I just don't. They just won't get the funding and they don't have the money. They'll try. But they won't be able to do it. Although they'll never admit it, they just bought it so they have the property for the buyer when Virginia dies. Which is smart.

Forbes said the Bears are worth about 5.5 billion. I guarantee you that's wrong. Wrong by a lot. They'll sell for 10 billion even if the stadium isn't built

A few years ago Forbes said the Clippers were worth 800 million. They sold for 2 billion.

You know what was the biggest steal in sports franchises. The Tribune sold the Cubs for like 850 million. Really only 850? That was only 12 years ago or so. I guarantee you they'd sell for 10 billion today.

The Donald Sterling scandal fucked sports teams valuations forever. The Atlanta Thrashers sold for $110MM in 2011. The Dallas Stars were a throw-in for assumption of debt. Now, even crappy NHL teams are half a billion.

I don't think they're going to get this built either, and they shouldn't. It's terrible for the people of Arlington Heights.

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If they do it right, the Arlington stadium will be close to 4 billion to build. Some of you might not know, but Arlington Heights is in Cook County. So they can get Chicago tax money to if it's a Cook County tax

The NFL might give them 400 million. They've done that for all recent stadiums. Obviously, that's way short. And corporate sponsors might make it close to 1.5 billion in total money. But that's no where close. I always wonder what the McCaskeys as a family have in liquid cash. All of them put together. I'm certain it's not enough to get it done. And they're all old at this point, wouldn't want to take that risk at this point in their lives. It's been said that most of the McCaskeys have wanted to sell for years. But Virginia doesn't die. She's 100 now. She's the majority owner. The kids and grandkids are lucky she lived this long. Had she died at 80, they would have got 70 percent less of what they will now get when it sells.

They'd have to take out a loan. Some bank might give it to them knowing with concerts, final fours and at least one Super Bowl they could pay it back in 10 years or so.

I just think it's gonna fail for this family. We need the new owner to have 20 billion in the bank. There are a few of those guys in this world.

I know we got a new President of the Bears and he's responsible for this. I just don't think it can be done until we get that super rich owner.

I'm pretty sure this hotshot from the Big Ten didn't come on board just for fun. He gets this stadium deal done, and he gets generational wealth.

Nobody cares about the shitheals that live in Arlington Heights

Mccaskeys won't build it because the team will be sold in the next 18 months, right after that old C.unt dies.

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I know that's the plan. Of course. I just don't think it's possible in our Illinois political and financial climate.

If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. Let's say he does get it done. I think it will take at least two years to get the first shovel in the dirt. That's how big this battle is gonna be to get the money.

That's where you're wrong. I don't know the percentage. But I guarantee you over half of Bears season ticket holders live in the NW suburbs. And they want this.

The people bitching about the Bears leaving Chicago never go to Bears games anyway. So I don't get why watching them on TV bothers them no matter where they play. There are a dozen teams in the NFL that play in the suburbs. They don't seem to give a shit.

Of course this stadium will happen. It's the NFL, baby.

Beardown is right, the land is for next owner. But MANY around here will blame Warren when privately, delay is the family plan. At 100 I doubt Ginny cares, and I can't blame her

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

If Mark Davis can get a stadium built then so can the McCaskey family. The NFL is pushing this one hard too so it's going to be done.

There may be an ownership change during the process because it does take a long time to get this type of thing done but the stadium is getting done.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Why is it terrible for the people of Arlington Heights?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Agreed, nobody could fuck this up..it's a slam dunk.. the old bag will die very early on in the process.

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I wouldn't bet on that.

We'll see who gets elected mayor. The window is still open to keep the Bears in Chicago.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

I don't recall seeing Mama Bear at a game last year. She was there during the height of covid, so that's concerning.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Unless they want to sell Soldier Field to the Bears, not a chance

Lot of hatred for a 100 year old woman out there.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

There are plenty of powerful, big money guys who want the Bears to remain in the City. I'm sure dolphin rubs elbows with at least a few of them. I'm telling you it's a possibility. Of course it's not gonna to happen if Lightfoot is mayor.

Beyond the Bears thing, there's a lot of money on the sidelines just waiting to be invested in downtown. But these people aren't going to jump under the current conditions.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

Yeah, I don't get the h

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

The Bears have made it clear that it is over. The city had at least a decade to work on this and they refused. I guess technically the city/state could pay $10 billion to turn the entire museum campus area into Halasville but then you'll get the "Friends of the Lake" that are like "How dare you take away a parking lot that borders the lake!".

Sports stadiums lose money. The city should be happy the Bears are leaving.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Ginny is going to live to 108-110. Hell, she might out live a couple of fatties on this message board. IYKYK

BRick is correct. This will get done. I've said all along, I think they already have a new owner or at least someone with cash reserves already bought in.

We will see....the Bigger expense is the highway and infrastructure work that needs to go into the area. That's going to be Kevin Warren's biggest challenge.

I'm not discounting the interest the city has with keeping the Bears at Soldier Field, but the Bears are doing this to own the stadium. That scenario will never happen in Chicago.

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It's a horrible time to borrow. Interest rates suck and banks are hoarding cash in anticipation of a recession.

Obviously a loan will be available. The Bears are the collateral. Who wouldn't lend on that? It's the terms of the loan that may not be acceptable to the Bears.

The tricky part is the public-private partnership. Sure, the sign may say McCaskeyville but the entire project includes a year round entertainment district, like Rosemont. That takes some planning.

So, yes, I think this gets built. I also think opening will push up right to the end of the Soldier Field lease, which, if I recall is 2031. I kind of think the Bears want it that way, anyway.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

They have access to much cheaper ways to finance than non-billionaires. The NFL eventually steps in and finances it for cheap if it needs to.

The NFL seems to have a sense of urgency on this though. My guess is the dome is done by 2027 with the Bears getting the 2028 Super Bowl.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If it was 10 years ago Id think the next owner was Ryan and McKenna and in a way they were driving this whole thing with how George mentioned them in the presser but they are almost as old as Ginny. (Okay, mid 80s for Ryan).

I'd think the sports book aspect of it is part of what makes staying downtown a non starter. Maybe that could change with a different mayor but I doubt it. Its not like the relationship was great before her.

It's becoming clear that the concept of a bricks and mortar sportsbook is like canals that had one short moment before being replaced by railroads.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

Don't they require that books have a physical location in Illinois?

The physical sports book itself isn't that big of an investment. It's like building a big chain bar. 20 big screen tvs and 100 comfortable chairs and you have yourself a physical book.

I think people go to the one at Rivers. I went there when my kid had an event in Rosemont. There were degens filling it up on a weekday night in the summer. It's a nice way to watch a game.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Not anymore

Maybe I’m being nieve, but I don’t really see the motivation for anyone to do a sweetheart deal with the Bears unless they’re looking to enter the N.F.L. club. Which cannot be discounted. New York and Los Angeles was money spent by wealthy owners on four teams in the two largest markets. Vegas, Atlanta and the new stadium in Nashville are for new or burgeoning markets. The league kick in Buffalo is simply following precedent for a relatively recent owner who showed loyalty to a ridiculously small market.

The Bears don’t fit any of those molds. Plus it makes no financial sense, especially since you’re talking about tearing down Solder Field and playing in Champaign for two or three years. It’s no longer the seventies or eighties, city residents don’t care like we used to and as long as team hq remains in the far out burbs, players aren’t going to be attracted to suburban life in the sticks.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

That's why it is probably a done deal. The Bears best option is Arlington Heights and the city probably won't do enough to change that.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!