Illinois leaders recently met with the NFL about trying to keep the Bears from moving to a new stadium in Indiana.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said a meeting on Thursday included NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bears minority owner Pat Ryan and some members of the Illinois House and Senate. The state is trying to keep the franchise in or around Chicago, including a possible move to Arlington Heights.
The following statement came from the Office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker:
“The Governor’s Office has remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer. Today, Governor Pritzker was grateful to meet in Illinois with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pat Ryan, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Rep. Kam Buckner, and Sen. Bill Cunningham. The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers.”
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia also released a statement following the recent developments in the ongoing stadium saga with the Bears.
“The Village has remained engaged with stakeholders at the State level over the past several months regarding the future home of the Chicago Bears,” Tinaglia’s office said Thursday. “We were aware of today’s meeting between Governor Pritzker, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and other state leaders, and we are encouraged by the Governor’s statement following that discussion. We welcome continued progress toward keeping the Bears in Illinois and continue to believe that Arlington Heights offers the best opportunity for the Bears to build a state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment district. The Village remains committed to working collaboratively with the Bears, the State, the National Football League, and other stakeholders to advance a project that can deliver long-term benefits for Arlington Heights and the State of Illinois.”
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott said he and his team are working every single day to get the Bears to Hammond, Indiana.
Back in August, Bears President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Warren said their sole focus is working on a world-class development in Northwest Indiana. At this point, the franchise is planning to build a new stadium in Hammond.
