Gov. JB Pritzker hopes stadium talks with Bears will get 'back on track'
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What recent comments did Gov. JB Pritzker make about the Bears stadium negotiations?
The governor told us that, indeed, there have been conversations back and forth at sort of a high staff level between the Bears and the governor's people. And a lot of those conversations have been apparently sort of walking back that statement that the governor has talked about. He first mentioned it yesterday when he was with reporters down in Collinsville, the statement from the Bears that talked about how the— Proposal that passed the House committee yesterday setting up the stadium authority was like the most significant development in their search for a new stadium, and they were committing to finishing the due diligence.
That was Jeff Buchholz giving us the latest. He is the WBBM Newsradio political editor. And he was at Oak Park River Forest High School, OPRF. And that is where he caught up with Governor J.B. Pritzker. Apparently there was a cell phones in schools campaign that was going on.
What significant developments occurred in the Bears' stadium planning efforts?
And guess what? Jeff brought a cell phone in school for us.
What? My dad went to Oak Park High School. They did not have cell phones then, though, amazingly.
Oh, yeah, they didn't have cell phones when your dad was in high school?
Yeah, isn't that amazing? My 84-year-old dad did not have cell phones.
This is Rahimi Harrison-Grote on 104.3 The Score. And J.B.
How are the Bears managing their negotiations with Illinois and Indiana?
Pritzker speaking today after the dust settled. And, for example, we heard from Indiana Governor Mike Braun yesterday for over 20 minutes on the afternoon show. He gave us his time there. We also had the statement from the Bears. It's good to get more clarity on this because, as we understand, now the meeting... that the Bears were supposed to have that really started our chaotic roller coaster yesterday with the Illinois... state legislature was that the bears were supposed to meet yesterday morning and then the meeting got postponed at that point we thought it was canceled we understand now thanks to the daily herald is back on the books and so jb pritzker is in a little bit different of a place to talk about it given that that seemed to be a surprise to them quotes from ben zalinski who was also at this he reports for the capital matters he's with capital news illinois said this
These are complicated matters, and sometimes things, you know, are unintended that happen. So I'm hopeful that everything will be able to get back on track, Pritzker said this morning. He also wants some clarity from the Bears about their objective.
What are the Bears' intentions regarding their new stadium location?
Don't we all? Quote, honestly, I think the Bears need to make their intentions known. Those intentions could be, you know, that they want to continue to talk to both states, but I think they need to clarify that.
I don't know that that needs clarification. Like, read the room. How can you not be in a position right now where you don't understand that the Bears are playing both sides?
I think it's that he wants the Bears to tell him and the state of Illinois that. Directly.
What's next by the state? And I think what is now out there, and I've reported it, is that while the Bears are doing their, as it says, due diligence, which was a great Jerry Angelo word, by the way, the former general manager of the Chicago Bears at a different time, in a Super Bowl time, for the Bears.
What financial implications are involved in the Bears' stadium project?
While they're doing their due diligence, now Illinois has their chance now to put something together that would please the Bears more. That's what's going on. Right or wrong, that's what's going on.
Which did happen. And let's keep in mind what the Bears' statement has been. This is the last comment that we got from the Bears. It was yesterday morning regarding the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority Authorization Bill. And it says, quote, The passage of Senate Bill 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date, the Bears said in a statement. We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary, say it with me now, due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. Now that bill did pass.
How does public sentiment affect the Bears' stadium funding decisions?
That's why Governor Braun was on in part to tell us what the state of Indiana's plans are regarding the Bears.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What recent comments did Gov. JB Pritzker make about the Bears stadium negotiations?
0:01–0:58
2
What significant developments occurred in the Bears' stadium planning efforts?
0:58–1:16
3
How are the Bears managing their negotiations with Illinois and Indiana?
1:16–2:19
4
What are the Bears' intentions regarding their new stadium location?
2:19–3:08
5
What financial implications are involved in the Bears' stadium project?
3:08–3:57
6
How does public sentiment affect the Bears' stadium funding decisions?
3:57–4:59
7
What challenges do the Bears face in the Indiana stadium proposal?
4:59–5:42
8
What are the next steps for the Bears and the state of Illinois?
5:42–16:33
Speakers
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