Is “The 78” Dead? Or even more alive? Fire announce plans for SSS

[Lip Man 1]

49 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Thank you!

The Bears have spent most of the last 3 decades fielding very mediocre and frequently getting embarrassed by their arch rivals.  This is only their 7th playoff appearance in 30 years. ...and yet, fans in Chicago are as rabid about the Bears as ever (even before this year's resurgence).  

Let's get real.  While they'd much prefer ending up in Arlington Heights, having a stadium in Gary/Hammond isn't going to slow their popularity.

Agreed and the other benefit is that Illinois taxpayers won't be on the hook.

[The Beast]

I don’t really understand what the f*** the Bears want. Like, is the team needing tax breaks because George McCaskey is too fucking poor to pay for a stadium? And Kevin Warren is too ineffective at his job that he needs tax incentives from Indiana to get a new stadium built?

The reporting suggests they need infrastructure around Arlington Heights. Pritzker discussed that with them and presumably offered it to them. They have to negotiate with the local tax body for the property taxes. What else does George and his old ass board need to get a stadium in Illinois?

If the Bears move to Indiana and the White Sox move to Nashville, I may follow a message board and maybe coverage but something will be different. I’d want a new franchise to move in, like a MLB expansion team or the Chicago Jaguars, to fill a void. It sounds ridiculous, but something would be different for the fan base and it will turn some segment of the fan base off. 

[Lip Man 1]

2 hours ago, The Beast said:

I don’t really understand what the f*** the Bears want. Like, is the team needing tax breaks because George McCaskey is too fucking poor to pay for a stadium? And Kevin Warren is too ineffective at his job that he needs tax incentives from Indiana to get a new stadium built?

The reporting suggests they need infrastructure around Arlington Heights. Pritzker discussed that with them and presumably offered it to them. They have to negotiate with the local tax body for the property taxes. What else does George and his old ass board need to get a stadium in Illinois?

If the Bears move to Indiana and the White Sox move to Nashville, I may follow a message board and maybe coverage but something will be different. I’d want a new franchise to move in, like a MLB expansion team or the Chicago Jaguars, to fill a void. It sounds ridiculous, but something would be different for the fan base and it will turn some segment of the fan base off. 

The White Sox aren't moving to Nashville. You can rest easy in that regard based by statements by Ishbia himself to the Pope. 

[greg775]

On 1/8/2026 at 1:48 PM, WBWSF said:

1) There have been rumors in KC that if  anew Royals stadium doesn't get done they will likely move to Nashville.  2) The Bears front office was suppose to meet with the Indiana officials 2  days ago. (January 6) I wonder if that happened. The Bears stadium issue seems to have become very quiet.

Kansas has its Chiefs; they don't need or want the Royals now. Missouri knows it can't lose both franchises so certainly the state will provide some big bucks via taxes to allow KCR to move downtown.

[greg775]

2 hours ago, The Beast said:

I don’t really understand what the f*** the Bears want. Like, is the team needing tax breaks because George McCaskey is too fucking poor to pay for a stadium? And Kevin Warren is too ineffective at his job that he needs tax incentives from Indiana to get a new stadium built?

The reporting suggests they need infrastructure around Arlington Heights. Pritzker discussed that with them and presumably offered it to them. They have to negotiate with the local tax body for the property taxes. What else does George and his old ass board need to get a stadium in Illinois?

If the Bears move to Indiana and the White Sox move to Nashville, I may follow a message board and maybe coverage but something will be different. I’d want a new franchise to move in, like a MLB expansion team or the Chicago Jaguars, to fill a void. It sounds ridiculous, but something would be different for the fan base and it will turn some segment of the fan base off. 

The Indiana talk is absurd. The Bears aren't leaving Illinois. They probably won't even leave Chicago for AH. From an outsider it's obvious Arlington Hts would be nirvana for the Bears. Sweetheart deal to move there and it's obvious they are would be turned into an amazing place full of hotels, restaurants and the like. Surprising they won't move to Arlington. But Indiana? Please. Ain't gonna happen.

[greg775]

11 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

 

Kansas City is one of the smallest markets in MLB.  Nashville is about the same size and booming.  They can probably support a team just as well as KC.  The thing about Nashville, though is that the city/state just spent an insane amount of money for the new Titans stadium, so public funding for a MLB park there is questionable.  On the other hand, Portland's metro area is bigger than KC's and the state of Oregon has committed $800M in public money toward an MLB stadium.  Is it probable that the Royals will move?  No.  But I don't think the idea is laughable either - especially when there's $800M in public money sitting there.  Portland is probably  going to miss out on a western expansion team to Salt Lake City, so they'd be more than happy to get an existing team to move there.  

