Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Lawmakers in Illinois, Indiana to consider legislation for Bears stadium (Hour 1)

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris opened their show by discussing how Illinois and Indiana lawmakers are both gathering Thursday to consider legislation regarding the Bears’ pursuit of a new stadium. Later, Score callers shared their thoughts on the Bears’ push to build a new stadium.

The score! This hour is brought to you by Vesectomy Clinics of Chicago. The views and opinions of Lela Rahimi, Marshall Harris, and Mark Grotty should not be taken too seriously. Especially when they give advice. Do not take Marshall's analogies, literally. Especially when it comes to Russell Dorsey. The sports thoughts of Rahimi Harrison Grotie may change at any time. It's just sports.

Gay thanks. Bye. Rahimi Harrison Grody. 10 to 2 on 104 3. The score. Ben Johnson has been successfully radicalized by George McCasky, or George McCasky just knew that it was in him the whole time. Listen to what Ben Johnson had to say to our friend Mike Floreau.

I'm going to ask you a question the way Jerry Seinfeld would. What is the deal with the Packers? Who likes the Packers? Have you talked to Matt LaFleur at all? Because I feel like he gets confused. Like, what did I do? Do you have any relationship with him? Have you heard from him?

Has he called you up and he said, What's the deal? Like anything like that? No, no, we don't talk. Okay. Do you want it that way? I'm good with it. Has he tried to reach out to you?

No. He's nice. He's a close talker. A what? You'll see. See, I don't even think it's chicken egg scenario. I think this is what happened. Ben Johnson interviewed with the Bears.

He wanted the job. He told us so on his first ever Zoom interview with Ryan Poles and company. He got the job. And then once he got with George McCasky, he was like, oh, you feel this strongly about the Packers? Guess what? So do I. What? Did we just become best?

friends. Yep! You want to go do karate in the garage? Yep. And what happens with a good final boss in any good video game? You think you've got the final boss beat? You think you've slayed that dragon? No. Cure the Kung Fu laugh where you've got to go up more stairs. Not a big fat panda. I'm the big fat panda. The whooshy thing? Oh, you know this horrid. You're bluffing. You're bluffing. Shifu didn't teach you there. Nope. I figured it out. Scooosh.

Lela Rahimi, Marshall Harris, Mark Grody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 1043, The Score. This is Rahimi Harris and Grotie on 1043 The Score. The way that my brain just automatically hit a certain memory on the Seinfeld riff, that was fantastic work, as usual, Tyler Bueberbaugh. the deal with the Packers. That was fantastic. This is Rahimi Harris and Grady on 104-3 The Score. Layla Rahimi and Marshall Harris with you on this Thursday.

I don't want to call it Bears Stadium Day because that would imply that something real is occurring. But this is Bears. We're closer to finding out some stuff. Stadium Day. I only think of it is Bears' Next Step Day. And there's going to be a lot of Bears' next step days along the way. But this is a significant one.

because of where we are on the calendar, both from a shovels in the ground standpoint, but also more importantly from a legislative standpoint. Well, and that's it. So there are some big things that are happening in both Indiana and Illinois regarding their efforts to try to get some infrastructure in place, either from a how we're going to finance this side from the state of Indiana. That's the Senate Bill 27 that we understand has been approved. Then there's language they want to look over.

Then it has to be approved. Governor Braun. So that is happening today. Chris Emma, our Bears reporter, is not just only at the combine, but he's also standing by because conveniently the statehouse in Indiana in Indianapolis is right across from the combine. So that works out well for everybody involved. So he may literally be standing by trying to figure out what's going on there and he will give us the latest and let us know what's happening. He might not be on the show today because of it or maybe he breaks in. It's just one of those hurry up and wait type of days. And then on the other side, the pilot bill, that is the payment in lieu of taxation,

which is important to stress here, in lieu of taxation. So that's big when it comes to trying to figure out an agreement in the state of Illinois regarding the infrastructure at the already purchased Arlington Heights project. That is also, as we understand, being heard right now. That was on the schedule. unlike last week, the Bears did not postpone that meeting. So now we're here and we think it's happening right now. There's one thing we do know about covering government meetings, though,

