Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Wednesday that the Bears’ new plan to build a stadium in Chicago would not raise taxes on city residents.
“I’m going to say it one more time to make sure everyone understands,” Johnson said at a news conference announcing the plans. “This project will not result in any new taxes for Chicago residents.”
The Bears have already committed to contributing $2 billion to build a new stadium in Chicago, but the project is expected to cost significantly more. At the time of publication, it was unclear where the additional funds would come from, but the Bears have made it clear that the proposed new stadium in Chicago will be publicly owned.
The Bears purchased 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights last year and previously announced plans to build a new stadium there. But contentious negotiations over property taxes in the suburbs have become an obstacle to this project. Earlier this year, the team announced it was shifting its focus from Arlington Heights to focus on the city.
The Bears’ plans have also come under scrutiny as part of a separate effort by the Chicago White Sox to secure public funding for a stadium project in the South Loop. According to a recent Crain’s report, the teams were told that lawmakers were reluctant to approve separate financing plans for the stadiums, and urged the two teams to work together.
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