New Bill Aims to Jump-Start Bears Stadium Negotiations

Clip: 4/21/2023 | 4m 52sVideo has Closed Captions

The bill aims to move the ball forward on the Chicago Bears’ plan to build a new stadium.

04/21/2023 | Rating NR

New Bill Aims to Jump-Start Bears Stadium Negotiations

Clip: 4/21/2023 | 4m 52sVideo has Closed Captions

The bill aims to move the ball forward on the Chicago Bears’ plan to build a new stadium.

One of the key elements of the bill is a $3 per person admission tax on all entertainment and sporting events within what the bill calls the Arlington Megaproject to help pay down debt related to the renovation of Soldier Field.

04/21/2023 | Rating NR

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>>> A STATE LAWMAKER IS BEARING DOWN ON CHICAGO'S NFL FRANCHISE OVER A POTENTIAL MOVE TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

AMONG THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A JUST PROPOSED PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE CREATION OF AN ARLINGTON MEGAPROJECT OVERSIGHT BOARD.

A TAX TO PAY DOWN SOLDIER FIELD DEBT.

STATE TAX REVENUE FROM THE PROJECT USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE AREA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND A PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT FREEZE FOR THE ARLINGTON SITE.

AND JOINING US NOW IS THE BILLS CHIEF SPONSOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN MOYLAN.

FROM 2009 TO 201, HE SERVED AS THE MAYOR OF THE PLAINS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND VERY EXCITED TO PROMOTE THIS BILL AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I WANT TO GET SOMETHING PAST THE SESSION.

THERE IS A BILL.

THE SPONSOR SAYS IS DEAD IN THE WATER AND I SAID NO IT'S NOT.

BUT WE LISTEN.

WE SPOKE TO THE LEGISLATORS AND SAID WE WILL MAKE THE PROPER ADJUSTMENT AND A GOOD BILL BETTER AND WE THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE.

>> SO THE ORIGINAL BILL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE ONE THE BEARS WON WITH THE PROPERTY TAX FREE.

WE KNOW THAT CHICAGO HAS TO PAY OFF SOMETHING LIKE HALF A BILLION DOLLARS ON DEBT IN SOLDIER FIELD.

HOW WOULD THIS HELP?

>> THEY HAVE THE HOTEL TAX PARTIALLY HELPING OUT.

OUR $3 HEAD TAX WOULD GO TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE WANT TO MAKE THE CITY OF CHICAGO WHOLE.

WE HAVE LEGISLATORS SAYING WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

WHY SHOULD I VOTE ON A BILL THAT WILL BENEFIT THE BEARS?

THEY HAVE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT.

>> THEY STILL HAVE THE HOTEL TAX TO PAY ABOUT 6 MILLION MORE OF THAT AND THERE ABOUTS.

AND THE PROPERTY TAX FREEZE ON THE RACE COURSE SITE.

HOW COULD THAT HELP THE BEARS?

>> WE KEPT THE FOUNDATION OF THE ORIGINAL BILL.

BUT WE ADDED AN OVERSIGHT A PART OF IT.

AN OVERSIGHT BOARD TO OKAY ANY INITIATIVES.

ANY TYPE OF GIVEBACK THAT THEY WANT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS BOARD WOULD OVERSEE ANY INCENTIVE.

ENHANCE TO OKAY.

IT INCLUDES LEGISLATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> DID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINT THIS BOARD?

>> NO.

IT IS ALL INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

>> BUT WHO SITS ON IT?

>> THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS.

AND, THE SENATOR IN THE DISTRICT.

AND TWO HOUSE REPS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> AND WE DID INVITE THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BEARS.

THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT.

HAVE YOU MADE ANY RESPONSE FROM THEM?

>> I SPOKE TO SOME OF THE LOBBIESTS AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR PLANS AND I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS COMING.

>> WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?

>> SOME OF, ONE OF THE LOBBIESTS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE $3 PER HEAD TAX.

I SAID IT WILL NOT COST THE BEAR, ANYTHING.

TICKETS RANGE FROM 200 TO $600.

THE HEAD TAX WON'T AFFECT THEM AT ALL AND SALES TAX FROM LIQUOR.

THEY HAD A SALES ON ANY KIND OF ITEMS.

THE SALES TAX WOULD GO INTO A FUND THAT WOULD HELP SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL POLICE AND SAFETY CONCERNS.

>> VILLAGES LIKE ELK GROVE OR PALATINE OR VILLAGES AROUND THERE.

WHAT ABOUT WHAT THE BEARS HAVE WANTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE?

WOULD THAT BE ON THIS BILL?

>> YES, CORRECT.

WE KEPT THE FOUNDATION OF THE ORIGINAL BILL BUT ADDED CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS AND INCENTIVES TO GET TO 60.

I NEED 60 VOTES TO GET THIS PASSED.

>> SO IN HERE WOULD BE MONEY TO BUILD ROADS ON THIS SITE.

AND BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> RIGHT.

AS WAS THE PREVIOUS BILL.

>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES OF THIS BILL ARE?

THE PREVIOUS ONE THE BEARS WERE SUPPORTING WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

>> IT WAS DEAD IN THE WATER AND THE TWO SPONSORS ADMITTED.

I THINK WE HAVE HAD A REAL GOOD CHANCE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO STAKE HOLDERS AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE AND THE CHANCE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.

IT WILL BE A BIG BOON TO THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

WE ARE TALKING JOBS, TICKETHOLDERS, BARTENDERS, PARKING AGENTS.

PEOPLE MOVING TO TOWN WHO WORK FOR THE BEARS SO IT WILL BE GOOD FOR PROPERTY VALUES.

IT WILL BE A MEGATHING FOR JOBS.

>> WHAT IS THE BEARS' PRESENCE DOWN THERE?

ARE THEY WORKING THESE BILLS WITH LOBBYISTS?

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH PRESENCE OF ANY TYPE OF LOBBYIST.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE CALLED AND ASKED, THEY HAVE BEARS COME DOWN.

BEARS FIRST PLACERS.

I ASKED THE GENERAL MANAGER DOWN THERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP SOLVE THIS BILL.