2021-2022 NFL Season

[Pakuni]

Perhaps, but look at the doofuses on the other side. They are the least politically savvy politicians I can imagine, much less know of.

Realistically, with the amount of money the team can make at Arlington, there's nothing the most savvy politician could do to stop this. The city's only hope was the Bears either being immensely stupid and/or unable to come up with the funding.

[DegenerateDish]

Once the Bears put the bid in, they were never not going to be the winner. There’s no way they were going to bid (with public knowledge) and lose. I don’t know who in the organization greased the wheels here, but someone surely did.

Now it gets interesting. The city really has nothing to fall back on in regards to the Bears. The next mayor (I’m assuming it won’t be Lightfoot in 2023) has a heck of a decision to make. I’ve always contended that’s the ideal spot for the long awaited casino (but no gaming operators currently want anything to do with what the city has on the table). That Soldier Field land is massively valuable.

I also wonder (and have mentioned it here) if the door is now wide open for Chicago (Arlington Heights) to get an AFC team. The Jags lease is up in 2030, and with the Kahn family’s Illinois ties, it’s interesting that their lease is up right about the time the new stadium would be opening. The league could decide to expand and the Bears building a new stadium would certainly raise eyebrows.

Interesting times off the field, that’s for sure.

[Pakuni]

Once the Bears put the bid in, they were never not going to be the winner. There’s no way they were going to bid (with public knowledge) and lose. I don’t know who in the organization greased the wheels here, but someone surely did.

Now it gets interesting. The city really has nothing to fall back on in regards to the Bears. The next mayor (I’m assuming it won’t be Lightfoot in 2023) has a heck of a decision to make. I’ve always contended that’s the ideal spot for the long awaited casino (but no gaming operators currently want anything to do with what the city has on the table). That Soldier Field land is massively valuable.

I also wonder (and have mentioned it here) if the door is now wide open for Chicago (Arlington Heights) to get an AFC team. The Jags lease is up in 2030, and with the Kahn family’s Illinois ties, it’s interesting that their lease is up right about the time the new stadium would be opening. The league could decide to expand and the Bears building a new stadium would certainly raise eyebrows.

Interesting times off the field, that’s for sure.

Certainly the Bears could look to a team like the Jags to be the Chargers to their Rams, but don't forget that Khan has a lot interests in London and even tried to buy Wembley ... and not because he sees it as the future home of Fulham.

[DegenerateDish]

Certainly the Bears could look to a team like the Jags to be the Chargers to their Rams, but don't forget that Khan has a lot interests in London and even tried to buy Wembley ... and not because he sees it as the future home of Fulham.

I have heard secondhand that the idea of a full time London NFL team is now dead.

I think if/when the NFL expands to 36 teams, assuming no one moves, the new teams go Chicago/Arlington (AFC), San Antonio/Austin (AFC), Mexico City (NFC), Toronto (NFC).

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Scott Power is a good dude, glad he got the scoop.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Did Chicago really want to keep them?  Or do they want the site for other reasons?  Cause Lori didn’t sound too broken up here.

[DegenerateDish]

Did Chicago really want to keep them?  Or do they want the site for other reasons?  Cause Lori didn’t sound too broken up here.

It’s because she most likely isn’t getting re-elected. Pardon the pun, but she can punt this problem to the next mayor and not say she lost the Bears on her watch.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Rosenbloom:

https://twitter.com/steverosenbloom/status/1443189240314187785?s=19

🤣🤣🤣

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It’s because she most likely isn’t getting re-elected. Pardon the pun, but she can punt this problem to the next mayor and not say she lost the Bears on her watch.

Gotcha.  I think it would be interesting to see what a "second Chicago team" would look like.  The Jags moving there under a complete rebrand would be understandable, but would they draw anyone?

[cheebs09]

Gotcha.  I think it would be interesting to see what a "second Chicago team" would look like.  The Jags moving there under a complete rebrand would be understandable, but would they draw anyone?

That was kind of my thought. Would anyone cheer for them over the Bears? LA worked well due to it being a former team and another California team.

I don’t know if anyone is switching allegiances from the Bears to the Jaguars.

The Cubs/Sox at least have a North and South divide.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

LA also has enough non-natives that if you want to cheer for a team that isn't the one your obnoxious next door neighbor Rams' fan cheers for, you have another choice.

[Dr. Blackheart]

More on the done deal.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/09/29/bears-announce-purchase-of-property-in-arlington-heights/

[DegenerateDish]

More than fair questions on a second team. Winning early would build a brand early, no doubt.

I think the Chicago market has changed to a degree over the last 20 years. There are kids who have grown up Packer fans because the Packers have been consistently good for so long while the Bears have not. To be clear, I’m not saying this is a majority by any means, but it certainly exists.

If the Bears continue to not be good, the amount of Bears fatigue will continue to grow.

A second team here would always figuratively be the second team in the market. All that said, there isn’t a bigger market available (that doesn’t have two teams), and the accessibility to have dibs on half the cost of a brand new stadium, the first that would be built post gambling approval, would have significant financial appeal to someone.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yup, the Sun Times articles this last week led me to believe this was officially #donedeal.

I’m still kinda shocked the Bears figured out a way to maneuver here. They are the least politically savvy sports organization I know of.

