Illinois governor says he won’t force billions in public funding onto taxpayers to keep the Chicago Bears in the city, amid controversial palns to relocate to Indiana
07:09 ET, 03 Jun 2026
Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, a potential future presidential candidate, speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) annual convention.
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Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker says he will not force billions of dollars onto taxpayers to keep Chicago Bears(Image: Getty Images)
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has pushed back on proposals tied to keeping the Chicago Bears in the city, saying he is not willing to “foist” billions of dollars in costs onto taxpayers.
The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, but despite its iconic status, the stadium has not undergone a major renovation since 2003. As a result, the franchise has pushed forward with plans for a new home, unveiling renderings for a proposed $5 billion NFL stadium.
However, an Illinois bill that could have helped clear the path for construction stalled before the legislative session ended on Monday. The Bears have continued to express a desire to move into a modern venue, but progress on securing approval for the project remains uncertain, meaning the door is now open for the Bears to exit for Indiana.
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Pritzker reiterated his opposition to using public funds to support a new stadium deal for the Bears, arguing that he was not willing to allocate billions in taxpayer money to benefit a billionaire-owned franchise.
“The reality is that I wasn’t willing to give up billions of dollars of taxpayer money in order to give it to a billionaire-owned family, or team, and believe very much that the incentives that we provide for businesses are to be similar to the incentives we provide to this type of business" said Pritzker.
“As much of an emotional connection as many of us have to the Bears, and to keeping them in the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, [the] No. 1 principle is we’re not going to foist this on the taxpayers of the state of Illinois.”
If the Bears ultimately leave for Indiana, critics argue it would become a lasting consequence for Governor Pritzker. In the final hours of the spring legislative session, the Illinois Senate approved the Municipal Stadium Authority Act, but the measure failed to advance in the House of Representatives. Rather than voting on the proposal that would have allowed Cook County municipalities to establish a body to oversee stadium construction, the House adjourned before taking action, pushing any further consideration of the bill to November.
A general view of Soldier Field prior to an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois
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The Chicago Bears have played at Soldier Field since the early 1970s, though it appears that streak could be coming to an end(Image: Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
With the legislative delay, Bears Chairman George McCaskey and president and CEO Kevin Warren are continuing to evaluate two potential sites: Hammond, Indiana, where a proposed domed stadium would be built, and Arlington Heights, Illinois, where the franchise already owns 326 acres of land.
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Under the Illinois proposal, the Bears would have been granted greater control over stadium operations, including the ability to generate revenue, avoid property taxes, and receive public assistance for surrounding land development.
However, Indiana’s approved plan differs in structure, with the Bears not expected to directly own the stadium itself. The situation remains unresolved as both options continue to be assessed.
Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, a key voice in the discussions, said on X that he still believes a deal to keep the Bears in Illinois can ultimately be reached.