A new wrinkle has emerged in the Chicago Bears stadium saga as Iowa lawmakers try to position the state as a landing spot if the franchise’s long-running search for a new home drifts beyond Illinois and Indiana.
Seven state senators introduced Senate File 2252, a bill that would expand Iowa’s MEGA (major economic growth attraction) development program to include incentives for building an NFL stadium. MEGA has traditionally targeted large investments of at least $1 billion in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, biosciences and research and development.
Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen framed the filing as an opportunity play, saying the bill was meant to “show a team in our neighboring state that we are ready for them if their home state doesn’t want them. While Illinois and Indiana squabble over this issue, we are ready to get off the sidelines and into the game.”
Sen. Scott Webster took a sharper tone, adding, “After years of Bears fans seeking refuge across the Mississippi River from the incompetence, corruption and punitive tax and regulatory climate in the state of Illinois, it is time for the team to join their fans on the west side of the river.”
Geography is the obvious hurdle. Des Moines is the state’s largest market with a population of around 750,000, while the Quad Cities on the Iowa-Illinois border — about 175 miles from Soldier Field — are home to 470,000. Iowa also lacks a major pro franchise to build around.
Still, the timing is telling. The Bears’ stadium talks have centered on public funding, including a recent push for $855 million in infrastructure support tied to a project costing more than $5 billion. And with places like Gary, Ind., publicly rolling out “plug-and-play” stadium concepts, Iowa is making sure it’s on the board — even if it’s the longest shot.
