Bears Scrapping The Arlington Hts Stadium Plan

[Bust]

CW will be retired by the time this thing is built

The last 2 big boy builds Allegiant and Sofi took 3 and 4 years.

Bears hired on the Allegiant guys (they had hand in the vikings well as vegas) so they'll have recent experience on their side.

. . . It's a sign boyz . . .

 

[PhilEBuster]

Halas Haul phones are ringing off the hook . . .

 

[Hawkeye OG]

The lakefront is clearly the superior location over AH. I could give a shit how it's funded or who owns it, although I don't live in IL and won't have to pay for it. Bears have any opportunity to build something very cool with one of the best views in the NFL - but I'm guessing they go cheap. Wasn't George completely against a dome or was that just a retractable roof? Being logical, a dome makes the most sense so they can host events year round.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

As long as there’s room for a nail salon I’m good.

 

[PickSix]

The Bears will be the Bears. They will end up better off than now with a new stadium to play in Chicago, but completely miss the boat on the chance of a lifetime to balloon the value of the franchise.
I can’t imagine any location large enough to build a huge modern complex in the city.
And Crook County will get a big win. Having the stadium in the city is best for the county and city. The domed stadium will provide increases in tourism money for hotels, restaurants etc from hosting so many more events. Added jobs as well.
Arlington Heights really doesn’t need any of that as it has a vibrant economy. And turning that land into a new home development will bring in more tax revenue than the Bears would.
Not sure why the next move for the Bears wasn’t to buy a massive track of land in Lake or DuPage to get the Crook County tax guys to relent. The Bears narrowing their choice to one of two locations in the same county limited their ability to get what they wanted to maximize the franchise value.
In the end, do we really care how wealthy the McCaskey family is/becomes? There will always be a competitive salary cap ceiling/floor and modern facilities for the players so it shouldn’t impact their ability to win.
Being a NW suburb guy, I would have liked the ease of getting to the games and new events, but being on the lake front is good for the community.

 

[Bust]

The Bears will be the Bears. They will end up better off than now with a new stadium to play in Chicago, but completely miss the boat on the chance of a lifetime to balloon the value of the franchise.
I can’t imagine any location large enough to build a huge modern complex in the city.
And Crook County will get a big win. Having the stadium in the city is best for the county and city. The domed stadium will provide increases in tourism money for hotels, restaurants etc from hosting so many more events. Added jobs as well.
Arlington Heights really doesn’t need any of that as it has a vibrant economy. And turning that land into a new home development will bring in more tax revenue than the Bears would.
Not sure why the next move for the Bears wasn’t to buy a massive track of land in Lake or DuPage to get the Crook County tax guys to relent. The Bears narrowing their choice to one of two locations in the same county limited their ability to get what they wanted to maximize the franchise value.
In the end, do we really care how wealthy the McCaskey family is/becomes? There will always be a competitive salary cap ceiling/floor and modern facilities for the players so it shouldn’t impact their ability to win.
Being a NW suburb guy, I would have liked the ease of getting to the games and new events, but being on the lake front is good for the community.

meh, McCaskey's have a lot of toys to play with at Arlington regardless if physical nfl stadium there or not. 326 acres. That locale will draw up a huge interest cause it would be a convenient place for suburbia fans to park or walk to amtrak there and head to games. No city traffic, parking hassle. It would be primo for you boo.

Add in shops, food, drinks, music, concert stage etc. it would draw in crowds year round.

Another proposal back in duh day was a minor league baseball stadium which would generate guaranteed revenue with 4 teams making home there. That proposal just takes up 10-15 acres, #woah. More shops, more amenities, draw in a different breed of crowd. WIN WIN

How about baseball at Arlington? Former Kane County Cougars exec pitches it to Bears

A former suburban minor-league baseball executive is making a pitch to bring America’s pastime to Arlington Park alongside Chicago Bears football.

www.shawlocal.com

 

[BNB]

If Kevin Warren is driving this, he's probably pushing for a lakefront stadium. He lives in downtown and is always gushing about the beauty of the city. And I agree, Chicago is awesome.