In the end, I think they'll get a deal done with Missouri.  They were already going to offer spending 50% of the stadium costs for both the Royals AND Chiefs.  Now that the Chiefs are leaving, more of that money can be directed toward getting a deal done with the Royals.   

No matter what, I'll be very surprised if the Royals are still playing at Kauffman Stadium after 2031.  I just don't see that happening.

The Royals definitely want out of Kauffman. I'm sure the city will accommodate them after the embarrassment of losing the Chiefs.

[Kyyle23]

8 hours ago, The Beast said:

I don’t really understand what the f*** the Bears want. Like, is the team needing tax breaks because George McCaskey is too fucking poor to pay for a stadium? And Kevin Warren is too ineffective at his job that he needs tax incentives from Indiana to get a new stadium built?

The reporting suggests they need infrastructure around Arlington Heights. Pritzker discussed that with them and presumably offered it to them. They have to negotiate with the local tax body for the property taxes. What else does George and his old ass board need to get a stadium in Illinois?

If the Bears move to Indiana and the White Sox move to Nashville, I may follow a message board and maybe coverage but something will be different. I’d want a new franchise to move in, like a MLB expansion team or the Chicago Jaguars, to fill a void. It sounds ridiculous, but something would be different for the fan base and it will turn some segment of the fan base off. 

Where did you read that?  As far as I know Pritzker has not offered them anything, they said it would not be considered in the last session, and were unable to commit to talking about it, which is why the bears reopened this up

[The Beast]

2 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Where did you read that?  As far as I know Pritzker has not offered them anything, they said it would not be considered in the last session, and were unable to commit to talking about it, which is why the bears reopened this up

NBC 5

Sounds like an offer was put on the table, for what it is worth? But it isn’t a legislative priority.

[ptatc]

11 hours ago, The Beast said:

I don’t really understand what the f*** the Bears want. Like, is the team needing tax breaks because George McCaskey is too fucking poor to pay for a stadium? And Kevin Warren is too ineffective at his job that he needs tax incentives from Indiana to get a new stadium built?

The reporting suggests they need infrastructure around Arlington Heights. Pritzker discussed that with them and presumably offered it to them. They have to negotiate with the local tax body for the property taxes. What else does George and his old ass board need to get a stadium in Illinois?

If the Bears move to Indiana and the White Sox move to Nashville, I may follow a message board and maybe coverage but something will be different. I’d want a new franchise to move in, like a MLB expansion team or the Chicago Jaguars, to fill a void. It sounds ridiculous, but something would be different for the fan base and it will turn some segment of the fan base off. 

The report also said the Bears aren't a priority for the state in 2026. This means the soonest they can they start building is 2027 due to the infrastructure, permits etc. Thus having a stadium ready for when the lease ends at Soldier Field will be very tight. And that's the best case scenario.

Its probably just another political way to try to keep the Bears in  Chicago.

[Lip Man 1]

“When folks say, ‘What’s your priorities going into the legislative session?’ we’re trying to bring down the cost of living,” Welch said at a City Club of Chicago event on Tuesday. “Talking about a brand-new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old, that’s insensitive to what real people are going through right now.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/10/chicago-bears-stadium-kansas-city-cheifs-fans/

[ptatc]

13 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

“When folks say, ‘What’s your priorities going into the legislative session?’ we’re trying to bring down the cost of living,” Welch said at a City Club of Chicago event on Tuesday. “Talking about a brand-new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old, that’s insensitive to what real people are going through right now.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/10/chicago-bears-stadium-kansas-city-cheifs-fans/

Thats fine.  But if that your view dont be upset when they want to move to a place where they can gain more revenue. The city/state has a lease until 2030/2031. They are purposely making it difficult for the Bears to move. Which is their right, sort of. So the Bears also have the option to explore other options such as Indiana.

I dont really think they'll go there but if the state wants to play the politics so can the Bears.

[Ducksnort]

16 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

The White Sox aren't moving to Nashville. You can rest easy in that regard based by statements by Ishbia himself to the Pope. 

I don't understand why people continue to think the team is going to Nashville.

Edited yesterday at 08:41 PM by Ducksnort

[77 Hitmen]

On 1/10/2026 at 7:27 AM, The Beast said:

NBC 5

Sounds like an offer was put on the table, for what it is worth? But it isn’t a legislative priority.

 

On 1/10/2026 at 7:49 AM, ptatc said:

The report also said the Bears aren't a priority for the state in 2026. This means the soonest they can they start building is 2027 due to the infrastructure, permits etc. Thus having a stadium ready for when the lease ends at Soldier Field will be very tight. And that's the best case scenario.

Its probably just another political way to try to keep the Bears in  Chicago.

Pritzker in that video clip is saying they're willing to provide infrastructure toward the project and that the Bears are welcome to negotiate tax abatement with local authorities.....so what's the problem?  Isn't that exactly what the Bears want?  So, what are Warren and the McCaskeys looking for?

