Bears will not receive public funding for their new stadium plans

It’s official as the state’s budget passes with nothing earmarked for the Bears.

On Wednesday, the Illinois House passed a $53 billion budget, but not one cent of public funding was approved for the Chicago Bears proposed domed lakefront stadium project.

Hope is not entirely lost because, according to Fox 32, Illinois’ lawmakers will return in the fall for their veto session, during which bills require a three-fifths majority to pass, and the Bears will try for a fourth-quarter Hail Mary to secure funding.

But for now, the Bears’ stadium project, which has jumped from potential location to potential location, is on hold as the House’s budget found no room for professional sports.

“There’s really no appetite to put public taxpayer dollars into sports stadiums benefiting billion-dollar franchises,” Illinois Senate President Don Harmon explained, “and to date, nobody has made a compelling argument why this is good for the city or good for the state, not just for the Bears or White Sox.”

The Bears issued a statement.

“We continue to have productive conversations since we unveiled our vision to invest more than $2 billion of private money to a new, publicly owned enclosed stadium which will create 43,000 construction jobs and more than 4,000 permanent jobs. We look forward to continuing to meet with elected officials, community leaders, business leaders, residents and fans to collaborate on ways to make this massive economic development project for Illinois a reality,”

Staying in Chicago has seemed to come to the forefront of late, but perhaps suburban Arlington Heights can get back in the game.

Earlier this month, when it first became apparent that the state likely wouldn’t approve public funding, Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes told NBC Sports Chicago, “We expected there to be challenges associated with the lakefront proposal and remain willing and ready to resume discussions with the Bears on redevelopment of their property in Arlington Heights.”

We’re still a long way from any clarity on the Bears’ new home field.