Illinois teachers create new hurdle for stadium project

In one week, the Chicago Bears will meet with the NFL stadium committee to provide an update on where they stand with the new stadium project.

With time running out for the Bears and Illinois to reach an agreement before the team goes to Indiana, teachers in Illinois have crafted a roadblock for Illinois lawmakers to pass team-friendly legislation that would aid the Bears in building a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

Per Paris Schutz of Fox 32 Chicago, the Illinois Federation of Teachers is lobbying to include language on a Bears megaprojects bill that would protect funding for state school districts if the legislation passes.

“NEW: multiple legislative sources confirm that there’s another hurdle for the Bears Megaprojects bill: The Illinois Federation of Teachers, led by Stacy Davis Gates,” Schutz posted on X.

“Sources tell me they are lobbying to include language that would protect funding for school districts if the bill goes through. It comes as Mayor Johnson issued new comments on the bill today calling it ‘counterintuitive.'”

Last week, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker put pressure on lawmakers to pass the property tax breaks and infrastructure funding the Bears need to agree to build in Arlington Heights.

The Chicago Bears have been visiting Indiana