as experienced news reporters, both Marshall Harris and me, it's that that meeting isn't going to happen and end anytime before the next two segments. So we kind of get to reset and understand what is going on. No matter how you look at it, the Bears are going to get closer to getting a stadium today. You know the famous question, are you any closer to winning a Super Bowl? Can't answer that today, but we can't answer that the bears are going to get closer to building a stadium somewhere today. So the big House committee meeting in Illinois is the one, and then the vote in Indiana is the other. So it feels like two competing sides are doing their thing to advance

and maybe survive in advance to the next level. I'm really curious to see how this day shakes out, because, as you know, I believe, ultimately, they're going to build in Arlington Heights. It's just a matter what steps they have to take to get the best deal, the Bears, for that, and what protections the government of Illinois, the governor, J.B. Prisker, all the representatives, Cam Buckner and the like, what steps they have to take to protect us, the taxpayers? And I think since we're sports people, and this is a sports topic, the Bears Stadium, and you're listening to us because you probably like sports. really curious if you're listening to us and you don't.

I really want to know the answer. 312-644-67-67. But we tend to look at it as a two states facing off. Like you're writing a promo or something and it's you're competing. But what's compelling to me is there are two very different scenarios, right? For example, in Illinois, the Bears bought the Arlington Heights property. In Indiana, they had different municipalities, Portage, Gary, Hammond, say, hey, these are sites we think you guys would like.

Here's what we can present to you as far as a relative location. It's not a set location in Hammond, but we understand the Wolf Lake site is where it would be. Here's an idea of how that would go. Here's an idea of how that infrastructure would take place ingress and egress around the stadium. And then Indiana goes, here's an idea of how this will be financed.

Here's a bunch of taxes that we've talked about. We've gone over those the past couple of days. Indiana Capital Chronicle also summarizes those as well. and then also here's where the rest of the money may come from. That might be the bonds, for example. And then Governor Mike Braun said last week, when asked about that direct competition discussion, I think he answered it well when he said,

this is what we want to do. Like they're acting, he thinks his state and what they're doing is acting in good faith in diplomacy to try to get the bears, not necessarily maybe from a competitive standpoint, but from a we can offer you this and it would be a positive for us because of this. And I think in Illinois, I don't necessarily know if it's,

we don't want to lose to Indiana. The only person who really may be saying that is George McCasky himself. You know, he's the one who's kind of the wild card in this. And for people who say, oh, well, Ted Phillips bought that land, he still bought it at the behest of the McCaskey family and the Bears. You know, he still did what he did because he had a boss. So when you keep all of that in my mind, mind, it really may just come back to the only competition here may be among Georgian himself

as to whether or not he wants the team to go to what he feels like would be a better financial offer in Indiana, or is it enough with whatever bill comes through in Illinois to say to himself, this is enough for us to make this deal here? You could argue that right now, Indiana, Illinois, they are in an, dare I say, elimination chamber of sorts. So you're going back to the promo. Yeah, I'm going back to cut the promo. I just don't think they're competing with each other.

Well. Because one already got the land and one may not want it as much as the other. In the same vein, in the same vein, I think George McCasky is in a torture chamber with himself, trying to figure it out, trying to figure out what moves his needle to make, let's be honest, the biggest decision the bears have made in the last, and you can just tell me how many decades you want to go back. Because this is his legacy, point blank.

This is his legacy that is on the line. People remember George McCasky for this new stadium and what it looks like, whether it's in Arlington Heights, or whether it's across state lines, and he'll be the guy who moved the bears out of Illinois. Well, another thing is, you know, George McCasky's legacy as chairman prior to this was playoff ineptitude.

So things can change. you know, there is a playoff win now on his record, and I think that's a very good thing. But at the same time, also what has been unfortunately part of the Bears' legacy is out-of-order processes. And if you don't believe me on this, and I've told you I've done my research, and you can too, because the stories are out there. Cam Buckner, the Illinois State Representative, even ahead of this meeting that is very important right now in the state legislature, talk to David Haw and Clay Harbor this morning, explaining the, not only the Bears' debt with Soldier Field, but also the out-of-order process that occurs with how they did this. But, you know, I'm in Chicago, and I live in the city.

