NEWSLETTER
If you have followed pro sports stadium projects in the past, then you probably are aware that taxpayers tend to end up footing a hearty chunk of the bill. And while the Chicago Bears have not yet made public their plans of how they will pay for their new stadium, there is an expectation that tax payers will be footing some of the bill.
Here is a brief breakdown of the most important numbers according to reporting from the Chicago Tribune:
As someone who compared the countless turns in the Bears stadium saga to their grandmother’s favorite telenovelas, I was fully expecting this type of twist.
All of a sudden, I am starting to see why the Bears might want to try and bury their stadium story under the cover of the 2024 NFL Draft. On their own, stories of a billion-dollar entity asking for public money to help bankroll a new stadium (when the bill still isn’t paid on the last one) weren’t likely to go over well. Even with the upcoming NFL Draft serving as a distraction, this isn’t enough to quiet that sentiment. But I digress.
What is next for the Chicago Bears stadium deal?
This entire stadium ordeal continues to be fascinating. A thought that won’t shake your head (because it certainly isn’t shaking mine in this moment): The Bears are essentially angling to pay billions of dollars (that will make for a tighter-than-usual budget) to fund a stadium they won’t own. That seems like a bold and highly questionable business play. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t care about Bears ownership profits beyond what the family puts into the team. However, I feel as if not owning your own stadium limits your profit potential.
Maybe there is more to this deal than the initial reporting has to share right now. Again, this figures to be a fascinating story to follow in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
MORE: Chicago Bears to Announce Lakefront Stadium Plans on Wednesday
When it comes to the future home of Chicago Bears football, I want to be very careful with how I phrase and frame forthcoming updates. This saga has the type of unexpected twists that would make a WWE WrestleMania writer blush. And since we know better than to know something is done until it’s done, I want to proceed with caution. Fasten those seatbelts, folks. The Bears are going to take us on a weird journey toward building a new stadium.
