Rep: Bears ‘can pick what they want’ in stadium bill

(The Center Square) – The architect of megaprojects legislation in the Illinois House says the Chicago Bears can pick what they want in new stadium legislation, but taxpayer protection has to be at the center of the conversation.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, joined Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other legislative leaders in a meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month.

Buckner said after an Illinois House Executive Committee hearing in Chicago on Tuesday that it’s not really important who would own a new stadium, but the Bears need control over things like naming rights and concessions.

“It's up to them. They can pick what they want, but we want to make sure we give them the options here in this state,” Buckner said.

A reporter from The Center Square asked Buckner if it would be possible to give the Bears control and still protect taxpayers.

“Yeah, I think that's a conversation that, number one, has to be at the center of this. I don't know what that part looks like. You’ve got to work through the details, obviously,” Buckner said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a WTTW News gubernatorial forum on Tuesday night that a billionaire family owning a team valued at $9 billion does not need the state to buy or build a stadium, but he would be willing to spend taxpayer dollars on infrastructure.