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

[NO!!MARY!!!]

On 1/21/2026 at 7:54 PM, 77 Hitmen said:

Time for a new team song:

 

Not Louisiana? Paris, France? New York or Rome? 

[77 Hitmen]

Illinois lawmakers appear to be more willing to consider legislation for a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights.  

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/01/24/bears-illinois-arlington-heights-indiana-stadium-pritzker-rich-miller

Whether this is motion or actual movement remains to be seen. But some previously recalcitrant Chicago legislators do appear to be considering an Arlington Heights plan to prevent the team from crossing the border.

Looks like the Indiana proposal got their attention.  That's what leverage does, folks.  This doesn't mean a deal on the Bears stadium is a certainty, but at least some officials appear to be moving past the "we just want to give the Bears the middle finger so that we can tell everyone we told the rich owners to go screw themselves" stage.

This doesn't mean I think IL officials should give the Bears everything they want, but at least stop telling them to go to hell and we'll think about it in 2027....maybe....if the state solves all societal issues by then.  

Edited 3 hours ago by 77 Hitmen

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Illinois lawmakers appear to be more willing to consider legislation for a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights.  

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2026/01/24/bears-illinois-arlington-heights-indiana-stadium-pritzker-rich-miller

Whether this is motion or actual movement remains to be seen. But some previously recalcitrant Chicago legislators do appear to be considering an Arlington Heights plan to prevent the team from crossing the border.

Looks like the Indiana proposal got their attention.  That's what leverage does, folks.  This doesn't mean a deal on the Bears stadium is a certainty, but at least some officials appear to be moving past the "we just want to give the Bears the middle finger so that we can tell everyone we told the rich owners to go screw themselves" stage.

This doesn't mean I think IL officials should give the Bears everything they want, but at least stop telling them to go to hell and we'll think about it in 2027....maybe....if the state solves all societal issues by then.  

The ultimate say will be the voters and if they decide politicians sticking their necks out for the McCaskey family is in their best interests. Time will tell. 

"Politically, it’s imperative that the state not be seen as giving the billionaire Bears ownership a taxpayer-funded stadium. If they can give themselves enough cover, then maybe they might possibly find enough votes for this. But it’s still a straight uphill climb even after Indiana has begun putting its cards on the table."

Edited 2 hours ago by Lip Man 1

[ptatc]

39 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

The ultimate say will be the voters and if they decide politicians sticking their necks out for the McCaskey family is in their best interests. Time will tell. 

"Politically, it’s imperative that the state not be seen as giving the billionaire Bears ownership a taxpayer-funded stadium. If they can give themselves enough cover, then maybe they might possibly find enough votes for this. But it’s still a straight uphill climb even after Indiana has begun putting its cards on the table."

Evil billionaires complaining about other billionaires. Pritzker is probably worj more than the MvCaskey family.

[Snopek]

10 minutes ago, ptatc said:

Evil billionaires complaining about other billionaires. Pritzker is probably worj more than the MvCaskey family.

What does this have to do with anything?

[77 Hitmen]

1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

The ultimate say will be the voters and if they decide politicians sticking their necks out for the McCaskey family is in their best interests. Time will tell. 

"Politically, it’s imperative that the state not be seen as giving the billionaire Bears ownership a taxpayer-funded stadium. If they can give themselves enough cover, then maybe they might possibly find enough votes for this. But it’s still a straight uphill climb even after Indiana has begun putting its cards on the table."

I don't disagree with that.     But they need to stop saying it's a "taxpayer-funded stadium".  The stadium itself is being privately financed.  The Bears are putting a lot more private money toward the stadium than other teams like the Titans, Chiefs, and Commanders are.    Sure, there's still a ton of public money going into infrastructure and there's a legitimate argument as to whether that's a good use of tax payer money and they'll have to answer to the voters whatever decision they make. 

But when politicians go around to the media saying they're not going to give the Bears a "taxpayer-funded stadium", it seems to me that some elected officials are trying to turn public opinion against it.