I represent the city is important for me to make sure that Chicago is not loatholding the bag in this conversation. And so that is not actually part of this bill. Once again, this is blanket pilot legislation that will work for. companies throughout the state. But as you can imagine, I have been on the grindstone making sure that we are doing the things that are important for Chicago. The Social Bureau renovation of 2001 is one where, once again, we're still left holding the bag,

and that's not okay, right? And so we've got to find a way to deal with the sins of the past, but also to create some framework for the future. I also, if I can jump real quick and say, you know, I think when we look at this whole thing, I know people are frustrated at how long is taking, how long is it? longer than it's taking. I just want to remind folks that buying the land in the Arlington Heights for probably $100 million more than it was worth without having a plan is not really the right way that

that should have happened, right? We kind of got here because of that. In football terms, that's like spending a first round pick on a defensive tackle without watching his film or knowing the scheme fit, right? That's like you don't draft Cam Buckford without doing your due diligence, and then you get mad that he's not explosive enough to be a three technique and he bites on misdirections and traps, right? That's not bad luck. That's a bad process. And so we should call that what it is

and then figure out to move forward. When I say Chef's Kiss on that analogy, I mean, he really broke it down so that a football loving fan can understand exactly how bad of a decision it was for the Bears to go ahead and go out of order and buying the land before

you knew what was up with the land. Off the top rope. For a hundred million more than what it was worth? Yeah, he was very specific to lace that in there. I mean, he He wanted to make his point. Point received, Mr. Buckner. Point received.

Well, and for people who ask, oh, how is he qualified? Well, first of all, Cam Buckner worked for the team and was part of the negotiation process when the Cubs were renovated in Wrigley Field and asked for public money. And they didn't get it. And they've created an ecosystem on their own dollar that everybody uses year-round

in a neighborhood in the city of Chicago. Which is the example? That is the example. of an actual stadium project that worked. I say stadium loosely because Wrigley Field, as we know, is a ballpark, but that's kind of the concept here. Cam Bukter was a part of that. And the Cubs did it in a way that didn't put any sort of pressure on a taxpayer.

We say what we want about the Cubs spending on players, but when it came to asking for our money, they didn't do that. And that's important because Cam Bukter was a part of it. Then to additionally point out what we've been saying the whole time, which is you already bought the land. That's not our job to clean up. It's not your job. It's not my job.

It's not you, the listener's job. Nor should it be our job to help foot a bill for a stadium when they're already playing in one that we're paying for right now, which is that renovation discussion that also happens. But states are still willing to work with the bears. It's just to what extent and to what price. and that's what this comes down to. But he's right. This process was out of order.

I'll say it again until I'm blue in the face. Show me another NFL team that bought land with the express purpose on the record like George McCasky was to build a stadium and then not use it. He's like, we're going to build a stadium. We have no idea what it's going to cost us as far as tax money to do it and how it's going to get done. But we have the land right there.

Well, I mean, but that was the problem. The Indiana process is, is showing you how it's supposed to traditionally go. If you take the Arlington Heights purchase out of it, then the Indiana process is, oh, you know, like various municipalities will say, we'll give you this tax break, we'll give you that tax break, and then you buy the land because you still have the leverage at that point because you haven't done anything, and then you decide.

And that's why this is different. And it's also worth noting, you know, there's the Bears stadium tax itself, and then there's the money for the whole parcel of land, that they want to develop. And when they say that, they mean like mixed use, residential, retail, you know, that type of thing. Build your Applebee's and such and your apartment buildings around it and have it be an ecosystem similar to Wrigley,

which is the prototype. Applebee's is a heck of a pool right there, eating good in the neighborhood. Well, and, you know, the music, you know, the song that plays during the NFL commercials and then you could have Dan Campbell with his card in front of his mouth taking your wings order. Listen, I look at the...

this and that's why today is so interesting, intriguing. I'm sure it's anxiety inducing for a certain segment of the population. I think people are getting uncomfortable with the idea that the Bears would not be in Illinois, but I would tell those people the Bears are going to be in Illinois. I like seeing the leverage play out because I enjoy how business works with negotiations and everything else. But as long as Illinois gets this through committee today, I feel like the path is it. Now, if it doesn't get through committee for some reason, then okay, what are we doing? But I could see the Indiana bill passing, getting to the governor's desk.

