Gov Pritzker: Bears new stadium is “non-starter” for state

remydat

CCS Hall of Fame
Donator
CCS Hall of Fame '19
Joined:
Sep 15, 2012
Posts:
64,571
Liked Posts:
41,317
I don't think so. Seems pretty clear the league will facilitate stadium funding despite the on-paper debt cap. Why else would it have that program?

Also the actual stadium is projected at $3.2b, not $5b.
I was referring to the 5b project at AH as the convo was about why dont they build at AH primarily through private financing.

The lakefront deal makes sense for the Bears because the state would be covering 2.3b of the 4.6b total cost by virture of 900m in stadium bonds and 1.4b in infrastructure. So they would only be borrowing 300m from the NFL to go with the 2b they said they can contribute.

But when we are talking AH, the issue is the project costs 5b and if the Bears can only offer 2b then that means they need 3b in private finance if we assume limited to no public funds. That is too much IMO to make AH feasible.
 

dennehy

Well-known member
Joined:
Dec 29, 2015
Posts:
12,105
Liked Posts:
13,244
Location:
Jewels to get a case of Squirt
I was referring to the 5b project at AH as the convo was about why dont they build at AH primarily through private financing.

The lakefront deal makes sense for the Bears because the state would be covering 2.3b of the 4.6b total cost by virture of 900m in stadium bonds and 1.4b in infrastructure. So they would only be borrowing 300m from the NFL to go with the 2b they said they can contribute.

But when we are talking AH, the issue is the project costs 5b and if the Bears can only offer 2b then that means they need 3b in private finance if we assume limited to no public funds. That is too much IMO to make AH feasible.
I think teh AH development is more than just the stadium though. Don't think the other stuff applies to the NFL rule.
 

remydat

CCS Hall of Fame
Donator
CCS Hall of Fame '19
Joined:
Sep 15, 2012
Posts:
64,571
Liked Posts:
41,317
I think teh AH development is more than just the stadium though. Don't think the other stuff applies to the NFL rule.
It is but still a lot to borrow if privately financed which I suspect is why pivoted to Chicago.
 

Sparks500

Well-known member
Joined:
Nov 28, 2014
Posts:
2,910
Liked Posts:
2,271
It’s the billionaire way: socialize the expense, privatize the profit…..
 

JesusHalasChrist

N.eg it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Donator
Joined:
May 18, 2014
Posts:
10,171
Liked Posts:
12,301
Location:
murica
According to my sources the negotiations with the city soured after George offered a $5 Binny's gift card for the mayor's gift room.
 

DefNextYear

Well-known member
Joined:
Jan 21, 2024
Posts:
3,129
Liked Posts:
2,941
My favorite teams
  1. Chicago Cubs
  1. Chicago Bulls
  1. Chicago Bears
  1. Chicago Blackhawks

TheEarlofRobin

Well-known member
Joined:
Sep 23, 2024
Posts:
2,067
Liked Posts:
931
If true... how can there be any reason not to have a massive seating difference? We may not know what "massive" really means in terms of quantity, but they should be thinking 15-20% increase at least, especially if you have more land to make it work.
Yeah, I think its all in the 'massive' terminology. They could increase by 20% and have the capacity be 75,000, which I guess wouldn't be 'massive'. Most NFL stadiums are between 70K and 80K capacities.

That said, remydat did once opine that the Bears need a smaller stadium, because if its too big then the only musical acts they can book are Bruce Springsteen and Wham!
 

Gustavus Adolphus

?‍♂️?
Donator
CCS Hall of Fame '20
Joined:
Jun 15, 2010
Posts:
47,039
Liked Posts:
36,319
My favorite teams
  1. Chicago White Sox
  1. Chicago Bulls
  1. Chicago Bears
  1. Nebraska Cornhuskers
  2. Villanova Wildcats
If true... how can there be any reason not to have a massive seating difference? We may not know what "massive" really means in terms of quantity, but they should be thinking 15-20% increase at least, especially if you have more land to make it work.
Yeah, using the word "massive" is extremely vague. Going over 100k is a massive stadium in my mind. But 70-80,000 seems just about right for most NFL stadiums.

I make these comments without looking up this easy to find information.
 

nc0gnet0

CCS Donator
Donator
Joined:
Nov 27, 2014
Posts:
20,277
Liked Posts:
4,841
Yeah, I think its all in the 'massive' terminology. They could increase by 20% and have the capacity be 75,000, which I guess wouldn't be 'massive'. Most NFL stadiums are between 70K and 80K capacities.

That said, remydat did once opine that the Bears need a smaller stadium, because if its too big then the only musical acts they can book are Bruce Springsteen and Wham!
Don't they mean there will not be a massive decrease in seating capacity when based on the original Arlington heights proposal? Because now they have to move it slightly south. I am not sure they are comparing it to Soldier Field.
 

Xplosive

*Warning*...^Triggered by Mentioning The Haul...
Joined:
Aug 15, 2013
Posts:
5,454
Liked Posts:
2,865
Location:
Chicago
My favorite teams
  1. Chicago White Sox
  1. Chicago Bulls
  1. Chicago Bears
  1. Chicago Blackhawks
  1. Michigan Wolverines
*Sigh*
I guess Arlington was always inevitable once they bought an entire race track sized plot of land.
 

Gustavus Adolphus

?‍♂️?
Donator
CCS Hall of Fame '20
Joined:
Jun 15, 2010
Posts:
47,039
Liked Posts:
36,319
My favorite teams
  1. Chicago White Sox
  1. Chicago Bulls
  1. Chicago Bears
  1. Nebraska Cornhuskers
  2. Villanova Wildcats
2. Bears really need to negotiate with Pritzker not the mayor as mayor was already on board.
Well the only thing I believe int the tweet is that Brandon Johnson is an idiot. So, dubious or not.
 

remydat

CCS Hall of Fame
Donator
CCS Hall of Fame '19
Joined:
Sep 15, 2012
Posts:
64,571
Liked Posts:
41,317
Well the only thing I believe int the tweet is that Brandon Johnson is an idiot. So, dubious or not.
Idiot or not the city was already all in on the stadium. Bears need to convince the Governor.


 

TheEarlofRobin

Well-known member
Joined:
Sep 23, 2024
Posts:
2,067
Liked Posts:
931
Don't they mean there will not be a massive decrease in seating capacity when based on the original Arlington heights proposal? Because now they have to move it slightly south. I am not sure they are comparing it to Soldier Field.
Not sure. When I see the word "difference", I assume they are comparing the new stadium to Soldier Field, but I am massively confused.
 

Top