Pritzker 'not sure' if new Bears multibillion dollar stadium a priority for taxpayers

The Chicago Bears are hoping to greet expected first overall draft pick and Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams with a new, domed stadium. Pushing a partially-taxpayer funded proposal through the end zone, however, will have to first clear those on the fence including Gov. JB Pritzker.

The team, as expected, unveiled on Wednesday a $4.6 billion proposal — approximately $2.3 billion coming from taxpayers according to The Chicago Tribune — to build a new stadium. The proposal would keep the Bears in the city after earlier plans of moving the team to Arlington Heights and is seen by its backers as a year-round event space, able to host major events like the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four.

Throughout the several iterations of stadium proposals, Pritzker has been skeptical of whether publicly funded stadiums are a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Prior to the official reveal, the Democratic governor maintained that position.

"It's very important to me with all that the state needs to accomplish that we think about what the priorities are," he said during an unrelated press conference. "There are a lot of priorities that the state has and I'm not sure that is among the highest priorities for taxpayers."

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Proponents of the plan cite a major economic boon for the region: $8.4 billion in one-time economic impacts during construction and $455 million and 4,000 permanent jobs upon completion. It's high time for a new stadium, Soldier Field being the oldest stadium in the NFL, Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren said.

Warren wants the Illinois General Assembly to okay $900 million new bonding from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority before lawmakers adjourn for the end of spring session, scheduled for May 24. Taxpayers could also foot part of the estimated $1.5 billion in infrastructure improvements.

"We feel that the time is now," Warren told reporters during a press conference at Soldier Field, hoping to break ground this summer. "I mean, every year that we wait it's another $150 million to $200 million of increased costs."

The state-funded agency, formed in 1987, has bankrolled construction and renovations to Soldier Field and Guaranteed Rate Field — home to the Chicago White Sox. Some of the new borrowing would be used to push back a reported $629 million in existing stadium debt from 2003 renovations to Soldier Field. The Bears hope lawmakers will approve their plan to payback debts over the course of 40 years.

The authority raises funds through a 2% hotel tax levied in Chicago. The governor's budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year appropriates $80.7 million from the state to fund its operations.

Joining the Bears for their unveiling were state Reps. Kam Buckner and Curtis Tarver, two Chicago Democrats. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is on-board with the project and claimed it will "result in no new taxes on the residents of Chicago."

Senate President Don Harmon however sides with the governor. House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch also does not expect enough votes in his chamber for the proposal to advance.

"At first glance, more than $2 billion in private funding is better than zero and a more credible opening offer," Harmon, D-Oak Park, said in a statement. "But there's an obvious substantial gap remaining, and I echo the governor's skepticism."

Warren, asked about Pritzker and Harmon's positions, added it being the first day the plan was unveiled "it's very difficult for someone to say they're against this."

The Bears aren't the only team looking at state assistance to help finance a new stadium. Chicago White Sox White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf previously met with legislative leaders this year in Springfield, gauging whether his proposal could be a hit. No substantive action has resulted yet from his meetings and now Reinsdorf is reportedly open to use his own dollars to fund a new stadium per Crain's Chicago Business.

Earlier this month, voters in Jackson County, Missouri denied a request from owners of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to extend its stadium sales tax. The proposal would have covered in-part renovations for the Chiefs' GEHA stadium and built a new downtown stadium for the Royals.

Pritzker said lessons can be learned through that vote.

"I think this is a recognition that these are private businesses, that the owners of these private businesses need to put a lot more forward in order to get their dreams fulfilled," he said.

Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Pritzker skeptical of Bears proposed new stadium using taxpayer money