I can see the Illinois bill getting out of committee. Now, I don't know if that next step is going to be expedited, but it feels like we're getting to the end of some type of resolution. Resolution for money that the bears need. Yeah. That's the part of this. This is the bears needing money. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotia on 1043, the score. we are expecting a resolution on the pilot bill, the infrastructure deal that the Bears want from Arlington Heights in the state of Illinois today.

We're also expecting progress made on Senate Bill 27 in Indiana, which would be the funding arm and how they want to finance a possible Bears Stadium in Indiana today. So it's a busy day. And Cam Buckner talked to our morning show, which was David Haw and Clay Harbor this morning, and reminded people about just the financial situation this state is in. We're definitely an hour away from a hearing in the House Revenue and Finance Committee. And look, I'll be honest, though, we've made real progress. We've had some great conversations over the last few weeks about what the Bears' futures should look like. Obviously, we believe it should be here in the state of Illinois and I've been charged with trying to help that happen. And so, you know, we have said from the beginning that we have to put together.

a framework that makes sense that we're not in the blank check business, but this bill being heard today is actually the opposite of a bling check. It's the first step in a checks and balances process that forces clarity, talked about who pays for what the public gets and what the guardrails are to protect taxpayers. And so stadium deals take some time. They're complicated. This is not my first one. And I think that we're going to get to what we need to go.

And I think that that's also important. You know, like, and the blank check business is them saying, we don't have a, the money for this. And in Indiana, they want to add additional taxes and possibly have to issue bonds, although they did not have to do that with Lucas Oil Stadium to try to make up the cost. With Indiana, if they were to build that stadium, it's going to cost a lot of people, a lot of money. You know, a lot of it's going to be the people who are going to the games.

It's going to just be a more expensive experience to get there, do all the stuff. because of the taxes. Well, but to that end, though, you know, if it's, it's not just the games, ideally it's also concerts and any sort of events that are held. But I don't know that that's enough days. You know, we talked about this. Like some of the reported taxes are, in addition to an existing 6% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties, it would go up another percent.

The tolls would be renegotiated. So that's something people use every day. There's also the hotel tax that would go up. considerably doubled from perhaps five to 10 percent. And one of the questions we got asked yesterday is, well, why are you saying only Indiana people would pay it? That's not what we're saying. We're saying that the taxes are levied in the state of Indiana. So it's safe to say that theoretically on an everyday tax, like your food and beverage, you know who's paying for that every day. That would be their

residents, you know? But they, the state might say it's worth it to us to do this to have the Bears Stadium development. And that's a compelling argument. You know, there's a reason they want to have it there. So I think that that's important to point out as well. It's not necessarily like you and I are waiting on a government form from Illinois. And yes, that is a frustrating process. And you go to Indiana because you think you can get it done better there. It's more along the lines of Indiana thinks this is good for their state. They're willing to pay for it in these ways to make sure that that happens. No, no, I get the galvanization of the land and everything else in northwest Indiana. And

and what that would mean to that region. I get that. I just think the Arlington Heights thing is not a no-brainer, but they can make it close to a no-brainer with getting the right type of bill out of committee today and then eventually passed. Governor signs it, and away we go. You can call us and text us at 312-644-67-67

and ask us questions like, so how many pieces of flare do I need to get into the Bears' Applebee's? 17. I think you need 85 pieces. of flare. So 100 of the 85 Bears. I was going with the number of games in the season, but yes, that, that works too. 17 is a much more reasonable piece of flare.

85, you got pieces going down your back, your sides, you know, that's a lot of flare. Yes. So that is how much flare you would need to get into my mythical bears Applebee's. 312, 644, 67, 67 is our number. You can also join us on Twitch. Our address changed on Twitch, guys. We're still there. We're still there free for you.

but we are at the score Chicago now. We're still on 670. You can reach us in farther parts of our listening area with that address, but we are the score Chicago on Twitch.tv slash. So that is where you find us there and on YouTube. As we broadcast live through the scores Hyundai Studios, brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers. Our producers are Ray Diaz and Tyler Buehderbaugh.

