Bears Stadium Funding In Chicago 'Near Impossible' This Year: Pritzker

CHICAGO — While team officials insist building a new stadium in Chicago remains a priority, Gov. JB Pritzker called any kind of state funding for the Bears' proposed multibillion-dollar project along the lakefront would be "near impossible" during this fall's legislative session.

"You couldn't actually get it done probably during the veto session and would have to wait until next spring, but in reality, there isn't a proposal on the table right now that would be acceptable to anyone that I know in the legislature," Pritzker said Monday during an unrelated news conference.

In May, the Bears unveiled plans for a publicly-owned, domed stadium on the Museum Campus. The entire stadium project, which would be built near the current site of Solider Field, is estimated to cost $4.6 billion, including $3.2 billion for the stadium itself.

Following that announcement, Pritzker met with team officials and called the proposal a "non-starter" for the state.

"In order to subsidize a brand new stadium for a privately owned sports team, the Governor would need to see a demonstrable and tangible benefit to the taxpayers of Illinois," said Alex Gough, spokesperson for Pritzker. "The Governor's office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers, and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars remains the foremost priority."

The Bears said at the time the team will privately invest more than $2 billion to the project, which, according to team officials, will cover more than 70 percent of the costs to construct the stadium.

Chicago Tribune reports Pritzker and Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren met in mid-June, in a breakfast meeting the governor's office described as "cordial."

In February 2023, the Bears closed on a $197.2 million property agreement to buy the former Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights and have since demolished a large portion of the site. While the team in recent months has said its priority is building a new stadium in Chicago, Arlington Heights officials have hinted that the Arlington Park property remains in play.

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