Arlington Heights proposes tax deal to retain Bears stadium plans

As the Chicago Bears zero in on a new domed stadium along the city’s lakefront, Arlington Heights is going for a Hail Mary to lure the NFL squad back to the northwest suburb.

The Bears had been planning a $5 billion stadium there before a tax dispute mucked it all up. 

In a bid to resolve a property tax dispute between the Bears and three local school districts regarding Arlington Park — the site of the planned stadium — Arlington Heights officials proposed a settlement during a recent village board meeting, the Daily Herald reported. 

The Bears would pay $6.3 million in property taxes for the 2023 tax year, followed by $3.6 million for 2024, with negotiated annual increases ranging from 3 to 10 percent in the subsequent three years based on market conditions. The proposal comes in contrast to the Cook County Board of Review’s recent ruling that would have required the Bears to pay nearly $9 million in 2023 taxes.

“This is just a proposal that we made to the Chicago Bears and the school districts, and we encourage both parties to continue discussions on this issue and offer further alternative solutions to these issues,” village manager Randy Recklaus said. “We believe this proposal is fair and sensible, but the village cannot impose this solution unilaterally — the Bears and the districts will need to agree.”

Recklaus presented comparisons to other sports venues, noting that the proposed tax bills for Arlington Park would be lower than those of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the United Center in Chicago. He highlighted the considerable decrease from the initial reassessment by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, which would have saddled the Bears with a $16 million tax bill.

The village’s proposal is based on a property value of $124.7 million, with assessments adjusted to reflect the property’s vacant status.

Despite the Bears appearing to be committed to staying in the city limits, discussions with Bears representatives have been ongoing, with the team still expressing interest in the Arlington Heights property, Recklaus said. 

The proposed tax settlement, if accepted, could pave the way for substantive discussions on the future use of the Arlington Park site, including comprehensive studies on traffic and economic impact. However, formal responses from the involved parties regarding the settlement offer are still pending.

—Quinn Donoghue