Britt and Friar helps us out as well. Tyler with the Seinfeld open today. and our video team is Connor O'Donnell, Jacob Stutz, Max Curtis, and Cody Westerland. Coming up next, we'll listen to some more of what Cam Buckner had to say ahead of a meeting that is going on reportedly right now in Springfield regarding the Bears and an infrastructure bill for their possible stadium location. So we'll do that next. Rahimi Harrison Grody, Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. I don't think the Bear Stadium is going to be painted black. Like that just seems, it seems like you'd absorb a lot of heat, you know, like in a bad way.

You want to paint it orange, don't you? Oh my gosh. Can you imagine the neon? What if it's painted orange? Like imagine Allegiant Stadium, which I think is dark tinted glass for appropriate reasons. Imagine Allegiance Stadium, but just orange. No. Did I burn your brain?

This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 The Score. This is a day for some real progress and direction, both in Illinois and in Indiana, when it comes to the Bears' possible stadium projects. And Cam Buckner was on with our morning show today, David Haw and Clay Harbor, talking about the process and where the state of Illinois is regarding the, really, the meeting also that was canceled by the Bears last week when we saw the big statement issued regarding working with Indiana and that Senate Bill 27, which could get approved approved as soon as today.

It's crazy that a week ago we were just like, wait, what's happening? And there was just such a roller coaster effect on that entire time we were on the air because we did not know what was next. And we were trying to figure out, well, why would they postpone this meeting? Why is Indiana all of a sudden getting basically tweets of support from the Bears? and now a week later, it feels like the water is leveled off. You have a better sense of where we are in this process for both states. And while I am paying attention what's going on in Indiana,

I am laser focused on Illinois because I think that is the path. There's a good question here from 630 on our text line. 312, 644, 67, is our number you can call us as well. And it says if nothing happens on the Illinois side today, Would you say Indiana is more likely to get the stadium? I don't know. Because I still fall in line with the, you bought the land here. And for people who say, oh, the Patriots were in a similar spot, no.

The Patriots didn't actually buy any land until they had a deal done. They had an agreement in place. And then the agreement changed. And I understand why. But they didn't actually buy the land. As long as the land is purchased and the bears haven't sold it for whatever price, pretend the bears are ultra ultra, ultra, like Jeff Bezos wedding billionaires.

Oh. Even then if they sold that land for $2 and they don't need the money or whatever, I'm still thinking the bears are following the money to their own purchase property. But I think the beauty of what both of these do, you want progress to be there on both the bill in Illinois and both the bill in Indiana because it makes the bears decide. If everybody else, if your quote, obstacles, end quote, are not obstacles.

And they're like, well, we did what you wanted here. We did what you wanted here. Then it's up to the bears to have to actually do something. And that's why you, that's why I argue you want both bills to pass easily. So that way the onus gets put back on the team who put you in this mess to begin with. Well, the leverage play doesn't continue if you can't get both these bills moving forward. let's be honest. And for the bears, that's what they have right now, is this understanding that, hey, as long as Indiana is in play, Illinois's in trouble.

There's a perceived level of concern that the bears would actually leave Illinois. I don't think that happens unless there's some type of stalemate. But negotiations can continue to go in the language of the bills and the terms of, you know, how much money are the bears negotiating to pay with the local municipality in lieu of the taxes. I mean, that's the kind of stuff I'm keeping my eye on. I'm still trying to figure out in Indiana, you know where the three billion between friends is coming from. Between friends. You know, the two billion the bears would put up for an estimated $5 billion stadium deal. I'm using five because that was what so far was.

And then, and that doesn't account for inflation. That has obviously hit us all. So I think, you know, the money, it makes more sense on the Indiana side from a where you're going to get it. as far as the people wanting to do that. Like I've said all along, I think everybody should be able to vote on these, no matter what state you're in. That has been my position.

But when it comes to the money, it sounds like you get more from the state of Indiana. But at least this way, it puts the bears in yet another position where they have to say what they want to do. And that's why I like it. You want progress with both states' bills, so that way the bears have to actually make some real decisions here.

Well, it would sound like to answer that, initial question, if nothing happens on the Illinois side today, would you say Indiana is more likely to get the stadium? I would say yes, but not much more likely. It depends on how much of a stalemate, how much of a stall are we talking about? Well, and Cam Buckner referenced this, and not the today appearance on the morning show, but when that happened prior, when he was on the afternoon show, he said when he was working for the Cubs and they were asking for public money to fund the Wrigley Field renovations, that the Cubs also said, well, we'll leave. And then they didn't.

