Dec 4, 2009 9:41 pm US/Central
Bears Are Stiff-Arming Taxpayers, Critics Say
They Urge Daley To Force A Contract Reopener For Solder Field Lease
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
We're struggling through a recession, but taxpayers are still paying for costly renovations to Soldier Field.
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports that some critics are calling interference.
The Bears are privately owned. Forbes magazine says they're one of the most profitable teams in the NFL. Yet taxpayers are on the hook for the roughly $400 million loan that pays for most of the improvements to Soldier Field.
But one consultant says the Bears' rent is among the cheapest. So from parking to property tax, we're all paying more.
Critics suggest: Shouldn't the Bears?
Sports writer and legal analyst Lester Munson says he's researched it.
"This deal is the dream deal for the owner of a team," he said.
How much did the team pay out of its pockets for the actual renovation?
"In all other big markets, it is always a little public money and a lot of team money," he said. "Here it was the reverse."
The Center on Tax and Budget Accountability says that shouldn't be.
"Government has a list of things it does and it has to do and it should do – essential public services, keeping people safe," executive director Ralph Martire said. "It really has no major role to pay in subsidizing the private sector."
It's a private sector that profits from games -- there are 10 this year -- that many taxpayers can't even afford in these tougher times.
That has critics asking: Where's the benefit to them? The question comes at a time when the losing team might not be generating as much revenue in things like sales tax on Bears merchandise.
So the question is: Who can change the terms of the Bears' $5.7 million yearly lease?
"The only person who can change this lease is (Mayor) Daley -- he has total control of the situation," Munson said.
He said Daley was behind the deal that he calls a gift to the Bears owners, the McCaskey family.
"I cannot imagine the mayor spending even a short lunch with the McCaskeys," Munson said. "They are the cobra and the mongoose, and yet he made this deal as a gift to the McCaskeys. … You're going to have to ask the mayor (why)."
A spokesperson at Mayor Daley's press office referred all calls to the Chicago Park District, the Bears' landlord, which did not offer a meaningful response to the major question: Is the team paying its fair share?
As for the Bears, a rep disputes the Forbes figures and statements that the team has one of the sweetest lease agreements.
CBS 2 Political Producer Ed Marshall contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
The Tattooed Ladies of Hollywood
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments