Blab Politics
Pritzker Defends Role in Bears Stadium Negotiations Amid Indiana Move
Gov. JB Pritzker said on Tuesday that he has been working to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, even as the team’s board of directors advanced a plan to build a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana. The governor, speaking at an event at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, blamed what he called "fumbles" by Bears officials and "confusion" among legislators for the stalled deal.
Pritzker said the Illinois package he has been developing would allow the Bears to stay without raising sales taxes or tolls. "In Indiana, they’re going to have to raise sales taxes. They’re raising tolls. I mean, the question is, do people in Illinois want their sales taxes raised to pay for the Chicago Bears? Do they want tolls raised to pay for the Chicago Bears? I don’t think they do," he said. He added that the state had put together a legislative package that would avoid those costs and that some legislators had "killed it" either through confusion or direct malice.
The governor also addressed criticism that he had not been more forceful in pushing the bill through the General Assembly. "I spend half the days of the General Assembly’s spring calendar in Springfield, but my nonlegislative responsibilities extend statewide," Pritzker said. "I expend political capital all the time," he added, when asked whether he would try to cajole legislators to support the deal. "I’ll continue to do so to get things done on a priority basis," he said.
The Bears’ stadium debate has been a moving target. In April 2024 the team and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced plans for a publicly owned lakefront stadium that would have required roughly half the funding from taxpayers. The Bears then shifted between Arlington Heights and Hammond, and the team’s board recently voted to advance a Hammond project. The Indiana plan would fund the new stadium through increased sales taxes, hotel taxes, and a toll‑road lease that would raise tolls twice a year.
Legislatively, the House passed an amended megaproject bill on April 22 that would let the Bears and other developers negotiate property‑tax payments directly with local governments. The Senate passed a different bill in the final hours of the spring session that would create municipal stadium authorities. The House adjourned before taking up the Senate measure.
Pritzker said that the Bears’ top leaders should have appeared at the Capitol to lobby legislators at the end of the session. "You got to work the hallways, as you know, in a very, very busy session," he told reporters. "You’ve got to really talk to every legislator if you want to get something done."
Lawmakers are not scheduled to return to Springfield for the fall veto session until November 17, and the governor said he would not call a special session until both chambers agree on a single bill. "I’m ready to own possible Bears departure after Illinois House punts on stadium bill," he said, noting that the team has not yet selected an exact site.
Pritzker reiterated his personal support for the Bears. "I love the Chicago Bears. I want them to be in Illinois, and I have worked very hard to try to keep them in Illinois," he said. He added that he believes there is still time to prevent the NFL club from crossing the state line.
The governor’s comments come as the Bears’ board of directors announced on Friday that it had advanced a plan for a stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. The move follows a failed attempt by Illinois lawmakers to pass a bill that would have provided incentives for the team to stay. The Indiana proposal would fund the new stadium through a $1 billion package that includes increased sales taxes, hotel taxes, and a toll‑road lease.
Pritzker said he is ready to call a special session if Illinois lawmakers reach a deal before the fall. "I’ll continue to work with the Chicago Bears and anybody who wants to make sure that we provide them with what it is they need that isn’t going to cost taxpayers more money," he said.
The Bears’ future remains uncertain. The team has not yet selected a site, and the state of Illinois has yet to agree on a legislative package that would keep the franchise in the state. The next steps will involve negotiations between Bears officials, Illinois lawmakers, and the governor’s office, with the possibility of a special session if a consensus is not reached before lawmakers return in November.
Pritzker said the Illinois package he has been developing would allow the Bears to stay without raising sales taxes or tolls. "In Indiana, they’re going to have to raise sales taxes. They’re raising tolls. I mean, the question is, do people in Illinois want their sales taxes raised to pay for the Chicago Bears? Do they want tolls raised to pay for the Chicago Bears? I don’t think they do," he said. He added that the state had put together a legislative package that would avoid those costs and that some legislators had "killed it" either through confusion or direct malice.
The governor also addressed criticism that he had not been more forceful in pushing the bill through the General Assembly. "I spend half the days of the General Assembly’s spring calendar in Springfield, but my nonlegislative responsibilities extend statewide," Pritzker said. "I expend political capital all the time," he added, when asked whether he would try to cajole legislators to support the deal. "I’ll continue to do so to get things done on a priority basis," he said.
The Bears’ stadium debate has been a moving target. In April 2024 the team and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced plans for a publicly owned lakefront stadium that would have required roughly half the funding from taxpayers. The Bears then shifted between Arlington Heights and Hammond, and the team’s board recently voted to advance a Hammond project. The Indiana plan would fund the new stadium through increased sales taxes, hotel taxes, and a toll‑road lease that would raise tolls twice a year.
Legislatively, the House passed an amended megaproject bill on April 22 that would let the Bears and other developers negotiate property‑tax payments directly with local governments. The Senate passed a different bill in the final hours of the spring session that would create municipal stadium authorities. The House adjourned before taking up the Senate measure.
Pritzker said that the Bears’ top leaders should have appeared at the Capitol to lobby legislators at the end of the session. "You got to work the hallways, as you know, in a very, very busy session," he told reporters. "You’ve got to really talk to every legislator if you want to get something done."
Lawmakers are not scheduled to return to Springfield for the fall veto session until November 17, and the governor said he would not call a special session until both chambers agree on a single bill. "I’m ready to own possible Bears departure after Illinois House punts on stadium bill," he said, noting that the team has not yet selected an exact site.
Pritzker reiterated his personal support for the Bears. "I love the Chicago Bears. I want them to be in Illinois, and I have worked very hard to try to keep them in Illinois," he said. He added that he believes there is still time to prevent the NFL club from crossing the state line.
The governor’s comments come as the Bears’ board of directors announced on Friday that it had advanced a plan for a stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. The move follows a failed attempt by Illinois lawmakers to pass a bill that would have provided incentives for the team to stay. The Indiana proposal would fund the new stadium through a $1 billion package that includes increased sales taxes, hotel taxes, and a toll‑road lease.
Pritzker said he is ready to call a special session if Illinois lawmakers reach a deal before the fall. "I’ll continue to work with the Chicago Bears and anybody who wants to make sure that we provide them with what it is they need that isn’t going to cost taxpayers more money," he said.
The Bears’ future remains uncertain. The team has not yet selected a site, and the state of Illinois has yet to agree on a legislative package that would keep the franchise in the state. The next steps will involve negotiations between Bears officials, Illinois lawmakers, and the governor’s office, with the possibility of a special session if a consensus is not reached before lawmakers return in November.
