Arlington Officials Deny Accusations Of Personal Paydays From Chicago Bears

The potential relocation of the Chicago Bears to Arlington Heights is stoking even more controversy. It is now being suggested that some local officials might be receiving financial incentives from the Bears to facilitate the move.

On Monday night, Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes faced significant accusations. Village resident Debbie Fisher suggested that Hayes and other local officials stand to gain from the proposed relocation of the Bears to the suburbs, as per the Daily Herald. The move could potentially include the establishment of a retail Illinois sportsbook at the Bears’ new location, as reported earlier.

The story so far

Fisher has consistently been against the village’s strategies to attract the Bears to Arlington Heights. The claim that Mayor Hayes would personally profit from this is labeled as “offensive” by him.

Fisher quoted a letter written by Hayes to Bears chairman George McCaskey in March 2021, stating, “This was your idea, Mayor Hayes, not ours.” According to reports, Hayes asked McCaskey in the letter to “find a use that is worthy of the track’s legacy.”

Hayes refuted the claim that the Bears’ proposed relocation was his suggestion. “Given the choice, I would prefer the racetrack to remain there for another century,” he stated.

The meeting on Monday was characterized by a significant amount of exchange and debate. Fisher proposed that the stadium’s fate should be determined by a public vote, given its anticipated public impact. Her worries included taxes, particularly considering that ‘The Bears have the financial capacity to afford anything.’

Chicago mayoral candidates iffy on Bears move

In the heart of Chicago, another heated conflict is unfolding: the mayoral runoff election between Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the incumbent, was unsuccessful in her re-election campaign, resulting in a runoff among two fresh candidates. Lightfoot was a firm supporter of keeping the Bears at Soldier Field within the city.

The potential candidates to replace her? Not really impressive.

It appears that Paul Vallas is entirely open to the idea of the Bears making the move to the suburbs.

“Vallas stated that he does not endorse billion-dollar subsidies for sports teams, and he strongly opposes the idea of investing billions of dollars in renovating Soldier Field,” as reported by NBC5 Chicago.

Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson appears more committed to ensuring the Bears remain in Chicago, though he also stated that he wouldn’t pursue subsidies as a strategy.

Let’s try to decipher what we can. I’m requesting the Chicago Bears’ ownership to be patient. A more improved, robust, and secure Chicago is achievable. This provides the upcoming administration a chance to present their plans. However, it should be clear that I will not be providing financial support, but rather, exploring innovative methods to ensure the ‘Super Bowl Shuffle’ continues. I want my son to witness a Super Bowl in Chicago.

Is Arlington a done deal?

Determining definitively if the Bears will relocate to Arlington is challenging, but the indications are leaning towards that. If Chicago doesn’t make significant efforts to retain the Bears within the confines of the Windy City, the move is almost guaranteed.

Though the property has already been purchased by the Bears, it will still require years of development and construction before the move can become a reality.

The lease of Soldier Field held by The Bears extends until 2033. A substantial payment to the city of Chicago would be necessary to terminate the lease prematurely.