The threat of leaving usually gets you something, but, you know, for... It gets you something when you haven't built a stadium yet. And that would reiterate that. The stadium existed for the Cubs, right? But that's the point. Like, they had a ballpark that aren't existed. The Cubs themselves were invested. Yeah.

And the Bears are also invested. They're invested, but not as much as the Cubs were. The Cubs had an actual standing historical ballpark that people, people love and everything else. Soldier Field exists, but here's what we know. And also like the Chiefs, for example, yeah, if you're the Chiefs, you're leaving, because Kansas is basically paying you to be there. That is a...

And the voters of Missouri said no. Like the voters. This wasn't left to one or two people. Okay. So what I'm trying to tell you is, until there's shovels in the ground in Indiana, you cannot convince me they're not building an arbor. Arlington Heights. I don't need them to, quote, unquote, sell the land in Arlington Heights to say, we're good

with the Indiana because they can sell that land later if they have to. But because the way this is framed up, because I believe that George McCaskey does not want to leave the state of Illinois, it's a kind of last resort thing to have to go to Indiana. But this did, whether Cam Buckner wants to admit or not, this did light somewhat of a fire to actually getting things done. Remember how they entered this year? They said, it's not a priority.

Bears getting a new stadium's not a priority. As soon as Indiana steps in the picture, all of a sudden, guess what? There's motion. Well, that's the part I'm still trying to figure out, though. What's that? If Indiana did motivate the state of Illinois at all, because it was pre-existing before Indiana got into a legal picture or any sort of real discussion. And Austin Bonta, the mayor of Portage, helped us figure out that timeline.

It was already pre-discussed that the state would give the Baylorne. roughly a billion dollars for infrastructure. And that was prior to Indiana being in the discussion at all. That was prior to the open letter. That was prior to all of this. Yeah, they said, we'll help you with the infrastructure. But that's what this is. That's what this bill that we're discussing is now.

So I don't know how that changed at all, if it all. Well, I think it changed in the timeline in terms of expediting the process, though. What I'm saying is Illinois, let us know at the end of last year, hey, that's really kind of on the backburner. That's not something that we're really that interested in making sure this is pushed through at a certain time. With the Indiana stuff starting up and actually going through the process and Mike Braun and all the legislators and, legislators, excuse me, in Indiana pushing forward, that put the state of Illinois on a timeline that they weren't on before that happened. Well, if you listen to somebody who's in the Illinois legislature, Cam Buckner, he disagrees with the idea that Indiana.

prompted the estate of Illinois to do anything differently? You know, I'll say this. A couple of things. One, you know, when we're down here in Springfield, there are a lot of things we're working on all at once. I think that we should be able to walk and chew bubble gum and be able to handle public safety and infrastructure and the environment, but also to be able to help and have conversations about businesses here in the state.

But the truth of the matter also is that, you know, the bear's switch course a few times. in this conversation. You know, we had two or three public pivots about Chicago or Arlington Heights and then Indiana. And so while the Indiana announced me, I think, did change the complexion of the conversation to a certain extent. We had to be able to see what the layer of the land was and figure out and move forward. Once again, I know for for bear's fans or for folks who care about this, this feels like it's taken forever. But honestly, it is really the speed that these deals usually take when you go through them with a prime two.

call. I'm not disagreeing with his notion that this is how it goes as far as the speeded, which this is gone. I'm just saying it would have gone faster. Two things. One, if the Bears hadn't had done this out of order, buying the land first, and also the Indiana component, it just put you on a schedule. There was no schedule for Illinois. According to the people who spoke from the government standpoint, it was on the back burner. That's something that was documented. And now, guess what? It's not on the back burner anymore. And progress is being made...

I don't see that as coincidence. I refuse to. But when you have a source saying it wasn't... Wasn't what? Coincidence. When you have a source saying it was coincidence, when it wasn't one versus the other? I'm not saying it's necessarily one versus the other.

I'm just... Here's my thing. I refuse to believe it was not a factor at all. It is a factor. Look where we are today. We have the same day. two things being pushed forward? I will say this. We are talking

about it more because they did this stuff. And that's what annoys me is respect either the people of Indiana or respect the people of Illinois and knowing that they're the ones who have to think about this. And for those people who use the tolls every day, for example, in Indiana. And for the people who

are in Lake of Porter counties, can they afford the 1% tax extra? You know, respect the the Illinois lawmakers who had a meeting and then you decided to postpone it. Respect the people who are trying to work with you.

