The Chicago Bears are far more than a football team. They are part of this state’s identity and a significant driver of economic activity. On game days alone, tens of thousands of fans pour into the region, supporting hotels, restaurants, bars, transportation services and small businesses. Over th e course of a season and through year-round events such as concerts, a modern NFL stadium supports thousands of full-time and part-time jobs and generates substantial sales, income and hospitality tax revenue. The Bears are tenants at Soldier Field, a stadium owned and operated by the Chicago Park District. Over the years, the Bears have fulfilled their obligations as a tenant: paying rent, contributing to the stadium’s renovation and signaling a willingness to pay the required contractual penalty should they choose to exit their lease early. There is no legal or contractual basis for requiring the Bears to reimburse the city of Chicago or the Park District for infrastructure decisions those entities independently chose to make. Across Illinois, responsibility for roads, utilities, transit access and other major infrastructure has always rested with government, particularly when it comes to large-scale economic development projects. This is true whether the project is a major shopping center, a distribution facility, a large residential development or a professional sports stadium. These investments are public improvements that serve the broader community. They are not subsidies for private businesses, nor are they debts that can be retroactively assigned to tenants. Yet, Chicago Democrats appear to be demanding that the Bears repay hundreds of millions of dollars in Park District debt as a condition of moving forward with any stadium relocation or redevelopment plan. That demand ignores long-standing practice, misunderstands the Bears’ legal obligations and risks undermining one of Illinois’ most important economic assets. Beyond game-day spending, the Bears contribute to Illinois’ broader economic profile. Professional sports franchises help anchor large-scale development, attract national and international attention, and position a region as a destination for tourism and investment. A state-of-the-art, multiuse stadium has the potential to host major sporting events, concerts, conventions and global showcases that bring visitors and revenue to Illinois well beyond Sunday and Monday night football. Losing the Bears would have serious and lasting consequences. Jobs would disappear. Tourism would decline. Local businesses, many already operating on thin margins, would feel the impact immediately. State and local governments would lose ongoing revenue streams that far exceed the cost of responsible public infrastructure investment. Once gone, that economic activity would be nearly impossible to replace. Even more troubling, the current approach risks driving the Bears not just out of Chicago but out of Illinois entirely. Northwest Indiana, which is within an hour of Chicago, is eager to attract large-scale economic development projects. That region understands that providing roads, utilities and public access is part of doing business, not a ransom to be paid by private investors. This should not be a partisan issue. Supporting public infrastructure for major economic development has long been a bipartisan principle in Illinois. Republicans and Democrats alike have recognized that strategic infrastructure investment creates jobs, grows the tax base and strengthens communities. That same logic applies here.  This also should not be conflated with the property tax discussion between the Bears and Arlington Heights, which will affect taxpayers and local governments in that area. They are separate issues, both requiring ultimate agreement. Nobody wants taxpayers to be left holding a massive bill when all is said and done.  Related Articles Liam Stanton: Good. Better. Best. A Chicago way to keep the Bears home. Editorial: Leverage-obsessed Chicago Bears do their best to squelch the good seasonal vibes Gov. JB Pritzker and his administration now face an important choice. They can side with an effort to recoup Park District debt by shifting responsibility onto the Bears or they can take a broader view that recognizes the economic stakes for the entire state. Committing to the public infrastructure necessary to support a multibillion-dollar private investment would keep one of the founding franchises of the NFL in Illinois, protect thousands of jobs and ensure long-term economic benefits for generations to come. Illinois cannot afford to let ideology, political infighting or short-term thinking drive away one of its most valuable economic and cultural institutions. The Bears have met their obligations. Now it is time for Chicago, the Park District and the state as a whole to meet theirs. We need to keep our beloved and historic Chicago Bears in Illinois and not allow financial greed to stand in the way of doing what’s right. State Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, represents Illinois’ 33rd Senate District in Kane, McHenry and DuPage counties and serves as the minority spokesperson for the Senate Revenue and Senate Transportation Committees. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected]. ...read more read less