CHICAGO, Ill. – It’s not just Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot who doesn’t want the Chicago Bears to potentially move games out of the city and Soldier Field, and into the suburbs.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is among them. Call Pritzker a traditionalist.
“There’s something about having [the Bears] in the city, and nearby, that’s attractive to me, and something I care about,” said Pritzker. “It’s just…a tradition, I think, that we all feel — many of us — about the City of Chicago.”
Pritzker acknowledges, however, that the Bears are a private business just trying to do what’s best for them. Pritzker was asked if the state can provide incentives to get the team to stay put.
“It’s not something that we’re looking at,” Pritzker said to reporters. “As you know, it’s very important for us to focus on our fiscal situation in the state, making sure that we’re building up the infrastructure of the state, and that we’re balancing our budget.”
The Bears this week announced their intent to purchase the just-closed Arlington Park horse race course in Arlington Heights from owner Churchill Downs, though the team says details are still being worked out.
Soldier Field is said to be one of the smallest stadiums in pro football.
