Chicago Bears buy Arlington Track. Chicago STILL paying off upgrades to Soldier Field.

[actaeon277]

As usual, taxpayers screwed again.

Chicago Bears buy Arlington Heights property for possible stadium

The team said it has completed its purchase of the 326-acre site for $197.2 million as it continues negotiations for state and local tax subsidies.

chicago.suntimes.com

Bears purchase 326-acre Arlington Park property

The Chicago Bears have closed on its purchase of the 326-acre Arlington Park property, though the move does not guarantee the development of the team's plan for a new domed stadium.

www.espn.com

 

[Expat]

Domed? Well that sucks.

 

[jamil]

No one builds domes anymore. Maybe the author is a Millennial and thinks any stadium that has a roof is a domed stadium.

 

[Ziggidy]

I hope they do. It’s been long talked about for decades, hopefully it will happen. Chicago is an never ending vaccuum.

 

[Creedmoor]

What do you call a basement full of Bears fans?

 

[KLB]

Are we complaining about a team buying property and building their own stadium? I say good. Let them build and pay for their stadium.

Chicago uses Soldier Field for more than just the Bears. If the improvements haven't been paid for by the end of the Bears lease, that is on the city. Not that the citizens there will ever hold the government accountable.

 

[jamil]

What do you call a basement full of Bears fans?

Well don’t just leave us hanging here.

 

[Butch627]

I just hope when the Bears finally leave that someone will do a comprehensive review of the costs to "renovate" Soldier Field as well as the insider deals and the lease that the Bears had to sign. After reconstruction it was still a mess in ways that could have been fixed but were not. Without the Bears that stadium upkeep will be a brutal drain on the park districts resources. It is one of the ugliest structures ever constructed. I am no fan of horse racing but spent some time at that Arlington Park track and it was a spectacular facility in its own right and not that old.

 

[BJHay]

Stadiums are seldom, if ever, built without massive subsidies. The data I've read shows they don't have a broad economic impact and are not a good use of public funds. If a team wants to self finance new construction I'm all for it. In this case the Bears bought the land but stated they can't move forward without government assistance.

Politicians can't resist the prestige of a pro team and havening something to thump their chest over at election time even if they know it's a loosing proposition.

 

[KLB]

Politicians can't resist the prestige of a pro team and havening something to thump their chest over at election time even if they know it's a loosing proposition.

That's because their constituents are stupid enough to think it is something good.

 

[jamil]

Stadiums are seldom, if ever, built without massive subsidies. The data I've read shows they don't have a broad economic impact and are not a good use of public funds. If a team wants to self finance new construction I'm all for it. In this case the Bears bought the land but stated they can't move forward without government assistance.

Politicians can't resist the prestige of a pro team and havening something to thump their chest over at election time even if they know it's a loosing proposition.

My son did a research paper in an economics class on this subject. You’re right. The promised ROI never materializes. At best it’s a wash.

A lot of stadiums are developed with private money. LA’s new stadium was. But in smaller markets teams can’t go it alone like that. They need subsidies. Indy for example. I just read that it is the most subsidized stadium of all the NFL teams.

Chicago is a large enough market and they should be able to swing it. But they say they can’t. I don’t know about their finances but I think if they wanted to get it done with private money, they could. Probably just easier to panhandle at city hall and the statehouse.

 

[KittySlayer]

Politicians can't resist the prestige of a pro team and havening something to thump their chest over at election time even if they know it's a loosing proposition.

While they may STILL be paying off the renovations I am sure ALL the politicians were fully paid. It is Chicago after all and the politicians in that S…Hole city know how to get their “fair share”.

 

[Flash-hider]

How many people who buy an existing home or build a new one wouldn't like a tax break from their local government?
All your told that each year you need to pony up more $$$$.

 

[Creedmoor]

Well don’t just leave us hanging here.

A wine cellar.

 

[Ingomike]

I just read that it is the most subsidized stadium of all the NFL teams.

Vegas surpassed them…

 

[Ingomike]

My son did a research paper in an economics class on this subject. You’re right. The promised ROI never materializes. At best it’s a wash.

Can we agree that there are things that cannot be quantified in a research paper?

Indiana is one of the most solvent states in the country. Since the Colts arrival the growth in central Indiana has been nationally recognized for decades, not saying the Colts are responsible for that growth but Indy is in a pack if 35 cities with population of 500k to 1 million and after the larger cities get theirs there just are not enough teams to go around.

Perception is one of those unmeasurables. That we hosted a SB, something folks still talk about, adds to our persona as an area. In the city competition for business relocation and retention an NFL team is huge.

 

[KLB]

Can we agree that there are things that cannot be quantified in a research paper?

Indiana is one of the most solvent states in the country. Since the Colts arrival the growth in central Indiana has been nationally recognized for decades, not saying the Colts are responsible for that growth but Indy is in a pack if 35 cities with population of 500k to 1 million and after the larger cities get theirs there just are not enough teams to go around.

Perception is one of those unmeasurables. That we hosted a SB, something folks still talk about, adds to our persona as an area. In the city competition for business relocation and retention an NFL team is huge.

I'd say it is overrated having to have an NFL team.

San Antonio has almost 1.5m people and does fine without one.

 

[Shadow01]

The city should not allow them to use the name Chicago in their description of the team And put the sports broadcasters and the nfl on notice that any use of Chicago in their broadcasts will result in a lawsuit.

 

[KLB]

The city should not allow them to use the name Chicago in their description of the team And put the sports broadcasters and the nfl on notice that any use of Chicago in their broadcasts will result in a lawsuit.

I doubt they have legal standing to do that.

 

[indykid]

Agree that Chicago probably couldn't force the Bears to change their city name considering that the New York Giants are actually in New Jersey!