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Arlington Heights Bears fans cheer as 'Megaprojects' bill passes Illinois House
TL;DR
The Illinois House has passed a bill that may provide tax breaks for a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights. This is a significant move for fans, but the team's commitment to Illinois remains uncertain.
Key points
- Illinois House passed a bill for potential tax breaks
- Bill supports new stadium for the Bears
- Fans in Arlington Heights celebrate the news
- Bears' commitment to Illinois remains uncertain
Mentioned in this story
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Arlington Heights Bears fans cheer as 'Megaprojects' bill passes Illinois House
A big step for the Bears, but there's still a long way to go for the team to commit to staying in Illinois.
The Illinois House passed a bill last night that could give tax breaks on a new stadium.
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With the Illinois House passed the so-called "mega-project" bill - now on its way to the Senate, most people ABC7 spoke with Thursday in Arlington Heights said they hope this means the Chicago Bears will get to remain the pride and joy of Illinois.
"We've been working on this for a few years and this is the first sign that we're going to get to a finish line here in Arlington Heights," Ernie Rose with Touchdown Arlington said. "I think there's a growing sense of optimism that there's something that will be built."
A lot of excitement in Arlington Heights following the passing of the "mega-project" bill.
"Definitely a step in the right direction," Cheryl Kolasa, who lives in Arlington Heights, said. "We have been waiting for this and going to all kind of meetings and hopefully it's coming."
People who live in Arlington Heights said they hope this means the Bears are one step closer toward moving to their village.
"You will not be able to get a ticket to the Bears game if they come to Arlington Heights for years because the support will be so phenomenal," Gary Aspelian, who lives in Arlington Heights, said.
Still, the team said there's more work to be done as far as infrastructure funding, saying in a statement, "We welcome the progress made on the House's version of the mega project bill; however, additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for our stadium project,"
Ernie Rose with Touchdown Arlington, said "All we've asked all along is to get an infrastructure in place that allows our residents, through our village board, to negotiate between the Bears. And this Bill provides us the framework for that."
The Bears have owned the former home of the Arlington Race Track for more than three years now with plans to build a multibillion dollar stadium.
Under the mega-project bill, the Bears wouldn't have to pay traditional property taxes.
Instead, they'd work out a deal with local leaders to make what's called a "payment in lieu of taxes" or PILOT.
Q&A
What does the 'Megaprojects' bill entail for the Bears?
The 'Megaprojects' bill includes provisions for tax breaks that could support the construction of a new stadium for the Bears.
How did Arlington Heights Bears fans react to the bill's passage?
Arlington Heights Bears fans celebrated the passage of the bill as a positive step towards securing a new stadium.
What are the next steps for the Bears after the bill's approval?
Despite the bill's passage, the Bears still need to make a formal commitment to remain in Illinois and finalize their stadium plans.
What impact could the tax breaks have on the Bears' decision to stay in Illinois?
The tax breaks provided by the bill could incentivize the Bears to invest in a new stadium in Illinois, but their long-term commitment is still uncertain.
