GARY, Ind. (WGN) – The battle for a new Chicago Bears stadium is intensifying with the city of Gary, Indiana unveiling their proposal for the team.
Titled “The Ultimate Comeback Story,” Gary Mayor Eddie Melton released his city’s proposal for a new Bears stadium and said Gary should not be overlooked.
“They passed Senate Bill 27, which is to create this authority to help build a facility for the Bears,” Melton said.
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According to Melton, Indiana is offering the Bears organization the tax certainty it is looking for now that state lawmakers have passed legislation to help the state secure the project.
(Photo: City of Gary)
“For our governor to already make the commitment that we’re going to do whatever it takes to bring the Bears here, I don’t think this is an opportunity that a business would want to pass up,” said Melton,
Gary is offering three options that he says are ready for immediate development.
The first is the Gary West End Entertainment District, adjacent to Hard Rock Casino, Indiana’s highest grossing gaming venue. Gary officials claim the area is a proven entertainment hub.
Second place is Buffington Harbor. Officials say it’s a prime opportunity at sea with established infrastructure and quick access to multiple forms of transportation.
Finally, Miller Beach is described as a unique footprint near miles of sandy beaches and the Indiana Dunes National Park, which attracts three million annual visitors.
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“This is an area of Chicagoland. Just because we have this invisible border line doesn’t stop us from working together,” said Melton.
The Mayor added that Gary is transforming with a historic decrease in violent crime and for the first time in 50 years, an increase in population, which is something that is bringing new business investments and expansions to the city.
“We are seeing an influx of more Chicago residents looking at Gary, Indiana, and building new homes. We are making it inviting and enticing to grow the population and make it safe and secure,” Melton said.
While his city is another state away, he argued it is closer to downtown Chicago and more accessible than Arlington Heights, another city that is aggressively bidding for the project, but has stopped short of a bill that would help limit the team’s property tax bill.
Under Cook County’s current tax structure, the Bears would reportedly pay about $200 million a year in their new stadium, an astronomical amount compared to any other NFL team.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also weighed a possible move in Indiana.
“I believe it’s best for the Bears to stay in the state of Illinois. I don’t think the fans want the Bears to be based in any other state than Illinois, and frankly, I think at this point we should be talking about crushing the Rams, not a stadium,” Pritzker said.
Melton said he spoke personally with lawmakers this week and said he is confident the development in Gary can happen as quickly as the team needs.
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