The Bears' season has come to a close, and while the team isn't ready to talk about their future yet, one storyline hangs heavy: the new stadium.
“We’re all here because we’re all troubled by the potential to lose the Bears’ development,” Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said during a press conference Friday, “because of the inadequacy of Illinois law.
” The Chicago Bears' season has come to a close, and while the team isn't ready to talk about their future yet, one storyline continues to linger for fans: the new stadium.The unexpected change in direction took a back seat to the team's Cinderella season, but now, many are wondering: what's next?"We are in a clutch situation, and what we do right now will determine what comes next for Illinois," Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia wrote in a letter Friday to state lawmakers."The team has been clear that at this point their choices are either the Arlington Heights site or Indiana."The purpose of the letter was to urge the Illinois General Assembly to pass a"mega projects" bill, which would grant major tax breaks to developers and companies to help facilitate large-scale developments. Tinaglia reiterated that the team is not asking for taxpayer money to build a new stadium at the site of the former Arlington Park racetrack. Instead, the Bears would invest their own money to build a new $5 billion stadium, next to a new mixed-use entertainment district. The team would work directly with taxing bodies, including schools, to set taxing structures. The mayor said all three affected local school districts are in favor of a new mega projects bill.The Bears' winning season and the threat of a move to Indiana have shifted the stance of Illinois lawmakers who had resisted efforts to help build a new stadium. Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern reports.," the city shared renderings of its"bold vision for a new Bears Stadium District" anchored by the I-80 and I-94 corridor in northwest Indiana. Conceptual renderings of the stadium also show plans for a promenade and mixed-use district in the area."With three strategically positioned site options, we are ready to build a world-class destination that celebrates sports, culture, and community," the website says.Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren announced the team would be exploring moving outside of Illinois in mid-December in an Though the team has not made any decisions on where the team could land, and sources told NBC Chicago thatto a large selection of fans asking their feelings on the possibility of a move to Indiana or Arlington Heights. The team said this is a normal part of the process of building a new stadium. The Bears are lobbying for the ability to create a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, program, meaning they would be able to negotiate an annual payment with Arlington Heights officials in lieu of a standard property tax assessment and payment. “We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure which is more than typical for projects of this size,” Warren wrote. “Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.”On Jan. 6, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said lawmakers in Springfield plan to focus on affordability and cost-of-living issues during the upcoming legislative session. He called it"insensitive" to talk about a new Bears stadium when Soldier Field is less than 25 years old. Perhaps, in light of the news that the Bears are looking outside of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker's tone has recently become friendlier toward a new stadium deal. "There is a package that could be put together that would help with infrastructure," Pritzker told reporters Tuesday."I've always said that building a stadium is, from my perspective, about doing what's best for the taxpayers. This is a private business. We help private businesses all the time in this state. And I want to help." A day later, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said in his 2026 State of the State address:"With our strong business environment, it's not surprising that another organization has noticed that Indiana is open for business: the Chicago Bears. We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State." Illinois' mega projects bill has drawn criticism from Republican gubernatorial candidates and the group Americans for Prosperity-Illinois. The libertarian group founded by the Koch brothers argues that the property tax burden would shift away from developers onto homeowners, renters and small businesses near the stadium site. Brian Costin, in a Chicago Tribune op-ed, said the bills"could potentially double property tax bills for families near megaproject sites." As part of his plea to lawmakers for the legislation, Tinaglia said according to some estimates, the Bears’ property taxes on the Arlington Heights site could be between $100 million and $200 million per year. "The next highest tax bill for any private stadium in the country is approximately $8 million, for Sofi Stadium near Los Angeles. If we do not give private developers the opportunity to negotiate a more reasonable yearly property tax rate, here in Illinois, we simply will not see these types of once in a generation projects. We cannot fumble this opportunity," Tinaglia said. Tinaglia said the development is expected to generate $10.9 billion in one-time economic activity and $1.3 billion in annual net new economic activity for the state, with an annual nearly $2 billion in new tax revenue over 40 years for local, county and state governments. "The Chicago Bears should not get special treatment just because they are 'the Bears,' but they shouldn’t have it held against them, either. They should be treated the same as any other entity making such a massive investment that provides the jobs, revenues, and economic activity that this project can provide. We want to make sure that everyone involved gets fair treatment throughout the process. A property tax bill 12 to 25 times higher than their closest peer is not fair and will cost us the largest private development project in state history if we do not act now," Tinaglia wrote.
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