Voters Support New Chicago Bears Stadium But Pan Local Tax Support

A new survey reveals that the majority of Arlington Heights residents would be open to having the Chicago Bears in their neighborhood.

Considering the iconic NFL franchise’s popularity, coupled with the surge in Bears betting within the state, it’s easy to see why.

The catch? Over two-thirds of the respondents oppose the use of taxpayer money for the relocation.

The study commissioned by Americans for Prosperity Illinois, a Koch-connected conservative policy group, was conducted by Illinois-based ARW Strategies. The study revealed that 72% of Arlington Heights residents are in favor of building a new stadium on the old Arlington racetrack land.

However, when questioned about using tax dollars to facilitate this, 68% of respondents disagreed.

“AFP’s Illinois chapter supports the Chicago Bears’ relocation to Arlington Heights,” Brian Costin, the head of the chapter, informed the Chicago-Sun Times.

However, we oppose the use of taxpayer giveaways or subsidies to attract businesses to the community.

Arlington Heights voters don’t want to foot the relocation bill

The survey comes after a recent petition by the advocacy group, which urged the village board to adopt an “Anti-Corporate Welfare Tax Ordinance.” This is intended to stop the use of taxpayer-funded incentives to attract the Bears, a Chicago-based team, to the suburbs. The poll revealed that 54% of respondents would back the ordinance.

Costin added, “Our polling indicates that Arlington Heights voters firmly believe that they shouldn’t be made to bear the financial burden as taxpayers.”

My fandom for the Bears is attributed to a unique reason. My mother used a book featuring Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jim McMahon to teach me how to read.

He chuckled as he recalled a line from the book, “See Jim run. See Jim pass. See Jim score.”

Costin additionally pointed out that the poll displayed a broadened opposition from voters to taxpayer contributions, reaching 73%, when taking into account the NFL’s enormous wealth.

If the Bears decide to remain at Soldier Field, it’s likely that renovations will be undertaken.

The excitement around quarterback Justin Fields suggests a significant surge in Illinois sports betting this fall. This, combined with the Bears’ collaboration with BetRivers, makes the idea of a sportsbook at Soldier Field a logical move.

In this instance, the Bears would be emulating another Chicago team’s initiative. The Cubs and DraftKings have recently started construction on a sportsbook close to Wrigley Field — marking the first sportsbook outside a Chicago sports facility.

Mayor Hayes favors financial incentives for move

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes, however, expressed his opposition to the ordinance to the media this month. He views the initiative as going against the best interests of the village.

The mayor supports providing financial benefits to the Chicago Bears to encourage their relocation from Chicago.

Poll respondents, however, suggest that the mayor should exercise caution while spending tax dollars, particularly when it could potentially jeopardize funding for education, public services, and infrastructure.

Approximately 62% of voters indicated that they would be less inclined to support a candidate who voted for allocating taxpayer money to the Chicago Bears.

“Soldier Field serves as a prime illustration of a stadium deal that fell through, despite being backed by taxpayer subsidies. This survey is a clear signal for the village to cease its ongoing dalliance with corporate welfare programs,” stated Costin.

“Our goal is to ensure that every business receives equal treatment under the law, without any special privileges. The ongoing engagement with corporate welfare programs, like the establishment of TIF districts that increase everyone’s taxes by granting exclusive benefits to specific corporations, is unsustainable.”