It does look nice, but there will be a LOT of opposition. I still say it would be better for the team - and the McCaskeys - to build this stadium as depicted in AH.
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.
Although I admit it appears to be going this way, I too still don't buy it actually happening.
Parking? Amenities? Access? Money?
None of those things have been answered. All they have done is smile for the cameras and make some pretty drawings. Sorry, I'm not impressed one bit by this.
Post by GrizzlyBear on Apr 24, 2024 13:49:07 GMT -6
You guys know how I feel about domes - not a fan. I do believe that football is better when it's played outside.
W/ that being said, now that I've slowly accepted the fact that the Bears are gonna play in dome one way or another, I'm hoping that this new stadium on lakefront will be built.
I looks awesome. And I'm sorry, but you wouldn't be getting these views in AH. That clear glass wall w/ a view of downtown is amazing.
I also like the idea of keeping all the colonnades from the original Soldier Field.
One can only hope that they will call the new stadium Soldier Field II. Kinda like what the NY Yankees did w/ Yankee Stadium II. Personally I don't like it when big corporations end up getting naming rights for sports venues, but that's just me.
Post by weneedmorelinemen on Apr 24, 2024 14:43:02 GMT -6
A fancy PowerPoint slideshow does not equal a completed deal.
I think this is 100% smoke and mirrors to negotiate with Arlington Heights.
For 2 billion, the Bears could build and OWN the stadium and surrounding buildings in AH. Not owning their stadium makes the franchise not worth as much as if they do.
A fancy PowerPoint slideshow does not equal a completed deal.
I think this is 100% smoke and mirrors to negotiate with Arlington Heights.
For 2 billion, the Bears could build and OWN the stadium and surrounding buildings in AH. Not owning their stadium makes the franchise not worth as much as if they do.
I kinda do too.
All the fancy renderings and animation don't show any complimentary facilities (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc). Show me where the tailgating and parking is. Where is the road and rail access?
A fancy PowerPoint slideshow does not equal a completed deal.
I think this is 100% smoke and mirrors to negotiate with Arlington Heights.
For 2 billion, the Bears could build and OWN the stadium and surrounding buildings in AH. Not owning their stadium makes the franchise not worth as much as if they do.
I kinda do too.
All the fancy renderings and animation don't show any complimentary facilities (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc). Show me where the tailgating and parking is. Where is the road and rail access?
The mocked up video looks like a very nice stadium. The talking point today was how the stadium cost that is well-north of $4-billion dollars, won't cost taxpayers anything. The math though doesn't work. They say that the McCaskey Family will kick in $2-billion dollars. They will apply for an Illinois grant to fund some of the cost (Governor Pritzger quickly stated he was "skeptical" of the new stadium). The taxpayers are still owe almost 100% of the principal on the existing Soldier Field flying saucer reno from 2002. But the family is saying that loan would be refinanced into the new loan... but who pays for it? I get it, they are talking about another tax on hotels etc. But that is still a tax that people have to pay. It is a tax.
There is no free money to fund this. It will be paid with taxes.
And the final outcome is a rental agreement with the City again. No real control of the venue, right? The same thing that has caused problems in the past at times. Could it all happen? Sure. But the Arlington Heights venu that they already own seems like it would be a better deal for the McCaskeys than paying $2-billion dollars for a rental agreement with the City of Chicago.
All the fancy renderings and animation don't show any complimentary facilities (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc). Show me where the tailgating and parking is. Where is the road and rail access?
The mocked up video looks like a very nice stadium. The talking point today was how the stadium cost that is well-north of $4-billion dollars, won't cost taxpayers anything. The math though doesn't work. They say that the McCaskey Family will kick in $2-billion dollars. They will apply for an Illinois grant to fund some of the cost (Governor Pritzger quickly stated he was "skeptical" of the new stadium). The taxpayers are still owe almost 100% of the principal on the existing Soldier Field flying saucer reno from 2002. But the family is saying that loan would be refinanced into the new loan... but who pays for it? I get it, they are talking about another tax on hotels etc. But that is still a tax that people have to pay. It is a tax.
There is no free money to fund this. It will be paid with taxes.
And the final outcome is a rental agreement with the City again. No real control of the venue, right? The same thing that has caused problems in the past at times. Could it all happen? Sure. But the Arlington Heights venu that they already own seems like it would be a better deal for the McCaskeys than paying $2-billion dollars for a rental agreement with the City of Chicago.
MSU in action. Mock Stuff Up so it looks good, and use it as bait for the other place. I have to believe that's what's happening. The $'s don't add up, there is too much NIMBY for new lakefront buildings and it just makes more financial sense to go bigger in AH. The whole kit and kaboodle. Restaurants. Casino, hotels, bars, sportsbook, concert hall, etc. etc. And then yoiu own your own stadium with no input or demands from others for things you dont want or need.
Oh, and I would so much rather go to games in Arlington Heights than go through the pain of attending a game at the Lakefront venue. The existing Soldier Field is a real pain regarding that location's fan experience. I care zero for the "view" there. You just hope you don't end up a crime victim nowadays in that area. The logistics suck. And it especially sucks in bitter cold/crappy weather.
But I don't live in Chicago either. I'm driving to games from outside the City.
And I'm sorry, but you wouldn't be getting these views in AH. That clear glass wall w/ a view of downtown is amazing. 
