Whether the Bears stay in Chicago or move to the burbs and even if they get a fancy new, expensive stadium on the lake at the expense of taxpayers and our beloved Museum Campus, one thing will still be true: They will still be Da Bears.
All this drama and expected support for a better venue would make a lot more sense after a trustworthy string of winning seasons. C’mon! If the Bears were winning, the fans would pay top dollar to watch them play in a sandlot.
Players want to join a team that knows how to win. Fans want tickets to the games of a team that knows how to win. Broadcasting wants the rights to games of teams that know how to win. Advertisers want to sponsor teams that know how to win — no matter where they play their winning games.
If the Bears would put all the money and effort into playing the game of football instead of trying to build a stadium, a lot more of their dreams would come true. Then maybe the football fans in Chicago could spend hard-earned money on tickets, and the private sector would finally see a reason to invest in a new stadium.
— Linda Finley Belan, Chicago
Don’t forget Sox stadium fiasco
Oh, man, with a $3 billion stadium, the Bears certainly would be able to win a couple of games a season, right? Heck, taxpayers would have to pay for at least half of the cost of the stadium, right?
I clearly remember when then-Gov. James Thompson announced the deal for the White Sox’s new stadium that was going to be a really good deal for Illinois taxpayers. And how much have the White Sox owners paid back for that fiasco?
— Bob Blackthorne, Vandalia, Michigan
Build something that matters
If we are going to use taxpayer money to build something on our lakefront, let’s build something that actually benefits the taxpayers. Let the Bears move to Arlington Heights. Take down Soldier Field, and in its place, build a state-of-the-art veterans hospital and rehabilitation facility. What better place to care for those who defend us than on our beautiful lakefront?
— Ron Gafron, Hoffman Estates
Chicago Bears should just go
Haven’t taxpayers grown weary enough of the McCaskey family and the inferior product they call the Chicago Bears? The McCaskeys’ sleight of hand has become painfully obvious with their turning the conversation into the demolition of Soldier Field and, of course, more taxpayer money to do so.
George Lucas’ museum to himself was driven out of town on a rail, and it’s now time to do the same with the Bears. They have their Arlington Heights property. Go! They have made their veiled threat to leave the state. Go.
They have justified their demand to make taxpayers pay yet again. Go and take your lame product with you. The Bears already made their McCaskey bed many times over, stuffed with millions of taxpayer dollars. Now sleep in it or go!
— Thomas J. Burgan, Geneva
Why tear down Soldier Field?
The April 23 Tribune Sports section reported that the Bears were going to announce their domed stadium plan on Wednesday (“Team to announce domed stadium plan”). The second paragraph of the article indicated that Soldier Field would be demolished under this plan.
Are you kidding me? Who would allow that to happen to one of our wonderful structures? Are they also planning to perhaps join forces with the European sports clubs in Italy and France, to name a few, and tear down the Colosseum, as well as the Eiffel Tower? These same people have, most likely, had the opportunity to marvel at the two aforementioned structures and would not think of having them torn down by a greedy group of individuals.
This also goes for news a few months back that DePaul University was going to tear down five beautiful row houses built at the turn of the 20th century in order to build a new stadium for its basketball team. Why not tear down Schmidt Center and build it there?
Is the city of Chicago so willing to have old, beautiful structures torn down in order to appease certain individuals? There are other sites. Build it, and they will come.
— Slavka Fager, Chicago
Don’t give tax money to teams
There is absolutely no reason for Illinois taxpayers to fund a private enterprise for the Sox or Bears. Everybody knows it is a bad investment that only benefits the billionaires involved. Historically, other cities have found no great return on investment. The Ricketts family own its stadium. Rocky Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf co-own the United Center. Those are good precedents!
First, we need to recall the historic dismal performances of each franchise. A Sox World Series victory in 2005 and a Bears Super Bowl victory in 1986 do not inspire. Reinsdorf is not a sportsman. Bears founder George Halas is rumored to have said winning is not the first priority. Filling the seats is!
Since both franchise owners have indicated they would volunteer at least a billion each, why not pool their billions and consider just one stadium they would both own? Just like the co-owners of United Center. They could take out loans to pay any differences. A new sports facility with a dome that could be reconfigured for each sport would be ideal. If any overlap occurs, I’m sure the existing Sox Guaranteed Rate Field would be available.
This plan would eliminate the Illinois taxpayer, who is overtaxed anyway.
— Joseph A. Murzanski, Orland Park
Consider Cleveland stadium
Football stadium on the lakeshore? Visit Cleveland, which has one blocking the excellent view of Lake Erie. Ugly!
— Robert Nelis, Chicago
Guaranteed Rate a great park
Recently, our family ventured down to Guaranteed Rate Field to enjoy a day at the ball park. I had not been there since the facility opened way back when. After attending baseball games in various parks all over the country, I was very impressed. Here are my impressions in no particular order:
1. Easy to get up to the 500 level.
2. Comfortable seats.
3. Good food selection.
4. Good views; no obstructions.
5. Great fans.
It was a wonderful experience in a well-designed ballpark. I was left wondering: What is wrong with this facility? Guaranteed Rate Field has so much more life in it; there is no reason to replace it. Rather than spend money creating a new neighborhood/entertainment district, the city and state should hire an urban planner and focus on improving the area around the existing wonderful ballpark we already enjoy.
— Brad Kaplan, Chicago
Sox should play ball for fun
Right now, the Chicago White Sox are no fun to watch and impossible to root for. Until Ozzie Guillen returns as manager and instills some passion, spunk and swagger to the club, there’s little hope for success on the South Side.
All the players can do now is, yes, have fun! Forget about winning. Forget about losing. Forget about pressing. Forget about trying to explain it. Go play ball! It’s a game. It’s a kids’ game. Find the kid in yourself who loves the game and go play ball!
— Joe Artabasy, Glencoe
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