Please Don’t Feed the Bears?

Sep 28, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois

Should taxpayers help build a stadium to bring the NFL to Arlington Heights?

The Chicago Bears signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse in September 2021. A move to the 326-acre property in Arlington Heights would allow the Bears ownership group to build not just a state-of-the-art NFL stadium, but create a modern “destination attraction” with hotels, restaurants, retail stores, offices, and homes – which is a lucrative trend in professional sports. The sale of the property, to the Bears or another buyer, could be announced by the end of this year or early 2023.

recent poll by Americans for Prosperity showed that 72% of locals want the Bears to move out to the Northwest Suburbs, but only 21% want taxpayer dollars going towards the construction of a new stadium.

Both The Heartland Institute and Americans for Prosperity believe this is an important discussion to have – not just for the Village of Arlington Heights, but as a general principle. Should public funds be directed towards massive projects such as a new NFL stadium that promise to a “positive return” on that investment for the community?

There’s a lot to discuss. The future of Chicago, the Bears, and many communities of the Northwest Suburbs could change drastically … and very soon.

Join us on Wednesday, September 28 at The Heartland Institute’s Andrew Breitbart Freedom Center to participate in this discussion.

Speakers

Brian Costin
Brian Costin

Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity – Illinois

James Taylor

President, The Heartland Institute

Jim Lakely

Vice President, The Heartland Institute