Dupage Policy Journal

On May 1, 2024, Senator Seth Lewis, the Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Appropriations- Public Safety & Infrastructure Committee, raised questions during a hearing with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) regarding the proposed new lakefront stadium for the Chicago Bears.

Senator Lewis emphasized the importance of clarifying facts amidst speculation, stating, “The rumor mill has been running wild since last week’s new stadium proposal announcement, and I felt we needed to separate fact from fiction.” He also highlighted that the ISFA's ability to proceed with a new stadium is contingent on legislation approved by the General Assembly.

During the hearing, Frank Bilecki, the Chief Executive Officer of ISFA, addressed concerns about funding for the stadium project. He refuted claims that Chicago residents would not bear any financial responsibility, stating, “There have been statements made that the residents of Chicago are not and will not be responsible for one dime of the cost of a new stadium, and that is simply not the case.”

Senator Lewis pointed out that in case of shortfall in hotel tax receipts, the State of Illinois could offset the deficit by reducing the Local Government Distributive Funds (LGDF) allocated to Chicago. He noted, “LGDF funds are Chicagoans’ tax dollars. They are already being used to pay the debt service for the White Sox and Bears’ stadiums, and that debt service doesn’t expire until 2029 and 2033 respectively.”

Bilecki acknowledged the reliance on LGDF funds for bond payments, estimating a potential annual requirement of up to $20 million until the bond repayment schedule concludes in 2033. The total ISFA budget request for Fiscal Year 2025 stands at $80.275 million.