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Chicago Tribune: Ghosts of stadiums past haunt Chicago Bears quest for a new stadium deal

May 2, 2026 in Recent Media Coverage

Soldier Field under construction on Dec. 5, 2002. The renovation was completed in 2003. The team kicked in $200 million toward the $632 million project, but the public still owes $467 million for the job. (José Moré/Chicago Tribune)

As Illinois and Indiana lawmakers debate public financing options for a potential new Chicago Bears stadium, past stadium deals are shaping the conversation around taxpayer costs and long-term economic impact. The Chicago Tribune examined how projects such as Lucas Oil Stadium, Soldier Field and Rate Field continue to influence modern stadium negotiations, particularly surrounding public subsidies and infrastructure spending. The story turned to University of Indianapolis finance professor Matt Will for analysis of Indiana’s proposal, noting that the state could uniquely benefit by drawing economic activity and spending away from Illinois while leveraging lower construction costs. Will argued that beyond direct economics, professional sports franchises also carry significant intangible civic value that communities are often willing to support financially. His expertise places the debate within a broader understanding of stadium economics, regional competition and the public policy tradeoffs tied to large-scale sports development projects.