Bears have had preliminary talks with Pritzker, lawmakers about subsidies — and no one has slammed the door, retiring team president says

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The Chicago Bears have had preliminary talks with Gov. J.B. Pritzker, state legislators and village trustees in Arlington Heights about the infrastructure help they need to support a $5 billion "stadium-anchored development" and nobody has thrown them for a loss, retiring President Ted Phillips said Friday.

One day after a community meeting to lay the groundwork for a public subsidy, Phillips said the Bears have hired Goldman Sachs to "explore every possible option" and develop a "specific ask" of the village and state. Only then would a developer be chosen to partner with the Bears.

A tax increment financing district is one way to achieve the "property tax certainty" that Phillips called a precursor to going forward. It freezes property taxes for 23 years, during which any "increment," or growth, is earmarked for roads, mass transit improvements and utility work.

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Bears have had preliminary talks with Pritzker, lawmakers about subsidies — and no one has slammed the door, retiring team president says

Retiring Bears President Ted Phillips said the Bears have hired Goldman Sachs to "explore every possible option" and develop a "specific ask" of the village and state.

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Bears release details on Arlington Heights stadium site, make case for public subsidy

Though the Bears will not seek public funds to build a stadium, "we look forward to partnering with the various governmental bodies to secure additional funding and assistance needed to support the feasibility of the remainder of the development," the team wrote.

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Bullish on the Bears? Arlington Heights open receiver of stadium pitch: 'I'm extremely excited to know they could be coming'

Residents started lining up outside the high school two hours prior to the team's tightly orchestrated public relations presentations. Many filed into the gym wearing Bears jerseys and carrying signs calling on the team to "rise to new heights in Arlington."

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