Bluhm (Democrats, gambling, sports, real estate, Pritkzer and Durbin), Ryan (Olympics bid), and McKenna (Republicans, AH Mayor) are very connected, however. The question is what role the McCaskey Bears actually play in this in the end other than being the front of the bid? This won’t be a Ricketts deal like with Wrigley.

[JWags85]

I could see a second Chicago team being the de facto team for STL fans who have been homeless without the Rams.  Also, there are a ton of "Cubs fans" who are from Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, etc...living in Chicago and have the Cubs as their second team cause they are in the NL instead of their team in the AL.  A second Chicago team in the AFC could function the same way for a lot of the NFC North fan transplants perhaps.

[MDMU04]

The Bears aren't going anywhere, guys.

The McCaskeys are billionaires because they own the Bears, but they are completely illiquid with no independent wealth or other income other than the Bears.  The going price for an NFL stadium is somewhere around $1.5 billion. Without selling what would amount to their entire stake in the team (they're not the sole owners, only majority), they simply do not have the money.

They're not getting the money from the State.  It's not a matter of leverage there, Illinois doesn't have the money either.

There are only two possibilities here.  The NFL ponies up and builds the Bears the stadium or some consortium of local billionaires like Pat Ryan/Ken Griffin/Sam Zell pool their money and build it.  In both instances the Bears would lease the stadium from the owners, which would be their preference because the McCaskey family probably cannot afford the carrying cost for a new building.  The local billionaire option is the most intriguing, but Pat Ryan already owns a significant minority stake in the Bears and just donated almost half a billion dollars to Northwestern.  Sam Zell owned the Cubs for a while as a tax dodge, and I don't think Ken Griffin has any interest in doing something like this.

This "purchase agreement" is likely not materially different than an escrow contract for purchasing real estate.  This is a leverage ploy to get the Park District to lower the lease terms or maybe some nominal expansion of the facility, nothing more.

The Bears operate like a small market franchise because they have small market ownership.  No one there has the vision to do anything like this.  There is nothing to see here.

[MU82]

More than fair questions on a second team. Winning early would build a brand early, no doubt.

I think the Chicago market has changed to a degree over the last 20 years. There are kids who have grown up Packer fans because the Packers have been consistently good for so long while the Bears have not. To be clear, I’m not saying this is a majority by any means, but it certainly exists.

If the Bears continue to not be good, the amount of Bears fatigue will continue to grow.

A second team here would always figuratively be the second team in the market. All that said, there isn’t a bigger market available (that doesn’t have two teams), and the accessibility to have dibs on half the cost of a brand new stadium, the first that would be built post gambling approval, would have significant financial appeal to someone.

There was talk of a second Chicago team the last couple of times the Bears were threatening to move to the burbs, too.

I just don't see it, but I guess stranger things have happened. If the Jags move, would Chicago be more attractive than, say, San Antonio? Not to mention Austin, Oklahoma City, Portland or ... London?

[DegenerateDish]

Bluhm (Democrats, gambling, sports, real estate, Pritkzer and Durbin), Ryan (Olympics bid), and McKenna (Republicans, AH Mayor) are very connected, however. The question is what role the McCaskey Bears actually play in this in the end other than being the front of the bid? This won’t be a Ricketts deal like with Wrigley.

I agree with you on all counts here. The McCaskey’s or Phillips (someone) reached out and utilized the right people here. And to your other point, what is the final outcome here for all parties…that’s of significant intrigue.

[MU82]

On another note ...

Packers are 6.5 home favorites over a lost-looking Steelers team. Doesn't seem like enough points to me, almost like the Steelers are getting credit for being Steelers teams of past years.

[tower912]

The next Lions win will be the first one with a quarterback other than Matthew Stafford starting since the 10-11 season.  (Shaun Hill)

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

There was talk of a second Chicago team the last couple of times the Bears were threatening to move to the burbs, too.

I just don't see it, but I guess stranger things have happened. If the Jags move, would Chicago be more attractive than, say, San Antonio? Not to mention Austin, Oklahoma City, Portland or ... London?

Yes but only because Khan is from Illinois. The dude has money to burn, he gave his son an entire wrestling company just to mess around with.

[MU82]

Yes but only because Khan is from Illinois. The dude has money to burn, he gave his son an entire wrestling company just to mess around with.

Reminds me what my dad did for me. What fun I had with that cruise line!

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

On another note ...

Packers are 6.5 home favorites over a lost-looking Steelers team. Doesn't seem like enough points to me, almost like the Steelers are getting credit for being Steelers teams of past years.

People don't seem to want to come to the conclusion that Big Ben is done.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I agree with you on all counts here. The McCaskey’s or Phillips (someone) reached out and utilized the right people here. And to your other point, what is the final outcome here for all parties…that’s of significant intrigue.

Some foreshadowing from this summer. Bluhm and CDI are already partners. This deal was done months ago.

With the Bears gone from Soldier Field, Lori now owns one of the most valuable pieces of property in the world. What will she do with it? I am sure Rivers Casino would also like to help her out too.

https://www.letsgambleusa.com/chicago-bears-inks-exclusive-deal-with-rush-street-interactive/

[Jockey]

The next Lions win will be the first one with a quarterback other than Matthew Stafford starting since the 10-11 season.  (Shaun Hill)

You’re assuming there will be a next Lions win


Never mind, they get Trestman Nagy twice this year.