Illinois poll finds most back private funding for Chicago Bears stadium
Updated
Updated · Chicago Tribune · May 7
Illinois poll finds most back private funding for Chicago Bears stadium
6 articles · Updated · Chicago Tribune · May 7
In the UIS survey of 1,000 residents, 37% wanted no taxpayer money, 27% backed matching Indiana’s $1 billion offer, and 13% wanted Illinois to offer more.
Nearly 70% said stadium costs should be mostly or entirely privately funded, while fewer than 15% favored heavier reliance on tax dollars; views were broadly similar across party lines.
Opinion on keeping the Bears in Illinois was split statewide and much weaker downstate, even as the team remains under contract at Soldier Field through 2033.
With 70% of residents opposing public funds, can Illinois justify a deal to keep the Bears from moving?
As the May 31 deadline looms, will Illinois' tax plan be enough to counter Indiana's aggressive stadium offer?
What are the hidden legal and financial risks for taxpayers in the billion-dollar battle for the Bears' new home?