CHERRY VALLEY – State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) released the following statement after reports that the Chicago Bears plan to move forward with stadium development in Hammond, Indiana:
“For the past six months, Republicans have urged Governor Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders to take the Bears stadium issue seriously. Instead, they repeatedly dismissed concerns and operated under the assumption that the Bears would never leave Illinois.
“If these reports are true, Illinois stands to lose thousands of construction jobs, thousands of permanent jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue. The consequences will be felt far beyond Chicago.
“This is not just about football. It is about investment, and whether Illinois can compete with neighboring states for major economic opportunities. The reality is, under the current failed leadership, we can’t.
“I am urging Governor Pritzker to personally engage in this situation and do everything possible to keep the Bears in Illinois. Losing one of the most iconic franchises in professional sports would be a major blow to our state and a failure we cannot afford to accept.”