HR0404LRB102 18989 LAW 27717 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, More than 40 professional sports franchises have
3relocated since 1960; some moves of this sort are widely
4anticipated and leave no major scars; other relocations,
5however, are still bemoaned decades later as civic and
6economic wounds of historic proportions; and
 
7    WHEREAS, While there are many financial reasons why the
8Chicago Bears are unlikely to leave Soldier Field for
9Arlington Heights any time soon, the fact that the team has
10expressed exploring buying property in the suburbs is
11disconcerting as many fans consider the Chicago Bears to be
12part of Chicago's identity and a source of unity born of civic
13pride; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Even as many of us make regular pilgrimages to
15Soldier Field, fans also readily acknowledge that the stadium
16isn't the most comfortable or modern of NFL venues; in fact, in
17a recent informal survey held on patch.com, over 70 percent of
186,000 readers responded that they would like to see the team
19move; despite the survey's informality, results like this
20merit our attention; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The economics of major professional sports
22leagues have been changing dramatically in recent years; from

 

 

HR0404- 2 -LRB102 18989 LAW 27717 r

1television and streaming rights to team-sanctioned legalized
2sports betting to worldwide merchandising deals and massive
3media empires, teams have become huge corporate conglomerates
4with wide-ranging interests far beyond the stadium; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Chicago Bears are an important source of
6economic activity and civic pride for the City of Chicago;
7therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
9HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we urge the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois to work
11with the owners of the Chicago Bears in order to reach an
12agreement that both parties see as equitable and beneficial to
13keep the team in Chicago; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15delivered to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.