The National Football League has entertained its fans for nearly a hundred years now.
Over the last couple of decades, the sport has completely changed, bending to economic, social, and political trends.
And Chicago residents are outraged after this Chicago institution sticks their hand out.
The Chicago Bears have a long road ahead when it comes to moving out of Soldier Field
Last week the Chicago Bears selected Quarterback Caleb Williams of USC with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.
This pick signals a new and exciting future for Bears fans, who have put up with years of disappointments and mediocrity.
Even more exciting for some Chicago Bears fans, the Bears have plans to move out of Soldier Field, after playing on the site since 1971.
However, for many Chicago residents, a new and expensive Bears stadium presents some very legitimate concerns.
According to The Chicago Tribune, “The stadium itself would cost $3.2 billion to build, with another $1.4 billion in proposed infrastructure improvements.”
This massive project requires massive funding, and like with many stadium projects, developers have floated the idea of having taxpayers foot part of the bill.
The Chicago Tribune added, “But the Bears’ plan includes an additional $2.3 billion in public financing, along with refinancing outstanding debt for prior publicly financed stadium projects for the Bears and White Sox.”
Predictably, many Chicagoans do not want to dump billions of dollars into a stadium that they may never step foot in, especially as their city reels from a long list of significant problems, ranging from crippling crime to an unprecedented illegal alien crisis.
Even Illinois’ Democrat Governor J.D. Pritzker voiced concerns over taxpayer funds going to a new Bears stadium, saying in a recent press conference, “It’s very important to me with all that the state needs to accomplish that we think about what the priorities are. There are a lot of priorities that the state has, and I’m not sure that is among the highest priorities for taxpayers.”
Democrat State Senate President Don Harmon rushed to Pritzker’s defense, adding, “At first glance, more than $2 billion in private funding is better than zero and a more credible opening offer. But there’s an obvious substantial gap remaining, and I echo the governor’s skepticism.”
Republicans and Democrats alike are skeptical of the Bear’s plan to have taxpayers fork over billions for a new stadium
America remains deeply divided over political grounds, however, reluctance to spend billions of dollars on sports stadiums has brought Americans together all over America.
Recently, voters in Missouri rejected a plan to have taxpayers potentially fund a new Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, despite the Chiefs having won two Super Bowls in a row.
This dissent shows that regardless of how successful a sports team may be, taxpayers want a break and do not want to help wealthy investors and team owners fund expensive stadiums they may never use.
Stay tuned to Blue State Blues for any updates to this ongoing story.
