Most Chicagoans want the Bears to stay in their city — but don’t want to spend public money to keep them, a new survey has found.
More than two-thirds of those surveyed, 68%, said it was important to keep the team in Chicago, but an almost equal number, 65%, said the local government should spend no money to keep the team in the city.
Another 28% supported a moderate level of public funding. Only 7% said the city should spend significant amounts on the effort.
“It’s a bit of a challenge for public officials, most notably (Mayor) Brandon Johnson, because people are going to be upset if the Bears leave, but they’re going to remove the most important tool to keep them here,” said Prof. Christopher Berry, faculty director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, which commissioned the poll. “It might be a lose-lose situation for the mayor.”
For the team, Berry said, “It’s a bit of a reality check in terms of what they’re asking for.”
After previously getting turned down by state officials for taxpayer funding to help replace Soldier Field on the city’s lakefront, team officials have turned their focus to building a new stadium in northwest suburban Arlington Heights.
The Bears already spent $197 million to buy the former Arlington International Racecourse as the site of a new domed stadium on which they plan to spend more than $2 billion with no public money
But the Bears need state lawmakers to approve a law allowing the team to negotiate long-term property tax rates with local schools and other taxing bodies, and want public bodies to contribute toward up to $855 million in infrastructure costs such as roads and the nearby Metra railroad, as is common for large projects. Team officials did not immediately comment on the findings.
Survey respondents were split on how much Chicago’s professional sports teams contribute to the city’s economy: 47% say the teams make a major economic contribution, while 45% say the impact is minor. The team’s consultant predicts the stadium would generate billions of dollars in economic activity, though other economic research generally shows that tax subsidies for sports stadiums have a low return on investment.
Asked whether they think professional sports teams are important to Chicago’s identity, a majority answered yes, with only 15% saying that the city’s pro teams are not very important or not at all important.
The random survey of 1,361 adults in Chicago, meant to approximate the city’s demographics, was conducted in September by phone and online by NORC at the University of Chicago, which conducts quarterly surveys on a variety of topics.
A previous non-scientific survey of Arlington Heights residents by the anti-tax subsidy group Americans for Prosperity had similar results, with most people welcoming the team, but not wanting to spend tax dollars to do so.
Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024. where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans wait for the start of the Bears first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field on Sept. 17, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Fans walk outside the stadium before the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive on Jan. 6, 2019, for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the south parking areas on Dec. 5, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive on Jan. 6, 2019, for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field on Dec. 15, 2023. To optimize the conditions, ultraviolet lights have been part of the regular treatment plan at the stadium to lengthen the growing season. Grow covers plus the field’s heating system contribute to keep the lawn as healthy as possible. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles fans arrive Jan. 6, 2019 for an NFC wild card playoff game at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune
Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs in the end zone for a touchdown against the Lions at Soldier Field on Nov. 13, 2022.
John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune
Fans walk past a sign during the Bears NFL draft party at Soldier Field on April 29, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A parking lot and Waldron Deck south of Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024, where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The eastern colonnade of Soldier Field is illuminated with the Chicago Bears team colors, Jan. 8, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Jamari Clay escorts his sister Jaylen Clay to the Noble Charter School Network prom at Soldier Field on May 14, 2021. The students attend The Noble Academy. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Fans make their way into Soldier Field before the Chicago Fire play the FC Cincinnati on June 23, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field sits empty before the Chicago Fire play the FC Cincinnati on June 23, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Fans walk through the concourse before the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Oct. 17 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Military helicopters fly overhead during pregame ceremonies between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field on Nov. 21, 2021. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A worker walks past the west colonnade before a game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Players begin to warm up before a game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Walter Payton statue on Dec. 18, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Gate 0 at the south entrance to Soldier Field on Dec. 19, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field on Dec. 18, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Chicago skyline on Feb. 12, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans watch as players take the field before the Chicago Bears play the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Soldier Field on Sept. 25, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and Museum Campus can be seen July 25, 2022, from the stadium in Chicago. In a news conference, Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled plans for Soldier Field that could cost up to $2.2 billion as part of her ongoing campaign to keep the Bears from leaving town for Arlington Heights. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)
Fans arrive for Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 22, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Soldier Field and the Chicago skyline on April 26, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The grounds crew preps the grass on Sept. 5, 2023, at Soldier Field before the Bears season begins against the Green Bay Packers. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans tailgate before the Chicago Bears play the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on Oct. 1, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Fire and Inter Miami face off in the first half of a game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Hailey Grabowski, right, poses for her mother, Anne Grabowski, outside of Soldier Field before the Chicago Bears game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune
The Field Museum and the renovated Soldier Field are seen Aug. 18, 2015. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Pregame fireworks before the Bears-Packers game at the newly renovated Soldier Field on Sept. 29, 2003. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune
Chicago’s newly renovated Soldier field on July 20, 2004. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune)
Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune
Ironworker Hugo Quintero spot-welds sheet metal into an overhang of steel beams on an upper skybox deck during Soldier FIeld renovation on Aug. 29, 2002. The latest proposal would include a $3 admission tax on all events to help pay off debt incurred to fund renovations of Soldier Field two decades ago. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)
Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune
Soldier Field renovation is paused for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 24, 2002. Two decades later, taxpayers are still on the hook for the renovations. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Richard M. Daley looks at a model of a redesign plan for Soldier Field on Nov. 14, 2000. Daley helped usher along taxpayer help for the renovation. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)
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Soldier Field on the lakefront on March 11, 2024. where the Bears have proposed building a new domed stadium. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The results highlight the need for officials to get creative about how to accommodate the team, Berry said. He noted that the state of Illinois plans to spend some $500 million on a quantum computing and microelectronics park.
Perhaps a public-private partnership, in which the Chicago Park District allows the Bears to manage Soldier Field, could be part of a solution, he suggested.
“There are ways to sweeten the pot that don’t involve millions of dollars,” Berry said. “Maybe at this point it’s too far gone, but my sense is Arlington Heights is far from a done deal.”
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