On the other hand, it's one thing if state officials and the Bears just can't come to an agreement on numbers, but it sounds like state officials are going out of their way to poke the Bears in the eye by saying they aren't even going to consider any proposals for at least another year.  I don't think that's a good way to get things done.  Am I missing something?  The Bears are offering to pay for the entire cost of the stadium, right?  If we're waiting for everyone's cost of living concerns to be resolved before we spend any money on infrastructure, that's never going to happen.

Let's say the Bears end up building a stadium complex in NW Indiana.  What happens to the Arlington Park site?  Just fill it with up with more crappy suburban strip malls and townhomes?  Are the tax revenues from that kind of development going to be more than what the Bears would pay even if they get some tax breaks?  Is that a "win" for Illinois residents?  Also, how much would infrastructure cost to develop that land into something other than a stadium complex?  I assume the plan isn't to just let 325 acres of prime real estate to sit vacant forever.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by 77 Hitmen

[77 Hitmen]

23 hours ago, Ducksnort said:

I don't understand why people continue to think the team is going to Nashville.

Maybe before Ishbia emerged as the next owner, there may have been a scenario where that could have happened.  But, once it was announced that JR would eventually sell to him, that should have put to rest any concerns.  

Ishbia's comments during his meeting with the Pope in November should have slammed the door on any such talk.   I think the only question remaining is whether Ishbia is going to bankroll a new ballpark for the Sox in the South Loop.  We'll see, that's a lot of money- even for a billionaire.  But I find it hard to believe his plans after spending somewhere close to $2B for the franchise is to keep them at "There's Nothing Wrong With It" Field for the next 35 years.  

[southsider2k5]

On 1/10/2026 at 3:41 PM, Ducksnort said:

I don't understand why people continue to think the team is going to Nashville.

Sox fans have PTSD after the last 45 years.  

[ptatc]

2 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

 

Pritzker in that video clip is saying they're willing to provide infrastructure toward the project and that the Bears are welcome to negotiate tax abatement with local authorities.....so what's the problem?  Isn't that exactly what the Bears want?  So, what are Warren and the McCaskeys looking for?

On the other hand, it's one thing if state officials and the Bears just can't come to an agreement on numbers, but it sounds like state officials are going out of their way to poke the Bears in the eye by saying they aren't even going to consider any proposals for at least another year.  I don't think that's a good way to get things done.  Am I missing something?  The Bears are offering to pay for the entire cost of the stadium, right?  If we're waiting for everyone's cost of living concerns to be resolved before we spend any money on infrastructure, that's never going to happen.

Let's say the Bears end up building a stadium complex in NW Indiana.  What happens to the Arlington Park site?  Just fill it with up with more crappy suburban strip malls and townhomes?  Are the tax revenues from that kind of development going to be more than what the Bears would pay even if they get some tax breaks?  Is that a "win" for Illinois residents?  Also, how much would infrastructure cost to develop that land into something other than a stadium complex?  I assume the plan isn't to just let 325 acres of prime real estate to sit vacant forever.

 

Its the fact that Pritzker told them that they aren't a priority on 2026. Which means they are putting the Bears off to squeeze their timeline to have a stadium ready for when the lease expires.

Edited 1 hour ago by ptatc

[The Beast]

2 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Maybe before Ishbia emerged as the next owner, there may have been a scenario where that could have happened.  But, once it was announced that JR would eventually sell to him, that should have put to rest any concerns.  

Ishbia's comments during his meeting with the Pope in November should have slammed the door on any such talk.   I think the only question remaining is whether Ishbia is going to bankroll a new ballpark for the Sox in the South Loop.  We'll see, that's a lot of money- even for a billionaire.  But I find it hard to believe his plans after spending somewhere close to $2B for the franchise is to keep them at "There's Nothing Wrong With It" Field for the next 35 years.  

What did Ishbia say to the Pope in November?

[PaleAleSox]

Looks like Goodell was at AH with the Bears today scoping it out. 

[DoUEvenShift]

1 minute ago, The Beast said:

What did Ishbia say to the Pope in November?

Asked him to bless the new stadium and throw out the first pitch, which he tentatively accepted. 

[77 Hitmen]

4 minutes ago, The Beast said:

What did Ishbia say to the Pope in November?

He invited the Pope to throw out the first pitch a new Sox stadium.

I don't know if he specifically said anything to the Pope about staying in Chicago, but during that visit to the Vatican he did make a statement that strongly suggested that he's committed to keeping the Sox in Chicago.  That may have been to a reporter and I don't think it was to Pope Leo himself.  There's probably a quote from Ishbia about this somewhere earlier in this thread.