J. B. Pritzker
๐ค SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Well, let me start with the fact that it was a surprise to us.
The Bears actually, yesterday, we completed more than three hours, my team did, of discussions with the Bears.
Very positive discussions.
And indeed, mostly agreed on a bill that would move forward this morning.
But they asked us not to move forward with it this morning.
because they said they wanted to tweak a couple of items in the bill, which were things that we were working with them on.
And so to have a statement put out by the bears, now they're saying to us that that statement
is not some confirmation that they're moving to Indiana, but rather that Indiana had asked them to say that they're going to move forward with the negotiations in Indiana.
But I have to say it's very disappointing to hear that they would put that statement out but not say anything about the advancement that's been made in the state of Illinois.
But we're waiting to hear from the Bears what they'd like to do next.
Warren chose not to be in that meeting.
And indeed, they had instead one of their other leads who's been in every conversation with us as well.
She's a terrific representative for them.
And we trust her.
And we had eight people in that discussion involving the legislators, involving the governor's office, involving the payers and their representatives.
And so, again, lots of progress, but
a surprise this morning to wake up and see that statement.
I want to protect the taxpayers of Illinois.
I've said from the start we are not going to build a stadium for them.
We do infrastructure.