After listening to ESPN 1000 this morning about this, I still wonder if the proposed lakefront thing flies. They point out how the taxpayers are still on the hook from the Soldier Field renovation of 2002 (over 20 years ago). Did you know that taxpayers still owe well over 90% of that bill? Basically, tax dollars have only been paying the interest on that one (and it has been a lot).
How on earth do the Bears think THIS one is going to fly with taxpayers? This is a different climate with voters in 2024 than back in 2002. I think people would be pretty pissed if they got saddled with more debt right now for a public tax gift to a private McCaskey Family business. While the Bears are talking about putting $2-billion towards the stadium build (that they will NOT own) they also talk about taxpayers having $1-billion dollars in tax debt. To put that figure into perspective, that would be 4-times the debt taxpayers took on with the 2002 renovation THAT WE (taxpayers) STILL OWE on the old 2002 reno. Oh, and if the Bears get the new Lakefront - the City will bulldoze the old Soldier Field that we still owe so much tax money on.
Let THAT one sink in!
All that remaining taxpayer debt on a building that won't even exist anymore.
And the McCaskeys NOW want us taxpayers to take on the new debt associated with the new stadium on the Lakefront.
I want the Bears to have a nice sports stadium as much as anyone. But it pissed me off about the taxpayers paying for the McCaskey Family to build on the Lakefront. It makes zero sense to me. They are a private money-making business that already owns the property in Arlington Heights to build their family business stadium. Let them pay for their stadium and build there. Don't put it on the taxpayers backs - again. Hell, we haven't paid most of the old tax bills for the old reno.
Here is a LINK to that discussion on ESPN this morning. They cover a lot of Bears stuff in that video, but the first few minutes are all about the Bears lakefront presser tomorrow, and how the taxpayers are getting screwed here. Again.
After listening to ESPN 1000 this morning about this, I still wonder if the proposed lakefront thing flies. They point out how the taxpayers are still on the hook from the Soldier Field renovation of 2002 (over 20 years ago). Did you know that taxpayers still owe well over 90% of that bill? Basically, tax dollars have only been paying the interest on that one (and it has been a lot).
How on earth do the Bears think THIS one is going to fly with taxpayers? This is a different climate with voters in 2024 than back in 2002. I think people would be pretty pissed if they got saddled with more debt right now for a public tax gift to a private McCaskey Family business. While the Bears are talking about putting $2-billion towards the stadium build (that they will NOT own) they also talk about taxpayers having $1-billion dollars in tax debt. To put that figure into perspective, that would be 4-times the debt taxpayers took on with the 2002 renovation THAT WE (taxpayers) STILL OWE on the old 2002 reno. Oh, and if the Bears get the new Lakefront - the City will bulldoze the old Soldier Field that we still owe so much tax money on.
Let THAT one sink in!
All that remaining taxpayer debt on a building that won't even exist anymore.
And the McCaskeys NOW want us taxpayers to take on the new debt associated with the new stadium on the Lakefront.
I want the Bears to have a nice sports stadium as much as anyone. But it pissed me off about the taxpayers paying for the McCaskey Family to build on the Lakefront. It makes zero sense to me. They are a private money-making business that already owns the property in Arlington Heights to build their family business stadium. Let them pay for their stadium and build there. Don't put it on the taxpayers backs - again. Hell, we haven't paid most of the old tax bills for the old reno.
Here is a LINK to that discussion on ESPN this morning. They cover a lot of Bears stuff in that video, but the first few minutes are all about the Bears lakefront presser tomorrow, and how the taxpayers are getting screwed here. Again.
I'm opposed to all and any public stadiums paid for with my taxes, just on principal. Hoge/Jahns (I think) we talking about how this will affect cash flow which directly impacts signing bonuses paid to FA. Seems short sighted from a team winning aspect, but from a McCaskey family wealth aspect has to be good for them since they don't pay for it.
I'm opposed to all and any public stadiums paid for with my taxes, just on principal. Hoge/Jahns (I think) we talking about how this will affect cash flow which directly impacts signing bonuses paid to FA. Seems short sighted from a team winning aspect, but from a McCaskey family wealth aspect has to be good for them since they don't pay for it.
If I followed this right, and I could have it wrong, it sounds like the family will fund $2-billion dollars of the new stadium that the City will own. Weird right? Then the City will have ~$1-billion dollars in infrastructure costs to the city to upgrade that area beyond what the $2-billion in family money will cover. Of course that $1-billion dollar taxpayer burden can be anything right? Costs could go far beyond that in costs that fall anywhere in future City budgets. Not saying it is something sinister and planned but this is how something like this probably would end up.
