ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A key step took place Monday night on a proposal to build a new home for the Chicago Bears at the former site of Arlington Park.
The Arlington Heights Village Board has approved a pre-development plan on the Bears' possible relocation.
“This is not a binding obligation on either part, but it is a good faith agreement to work together,” Bears Senior Vice President Cliff Stein said.
“We’ve got a long, long way to go, but this is a very important and necessary step to move this re-development forward,” Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes added.
This is the first public acknowledgment that the Bears may ask for public money to construct a new stadium in Arlington Heights…
At the meeting, residents spoke out. Some, like Keith Moons, are worried about taxes.
“If the billionaire Bears can find $5 billion to build a stadium for them to lose in, as they can lose out here just as easy as they can lose in the city, they can find the funds for the rest of their project. They don’t need our piggy bank,” Moons said.
More spoke out.
“It is now crystal clear that the village fully expects to pay for part of the development and to subsidize the Chicago Bears,” said resident Martin Bauer.
Some residents claim the village hasn’t been transparent enough about its dealings with the Bears. Mayor Hayes pushed back, saying everything is out in the open.
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