But I was really hoping for a new stadium in AH for numerous reasons.

 

[Xplosive]

For the Record, only FOUR teams actually own the stadium the play in...

Every team in the NFL, except for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers, is technically a renter when it comes to its home stadium.

 

[CHIBEAR]

Wow the amount of people who were saying no way this could happen when

Arlington Heights must've really been given the Bears hell if they're choosing to working the city of Chicago and Cook County.

Arlington Heights is in Cook County and Chicago has the most influence in Cook County. Plenty of people tried to explain this several seasons ago.

 

[Forty-six]

Outside of not wanting to pay the property taxes, maybe they reconsidered if Chicago residents or tourists would be drawn to AH outside of football season. Having a Bears Village sounds good until no one shows up except for 8 Sundays a year.

This is very possible.

But, if you build a dome you then have the opportunity to host events such as the NCAA Final Four, the Super Bowl, and an endless year round concert schedule. Suddenly, the Bears Village becomes a money making machine. Additionally, the AH site would be owned entirely by the Bears and thus every dollar earned would go into ownership's pockets. I don't know what the agreement will be for the lakefront site, but, certainly a percentage of profits will be paid to the city of Chicago.

 

[airtime143]

Outside of not wanting to pay the property taxes, maybe they reconsidered if Chicago residents or tourists would be drawn to AH outside of football season. Having a Bears Village sounds good until no one shows up except for 8 Sundays a year.

This is a solid point for what is essentially a mom and pop business.

They currently know how big their organization needs to be to still live comfortably the rest of their lives.
They are basically on cruise control at the moment... all systems are in place.

I wonder if they looked at the extra work load that will bury them year round and the massive growth in manpower they would need to keep it running and decided it wasnt worth the potential risk and time investment since they are already basically set for life.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Sources Say It's the South Lot or Bust

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1753521891304775773

Misleading title - the Bears aren't scrapping anything.

Instead, this is more leverage in their ongoing negotiations with Arlington Heights.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

If Kevin Warren is driving this, he's probably pushing for a lakefront stadium. He lives in downtown and is always gushing about the beauty of the city. And I agree, Chicago is awesome.

But I was really hoping for a new stadium in AH for numerous reasons.

This is all negotiation tactics.

The thing is, now that talks have gotten to a certain stage, other entities in Arlington Heights are looking to impose their will, even if the Mayor and others disagree, and because of the bylaws and other odd things, certain entities you would think shouldn't have a say, do have some say.

Only thing Bears can do is provide the illusion of not being tied to Arlington Heights to force these entities to back down.

 

[Xplosive]

This is very possible.

But, if you build a dome you then have the opportunity to host events such as the NCAA Final Four, the Super Bowl, and an endless year round concert schedule. Suddenly, the Bears Village becomes a money making machine. Additionally, the AH site would be owned entirely by the Bears and thus every dollar earned would go into ownership's pockets. I don't know what the agreement will be for the lakefront site, but, certainly a percentage of profits will be paid to the city of Chicago.

True, but it's a gamble not everyone is willing to take. Some of those events might never materialize because of other potential venues like the White Sox stadium or a renovation to soldier field by the city if the Bears leave.

It's not finalized but I think the leverage has shifted dramatically in Chicago's favor.

 

[BNB]

Misleading title - the Bears aren't scrapping anything.

Instead, this is more leverage in their ongoing negotiations with Arlington Heights.

I don't think this is leverage. Kevin Warren was not part of the AH plan at all. Ted Phillips was involved in that.

After plans of building a stadium fell through in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Kevin Warren was brought it and helped renegotiate a deal to build a stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

So far, that seems to be exactly what's happening here. In fact, since Warren has been brought in, it seems like things started to shift towards staying in Chicago.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

This is all negotiation tactics.

The thing is, now that talks have gotten to a certain stage, other entities in Arlington Heights are looking to impose their will, even if the Mayor and others disagree, and because of the bylaws and other odd things, certain entities you would think shouldn't have a say, do have some say.