After listening to ESPN 1000 this morning about this, I still wonder if the proposed lakefront thing flies. They point out how the taxpayers are still on the hook from the Soldier Field renovation of 2002 (over 20 years ago). Did you know that taxpayers still owe well over 90% of that bill? Basically, tax dollars have only been paying the interest on that one (and it has been a lot).
How on earth do the Bears think THIS one is going to fly with taxpayers? This is a different climate with voters in 2024 than back in 2002. I think people would be pretty pissed if they got saddled with more debt right now for a public tax gift to a private McCaskey Family business. While the Bears are talking about putting $2-billion towards the stadium build (that they will NOT own) they also talk about taxpayers having $1-billion dollars in tax debt. To put that figure into perspective, that would be 4-times the debt taxpayers took on with the 2002 renovation THAT WE (taxpayers) STILL OWE on the old 2002 reno. Oh, and if the Bears get the new Lakefront - the City will bulldoze the old Soldier Field that we still owe so much tax money on.
Let THAT one sink in!
All that remaining taxpayer debt on a building that won't even exist anymore.
And the McCaskeys NOW want us taxpayers to take on the new debt associated with the new stadium on the Lakefront.
I want the Bears to have a nice sports stadium as much as anyone. But it pissed me off about the taxpayers paying for the McCaskey Family to build on the Lakefront. It makes zero sense to me. They are a private money-making business that already owns the property in Arlington Heights to build their family business stadium. Let them pay for their stadium and build there. Don't put it on the taxpayers backs - again. Hell, we haven't paid most of the old tax bills for the old reno.
Here is a LINK to that discussion on ESPN this morning. They cover a lot of Bears stuff in that video, but the first few minutes are all about the Bears lakefront presser tomorrow, and how the taxpayers are getting screwed here. Again.
I'm opposed to all and any public stadiums paid for with my taxes, just on principal. Hoge/Jahns (I think) we talking about how this will affect cash flow which directly impacts signing bonuses paid to FA. Seems short sighted from a team winning aspect, but from a McCaskey family wealth aspect has to be good for them since they don't pay for it.
They are going to contribute $2B to it. For a building they don't own. I just don't get it
Post by GrizzlyBear on Apr 23, 2024 16:18:28 GMT -6
Just so I understand, when they talk about the stadium on lakefront - are they talking about completely renovating Soldier Field and putting a roof on it or are they going to build a brand new dome from scratch next so SF?
Because if it's the latter, I honestly don't know where they would build it. Is there really enough space? Creating space where the Waldron Deck parking garage is currently located is definitely not enough.
After listening to ESPN 1000 this morning about this, I still wonder if the proposed lakefront thing flies. They point out how the taxpayers are still on the hook from the Soldier Field renovation of 2002 (over 20 years ago). Did you know that taxpayers still owe well over 90% of that bill? Basically, tax dollars have only been paying the interest on that one (and it has been a lot).
How on earth do the Bears think THIS one is going to fly with taxpayers? This is a different climate with voters in 2024 than back in 2002. I think people would be pretty pissed if they got saddled with more debt right now for a public tax gift to a private McCaskey Family business. While the Bears are talking about putting $2-billion towards the stadium build (that they will NOT own) they also talk about taxpayers having $1-billion dollars in tax debt. To put that figure into perspective, that would be 4-times the debt taxpayers took on with the 2002 renovation THAT WE (taxpayers) STILL OWE on the old 2002 reno. Oh, and if the Bears get the new Lakefront - the City will bulldoze the old Soldier Field that we still owe so much tax money on.
Let THAT one sink in!
All that remaining taxpayer debt on a building that won't even exist anymore.
And the McCaskeys NOW want us taxpayers to take on the new debt associated with the new stadium on the Lakefront.
I want the Bears to have a nice sports stadium as much as anyone. But it pissed me off about the taxpayers paying for the McCaskey Family to build on the Lakefront. It makes zero sense to me. They are a private money-making business that already owns the property in Arlington Heights to build their family business stadium. Let them pay for their stadium and build there. Don't put it on the taxpayers backs - again. Hell, we haven't paid most of the old tax bills for the old reno.
Here is a LINK to that discussion on ESPN this morning. They cover a lot of Bears stuff in that video, but the first few minutes are all about the Bears lakefront presser tomorrow, and how the taxpayers are getting screwed here. Again.
Welcome to late stage capitalism where companies have more power than the government.
As you pointed out. 2024 is a lot different than 2002. People are struggling to put food on their tables with the insane amount of inflation going on. Cost of living is too high. I don't see this ending well with the people.
