NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey walks into Soldier Field prior to a game between the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears blasted for ‘disrespectful’ offer, undermining Gov JB Pritzker for new stadium

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Oct 31, 2025 10:26 AM ET

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently offered the Chicago Bears a deal. In exchange for the state giving the Bears a break on property taxes, the team needed to pay off its remaining loan on Soldier Field renovations.

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Per WBBM, the balance is $534 million and is for the 2003 renovations to Soldier Field.

The property tax hurdle is one of the greatest impediments to the Bears building a new stadium in Arlington Heights. CEO Kevin Warren hoped to have shovels in the ground by the end of 2025, but the team is now hopeful that will happen in early 2026.

Chicago Bears offer is ‘disrespectful’

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The Bears don’t own Soldier Field (the Chicago Park District does) and can get out of their lease. So the full payment for the renovation of Soldier Field is on the taxpayers, not the Bears. However, the team’s recent offer of $25 million to the city of Chicago was called ‘disrespectful.’

Per ABC 7 Chicago, State Rep. Kam Buckner called the offer not just “inadequate” but “disrespectful.”

“It reflects a longer pattern of tone-deafness from this franchise when it comes to its relationship with the city that made it,” Buckner said. “We’re talking about a franchise valued at nearly $10 billion offering scraps to Chicago.”

It doesn’t appear the Bears are making much progress during the fall legislative session, which could put an end to the idea of an optimistic early 2026 start date for the new stadium.

Or the Bears are going to have to suck it up and pay off the loan. Regardless, it doesn’t look like Warren is mastering negotiations with Chicago or Illinois.