Pritzker Rips Bears' Stadium 'Fumbles,' Says Special Session Possible

CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker said he would be willing to call a special legislative session if lawmakers can reach agreement on a stadium plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, but he sharply criticized the team's handling of negotiations and said any deal must protect taxpayers.

Speaking with reporters after giving remarks at the 130th anniversary of La Rabida Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, Pritzker said the Bears need to settle on a location and make clear what they are asking from the state.

"I love the Chicago Bears. I want them to be in Illinois, and I have worked very hard to try to keep them in Illinois," Pritzker said. "I think that they've got to make sure that they know what it is that they want and stick to the message."

The comments came days after the Bears' board of directors voted to move forward with plans for a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected. Patch previously reported that Bears Chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said the project would "transform the region" and connect Northwest Indiana to Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

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Pritzker pushed back on the idea that an Indiana project is close to being finalized, saying the Bears "haven't decided, even on a location in Indiana." He also said one principal site discussed has "a lot of toxic waste and other things that they've got to remediate," meaning any move there would not happen quickly.

The governor said he would be open to lawmakers returning to Springfield before the fall veto session if a stadium agreement is ready.

"If the legislature can get together on one piece of legislation, we absolutely could do that," Pritzker said. "I would be happy to call a special session. By the way, so too can the leaders of the legislature call a special session."

Pritzker repeatedly said he does not support raising taxes to fund a stadium for the team.

"The first priority for me is we're not raising people's taxes to pay for a privately owned stadium," Pritzker said. "That's No. 1, or any stadium for a billionaire-owned family. We're not going to raise taxes to do that."

The governor said his administration worked on a framework that would provide the Bears with incentives similar to those offered to other major businesses, including help with infrastructure and a mechanism to negotiate property taxes over time.

Pritzker said the Bears "glommed on" to his proposed mega projects legislation, which he described as a tool similar to laws in 38 other states. The proposal would allow companies coming to or expanding in Illinois to negotiate property tax obligations with local taxing bodies over a 20-year period, according to the governor.

The plan was intended to help with two major issues: property taxes and infrastructure needs such as roads and utilities, Pritzker said.

"That was what we were willing to do," Pritzker said, adding that the goal was to keep the Bears in Illinois without raising sales taxes or tolls.

According to The Center Square Illinois, State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-St. Charles) plans to offer his own Bears-related stadium framework after the General Assembly ended its spring session without sending a Bears bill to Pritzker's desk. Ugaste said his proposal would aim to keep the team in Illinois while also addressing broader property tax issues for residents and businesses.

RELATED: Republican To Offer Bears Stadium Bill, New Property Tax Initiatives

Pritzker said the team's stadium push has been complicated by shifting priorities among Chicago, Arlington Heights and Indiana.

The Bears bought the former Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights in 2023, fueling years of speculation that the team could build a new stadium and mixed-use development in the northwest suburbs. The team later renewed discussions around a lakefront stadium in Chicago before the latest Hammond announcement.

Pritzker said the changing locations made it harder for lawmakers to consider a final plan.

"Do they want to be in Chicago? Do they want to be in Arlington Heights? Do they want to be in Hammond?" Pritzker said. "I think all of that has to be worked out by the Bears. Decide what they want, make sure that we know it, and then we're going to work diligently to see if we can't get something done that will work for them."

The governor also faulted the Bears for what he called early missteps, including a previous press conference with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about a publicly funded stadium plan.

"From the beginning, there were some fumbles that occurred by the Bears," Pritzker said, adding that he was never willing to support a "multi-billion dollar stadium" built with taxpayer dollars.

Pritzker said the team entered the spring legislative session without a complete plan and "didn't show up for the end of session," when supporters needed to be talking with lawmakers directly.

"You've got to work the hallways," Pritzker said. "In a very, very busy session, you've got to really talk to every legislator if you want to get something done, and they needed something big done."

Still, Pritzker said he remains committed to trying to keep the team in Illinois.

"I have an emotional reaction," Pritzker said. "I want the Chicago Bears to be in the state of Illinois. They said they want to be in the state of Illinois, and we worked very hard to get that done."

The Bears currently play at Soldier Field, where their lease runs through 2033.