Only thing Bears can do is provide the illusion of not being tied to Arlington Heights to force these entities to back down.

Proof of what I am saying:

Home

Home Page

www.nbcsportschicago.com

The key part (and the entities I am referring to):

Three surrounding school districts – which rely on property taxes for their funding – intervened in the Bears’ appeal. The schools submitted an appraisal finding the site to be worth $160 million, leaving a $100 million gap between the two sides.

Its these school districts that are fucking up things right now. The political muscle from these districts want their cut.

 

[DB012031]

Yeah they need more money to pay their superintendents 350,000 dollars a year instead of the measly 250K they make now. Teachers can still buy their own classroom supplies with their own money That 60k salary is fine.

While our school districts have their issues, this isn't a fair depiction of what is happening with AH. We can have another debate on school districts later and my gut tells me you and I would probably agree on 90% of the issues, but that's not the case this time

It was shady as hell to buy that land at one price, knock down everything on it, then go and argue to the county assessor that now the land should be valued at $100M less than what they just paid for it. While perhaps a "smart" business move by the Bears, it was a dick move when the county depends on that property tax revenue to help support/pay for the schools.

If the land was really worth what the Bears are saying it is, then that is the price they should have paid for it, but they didn't. They paid like $100M more, therefore, like it or not, they should be paying the taxes on it.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I don't think this is leverage. Kevin Warren was not part of the AH plan at all. Ted Phillips was involved in that.

After plans of building a stadium fell through in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Kevin Warren was brought it and helped renegotiate a deal to build a stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

So far, that seems to be exactly what's happening here. In fact, since Warren has been brought in, it seems like things started to shift towards staying in Chicago.

See what I just posted above.

If the Bears remain in Chicago, they will not have control over concessions or parking, which are HUGE revenue generators the Bears have not been able to benefit from since those go to the city.

That is the whole reason they want to leave Chicago in the first place.

The Bears can have all sorts of wonderful lakefront plans, but until I hear that the city is willing to give over control of the field, parking and concessions to the Bears, I won't believe it - especially with "Friends of the Park" or whatever they call themselves not wanting to let go of any of that control.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

While our school districts have their issues, this isn't a fair depiction of what is happening with AH. We can have another debate on school districts later and my gut tells me you and I would probably agree on 90% of the issues, but that's not the case this time

It was shady as hell to buy that land at one price, knock down everything on it, then go and argue to the county assessor that now the land should be valued at $100M less than what they just paid for it. While perhaps a "smart" business move by the Bears, it was a dick move when the county depends on that property tax revenue to help support/pay for the schools.

If the land was really worth what the Bears are saying it is, then that is the price they should have paid for it, but they didn't. They paid like $100M more, therefore, like it or not, they should be paying the taxes on it.

I have been on the inside of school districts in the Chicagoland area, working for them for 3 1/2 years in my 20s. They are completely rotted and corrupt, and the higher up the hierarchy you go, the worse it gets. I saw districts screw over retiring teachers, trying to get them fired so that they don't have to pay pensions to really good teachers who worked for their schools for over 30 years, all so they can give those payouts to district officers and their buddies in the school systems. It's absolutely a political racket.

So don't soft-sell me on the Bears vs School Districts here. There are no good guys, but I am going to call it like it is.

 

[DB012031]

I have been on the inside of school districts in the Chicagoland area, working for them for 3 1/2 years in my 20s. They are completely rotted and corrupt, and the higher up the hierarchy you go, the worse it gets. I saw districts screw over retiring teachers, trying to get them fired so that they don't have to pay pensions to really good teachers who worked for their schools for over 30 years, all so they can give those payouts to district officers and their buddies in the school systems. It's absolutely a political racket.

So don't soft-sell me on the Bears vs School Districts here. There are no good guys, but I am going to call it like it is.

Not soft selling you on anything. Both can be true though, they aren't mutually exclusive. The districts can be corrupt, no one is arguing that, but the Bears are also being shady dicks as well. If the property was only valued at $70-90M, then that's what they should have paid, not $197M.