“There have been ongoing discussions with the Bears. They just recently told us what their infrastructure needs are,” Pritzker said. “Then the question is how can the state meet those infrastructure needs?
“One thing I’m optimistic about in this regard is some of the infrastructure needs the Bears have identified are actually needs of the area around Arlington Heights. Those were projects we were going to build at one point or another in the Rebuild Illinois capital plan.
“Some of what people are identifying as the Bears needs, the Bears are identifying as their needs, are actually needs that would exist whether the Bears went to Arlington Heights or not. That gives me some optimism that maybe there is a package that could be put together that would help with infrastructure."
Much of the focus so far has been on legislation in Springfield, which so far has failed, that would allow Arlington Heights officials to offer the Bears payment in lieu of taxes for 30 years or more. Pritzker says coming up with a deal “also requires that local governments understand that when businesses are thinking about moving to their area that they expect to be able to do something about property taxes for some period of time.
“That’s not something the state controls. That is something the local government controls. I would hope that those discussions have been ongoing by the Bears with local government.”
on January 13, 2026, 10:59:00
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