The famous sports fan refrain “wait ’til next year,” often associated with MLB’s Cubs, is now taking on new meaning for another Chicago pro sports team.
The Bears’ attempt to strike a deal for a lakefront domed stadium, already facing mounting obstacles, took another sizable hit when Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (above) said Monday it would be “near impossible” for the team to get an agreement through the state legislature this fall. Assuming that projection holds, it will be at least spring 2025 before there is any further movement there on the Bears’ proposal.
After missing out on this past spring’s legislative session, the Bears had targeted the fall to accelerate progress on a new stadium, with the team looking for public money to cover slightly more than half of the projected $4.7 billion cost. The team has already said that every year lost to delays adds more than $150 million to that figure.
“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.
The governor’s comments are hardly a departure, as he called the Bears’ initial proposal in April a “nonstarter.” But the latest remarks show how little progress has been made since then.
“I’ve done a lot of research on this topic. But let me clear: There isn’t much change,” Pritzker said.
Power and Influence
While Pritzker was already a powerful governor of a populous state, his political star has risen further in recent weeks, giving anything he says relative to the Bears situation that much more weight. He’s been mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate to join the campaign of expected Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, and the party’s national convention will be on his home turf, as the event is scheduled for Aug. 19–22 in Chicago.
Unlike many politicians who struggle with the complexities of pro stadium finance, Pritzker also boasts a high-level business background and is worth an estimated $3.5 billion. He’s part of the Pritzker family that controls the Hyatt hotel chain and, before entering politics, was involved in several business ventures, including a technology incubator and an investment group. His assets are now in a blind trust while he serves as governor, but those extensive holdings are seen as a complex factor during Harris’s process to select a running mate.
