Illinois is still moving the chains in stadium talks to keep the Bears from jumping the state line to Indiana, officials said Thursday.
Gov. JB Pritzker met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Bears minority owner Pat Ryan and the top legislative leaders who have been wrangling for several years over the property tax incentives the team is seeking to break ground in Arlington Heights.
It was Goodell’s second meeting in as many months with Illinois officials, while Ryan — who bankrolled his namesake stadium opening later this week at Northwestern University — takes a more active role in negotiations with the state over Bears president Kevin Warren, who hasn’t made inroads in Springfield.
The conversation, held in Chicago, also included Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the Capitol’s top stadium negotiators, South Side state Sen. Bill Cunningham and downtown state Rep. Kam Buckner.
Pritzker’s office noted they’ve “remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer,” since the team announced in June that they were shifting focus to Hammond, Indiana.
Sources familiar with Thursday’s discussion suggested there was no major breakthrough, but some optimism that common ground could be found before lawmakers return to Springfield in mid-November for the fall veto session. Further meetings are expected this month.
“The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers,” Pritzker’s office said in a press release announcing the meeting.
“The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Gov. Pritzker and legislative leaders today,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans.”
A Bears spokesman had no additional comment.
Hoosier lawmakers have rolled out the red carpet for the Bears with legislation that would pump upwards of a billion taxpayer dollars into a new stadium.
Earlier this year, the Illinois House passed a bill that would allow the Bears to negotiate a discounted payment in lieu of taxes with local taxing bodies, earning critical support from Chicago Democrats because it would’ve shared proceeds with homeowners as property tax rebates — but those returns were deemed “negligible.”
The Illinois Senate passed a separate bill that would allow municipalities to create their own stadium authorities to negotiate with teams, but it crumbled in the waning hours of spring session without a vote in the other chamber.
The Bears turned their noses at both measures, but haven’t spelled out what they want from the state beyond “property tax certainty.”
Ryan, a billionaire with a 10% stake in the team, has helped improve the tenor of discussions that had stagnated between Illinois officials and Halas Hall, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Goodell has toured the potential stadium sites in Arlington Heights and Hammond. Without stating a preference, he has publicly urged the Bears to come to a resolution “soon” — but Illinois sources are taking his visits as an indication that the league thinks the team is better off in its original state.
The Bears have committed to putting $2 billion into a new stadium wherever they end up. They’re under lease at Soldier Field until 2033.
Contributing: Sun-Times sports reporter Pat Finley