced their hand. Team president Kevin Warren has clearly shifted the Bears back on the path of Arlington Heights. The property tax issue has been fixed. Research is underway for all the logistics required to get the construction going. If things progress as they have, the Bears are likely three years away from leaving the city for the first time since 1920.
People will debate back and forth about why things didn't materialize for that downtown stadium. Some will blame activist groups. Others will point to the hefty price tag. In truth, the failure boils down to one man. A source told SM that the Bears never stood a chance because of J.B. Pritzker. Talking to the Illinois governor was described as talking "to a brick wall." He dismissed every proposal the franchise put in front of him, unwilling to discuss alternatives. After a while, it became obvious that no amount of messaging would get through to the man.
The Chicago Bears no longer wished to fight a pointless battle.
They were willing to be flexible on almost every issue, including fitting most of the bill themselves. It was hoped that Pritzker would help them through taxes rather than direct public money. The governor was unmoved. Unless the Chicago Bears could offer a plan that would benefit the state in a big way, there would be zero taxpayer assistance. Nobody was willing to go against Pritzker's wishes. At some point, Warren understood he wasn't getting anywhere. Arlington Heights was ready and waiting to reignite talks. The Bears obliged. Lots of work remains to be done, but one thing is certain. The team wanted to stay in the city. That was their goal. Unfortunately, one man stood in their way, and he held the coin purse.
