CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- People in positions of power in Chicago have weighed in on a potential Bears move to Arlington Heights, responding to a poll by the communications and public affairs strategy firm Serafin and Associates.
The communications and public affairs strategy firm Serafin and Associates conducts what CEO Thom Serafin calls unscientific "Power Polls," sampling the opinions of about 500 people.
"They are called Power Polls, because they are powerful individuals that make things happen here in the city and metro area," Serafin said. "Executives, some electives, people that are in power positions in corporations, associations, and charitable non-for-profits."
There were three questions about the Bears. The first: would it hurt Chicago’s reputation, should they move to Arlington Heights?
"Sixty percent said 'of course not', 40 percent said it would not. You know there's been a lot of talk downtown, when you talk to aldermen, 'oh this is looking bad for the city' and 'oh this is bad for the mayor' but most people that are in business of pushing the city in business say don't worry about reputation, that's not the issue," Serafin said.
And most don’t care about the team keeping Chicago in the name.
"And this goes way back to Mayor Daley in the old days of 'you gotta be called the Arlington Heights Bears.' Well in this particular case, 81 percent said of course they should be able to use the name 'Chicago,'" Serafin said.
More of those responding, 82 percent, said no public funds should be used should the team leave town for what could be a $2 billion dollar stadium complex.
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