The proposal from Illinois State Rep. Bob Morgan would require any team to have a winning record in at least three of its past five regular seasons before it would be eligible for public financing to build a new stadium or renovate an existing stadium. However, the Bears haven't had a winning season since 2018, and the White Sox have had only two winning seasons in the past five, most recently setting the Major League record for losses in 2024, so under Morgan's proposal, neither would qualify for public financing from the state.
We are in a meltdown financially and our elected officials can’t think of anything better to debate than sports complexes. I can’t wait to get the hell out of this state.
MsT
1 year ago
If public funds are used, the teams should provide an equity interest in the team equal to the funding to the public entity that provided the funds. Pay to play!
Isn’t Illinois Fun?
1 year ago
They should pass a law prohibiting use of taxpayer money for the land and construction costs of a stadium. Permit spending to give access to water, power and possibly some street infrastructure. Take the issue off the table this way.
Hello, Indiana!
1 year ago
I don’t care how bad or good the teams are, they’re owned by billionaires. Keep them out of the taxpayers pockets or else wind up with a crooked deal like the one Hochul pulled for the Buffalo Bills, a team her husband is on the board of.
Ex Illini
1 year ago
The public should never finance stadiums for billionaire owners. End of story.
Fed Up Taxpayer
1 year ago
This is kind of like tying teachers pay to student academic performance. I don’t see why they would hold professional athletes to a higher standard – although the idea is good. The sports teams should just leave – the state can’t afford them and it doesn’t appreciate them enough to change their spending on illegals, CTU and the like to support something the regular citizens of the state would benefit from.
We are in a meltdown financially and our elected officials can’t think of anything better to debate than sports complexes. I can’t wait to get the hell out of this state.
If public funds are used, the teams should provide an equity interest in the team equal to the funding to the public entity that provided the funds. Pay to play!
They should pass a law prohibiting use of taxpayer money for the land and construction costs of a stadium. Permit spending to give access to water, power and possibly some street infrastructure. Take the issue off the table this way.
I don’t care how bad or good the teams are, they’re owned by billionaires. Keep them out of the taxpayers pockets or else wind up with a crooked deal like the one Hochul pulled for the Buffalo Bills, a team her husband is on the board of.
The public should never finance stadiums for billionaire owners. End of story.
This is kind of like tying teachers pay to student academic performance. I don’t see why they would hold professional athletes to a higher standard – although the idea is good. The sports teams should just leave – the state can’t afford them and it doesn’t appreciate them enough to change their spending on illegals, CTU and the like to support something the regular citizens of the state would benefit from.