In the fight for a new Chicago Bears stadium, the mayor of Arlington Heights is counting on a last-minute score this week.
Sunday is the last day of the spring legislative session in Springfield, so they have under a week to pass the bill that could keep the Bears in Illinois.
“I’m very optimistic. I believe that it’s going to happen. I think that our governor and legislators in Springfield are working really hard to make it happen,” said Mayor Jim Tinaglia. “I’d like to make sure we get it done. And so, if it takes till 11:59 p.m., that’s what it takes. I’m good with that.”
The Bears are pushing for a new megaprojects bill, which would save them money on property taxes by allowing them to negotiate payments directly with the Village of Arlington Heights. Despite Monday being a holiday, lawmakers were in Springfield, where they will remain all week long.
Several big-ticket items are on the agenda for consideration this week, including artificial intelligence regulations, the budget, Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan for affordable housing and data center regulations.
Meanwhile, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun told Fox and Friends on Sunday that his state would make a better long-term business partner for the Bears. Indiana already passed a bill meant to entice the Bears to build a stadium in Hammond, near Wolf Lake.
“We’ve got a AAA credit rating. Where would you want to be the next 50 years? You’ll get more stadium for your money here in Indiana,” Braun said.
Braun was asked, “If you had to put the odds 50-50 60-40, where would you put it?” He replied, “I’d say 65-35.”
What about Chicago? During this crucial week, Mayor Brandon Johnson will be in Rome, meeting the pope.
“I do know one thing that we’re all on the same page about is that the Pope believes, like I believe, that the Bears belong in Chicago,” Johnson quipped.
Tinaglia disagrees. He’s listening to the Bears, who’ve said Arlington Heights and Hammond are the only two viable sites.
“If everybody just got on board with that, maybe we’d have a better chance of this happening sooner than later.I think it’s a bit of a distraction. And that’s really all it is,” Tinaglia said.
Although Johnson wants the Bears to stay in the city, on Monday, he said his current priority in Springfield is progressive revenue.
“It’s unfortunate that corporate interests have dominated this particular session. The digital ad tax, there’s still time to pass that, a millionaire’s tax,” Johnson said.
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May 25, 2026 at 07:49PM
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