Shain Bergan

News hound and communications enthusiast in Kansas City. Communications Director for Kansas City Public Schools. Tweet opinions are my own.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@jhook1248 They literally offered to build their own stadium and pay tens of millions of dollars in property taxes each year.

Illinois couldn’t put a deal together because Chicago politicians blocked it, as Hammond , IN, is closer to Chicago than Arlington Heights.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@ta11131262 @MatchewRolex I think there’s a big market for real estate.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

(6/6)

The Bears WANTED to go to Arlington Heights, but Chicago politicians wouldn’t allow it and were willing to lose the Bears to Indiana to block it, as Hammond, IN, is closer to Chicago than Arlington Heights.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

Bears stadium stuff:

Deals only work if both sides want it. Illinois didn’t want it. This is undeniable.

Chicago politicians were never going to let the Bears leave to go in-state. They’ve been upfront about this and no deal could pass the Illinois Legislature without them. 1/x

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

(5/x)

Bears ownership and management are often portrayed as bumbling fools. But it’s wild to me how anyone with the facts can blame them in any way on this.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@AlexReimer1 You fell for the fake “slag heap” propaganda.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@RepCasar @SenSanders This is a woefully uninformed take.

What Bears wanted:
Pay for their own stadium
Not have to pay Chicago’s city debts
Not have to pay higher property taxes than any other professional sports team in the world.

That’s it. And Illinois, unsurprisingly, couldn’t deliver a deal.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@alexlmiller The Bears were always going to cover their own stadium cost (which is a rarity). At issue was the property tax bill, which would’ve been 5 times higher than the next highest for a professional sports team, along with Chicago wanting to Bears to pay the city’s debts.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@WizardOddsShow Yeah, the site looks terrible, or something.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@BRIASInterludee Anti-Hammond Bears fans are in for a rude awakening when the stadium sells out every game, people still go, people still tailgate, tv contracts are richer than ever, and they’re still called the Chicago Bears.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@Rob_Shenanigans No, that’s like saying the city of Berea is 30-40 minutes from the city of Cleveland.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@CapelTakes412 @DarthKevin81 💯

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

Bears stadium situation dumbed down:

Illinois had 5 years to give the Bears a tax deal anywhere close to every other franchise in the NFL.

Politicians failed and were antagonistic every step of the way.

Bears used the Indiana move first as a ploy, but then Indiana offered 1/2

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

Bumping this. Illinois is paying the piper.

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

Bears stadium situation dumbed down:

Illinois had 5 years to give the Bears a tax deal anywhere close to every other franchise in the NFL.

Politicians failed and were antagonistic every step of the way.

Bears used the Indiana move first as a ploy, but then Indiana offered 1/2

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@QuintonLucasKC Illinois wants the Bears to pay property taxes 5+ times what the next highest property tax bill for a professional sports team is. Illinois clearly didn’t want them. Bears took the best deal after giving Illinois 5 years of chances.

From last week breaking it down:

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

Bears stadium situation dumbed down:

Illinois had 5 years to give the Bears a tax deal anywhere close to every other franchise in the NFL.

Politicians failed and were antagonistic every step of the way.

Bears used the Indiana move first as a ploy, but then Indiana offered 1/2

[Shain Bergan @KCPSShain]

@jimbosthirdeye Go look at what Kansas are giving the Chiefs to cross state lines.