Isn't it to those lawmakers to respect their constituents though? When you talk about what's being proposed. But they're saying that. They're saying like we're not getting that that's what the Illinois camp is saying. And in Indiana

the state lawmakers and the governor are pushing this through. So you'd assume that those people they elected are trying to get this done. but I'm saying we're talking more about it because of these moves that have been made because the bears decided on their own to postpone that meeting. The bears decided to say the statement about Indiana, but we still don't have a set location.

You know, the Hammond Mayor decided to speak. And I hope all of that isn't for nothing out of everybody's efforts. They are moving clumsily about with this. They have been, and I'm just hoping, the clumsiness stops today. That is the hope. 312-644-67. I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing with the idea that the clumsiness stops today

because there's been a lot of evidence to the contrary. Call it hoping and wishing. Indeed. 312-644-67-67 is our number. We continue to discuss this until the top of the hour. That's when Jordan Schultz, the decorated NFL insider, will join us with the latest on a lot of Bears' roster discussion that seems to be happening at the combine. But in the meantime, we would like you to join our conversation and we invite you to do so.

This is Rahimi Harrison Grody on 104-3 The Score. Rahimi Harrison Grody. The great Kevin Harlan. I just pulled through the Taco Bell drive-through, and I've got a couple of big, nasty, supreme burritos right here waiting to beat. You know, the first thing they ask you now, are you using the app? The app, no, I just want my burrito. I don't want to use an app. Bring a lot of mild sauce because I'm going to escort it all over the plate.

Put some hot sauce on now. Marino, baby. Rahimi Harrison Grody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104-3, The Score. We've talked a lot about progress being made in the state of Indiana, in the state of Illinois, on the Bears Stadium decisions, at least from a governmental standpoint. So what about you?

312-644-67-67 is our number. Let's go to South Bend and Steve. Hi, Steve. How are you guys doing today? We're good. How are you? I'm doing wonderful. I just wanted to just talk a little bit, not about the politics or anything in the stadium, but logistics. So the site in Hammond is technically closer to Soldier Field than the site in Arlington Heights.

And a lot of people are saying, well, we don't want to drive. We don't want to pay the tolls. You get the Hammond and all this stuff. it's literally closer. It's faster also when you get on the tollway and the skyway and stuff. So I'll give you an example. I've worked for the athletic department for over 40 years at Notre Dame. Every home game, you can walk out in our lots and you will see literally thousands of Illinois plates.

None of them are complaining that they have to take the toll road in, which 99% do. and that it's a 90-minute or more drive to get to South Bend. They're there to enjoy the football game, and they're having a great time. I've never heard anybody complain that, oh, we had to drive, we had to pay the tolls. It's so far. A football game is like a mini-vacation.

People pay whatever. I go to the Bears games. I've been going for over 50 years. You know, I never thought I'd pay 50 years. for a beer in my life. You know, I mean, whatever it is. You got to pay. We're parking a south lot.

It's not $10 anymore like it used to be. The cost is not a big of an issue, as everybody's saying. It really isn't because if the 1% tax goes up in Indiana, well, they'll be the same as Michigan. They'll both be 7%. You've got to pay taxes. You've got to live. You've got to die.

But when you go to a football game, whether it's Notre Dame or Chicago, people are going to travel. They're going to pay. whatever the cost is, and they're going to enjoy themselves. Thank you for calling, and especially with your background in the logistics. And I think Steve is right. Like for the amount of games that happen, just football games, it's not very many.

Notre Dame is the best example, because they always draw. But I think the people who want to go will go. It's just a matter of, is it enough? You know, is that ingress, egress, egress enough on those few days you have every year to pay for everything on time? how you wanted to. And Indiana does have the room to pay more in taxes if they want. He's correct about that as well.

Steve's right because the price of everything has gone up in the last decade. The price of everything has gone up since the- Salaries. Pandemic. Well, no, I'm just saying that we as consumers pay for whatever. The price has gone. Your streaming has gone up. I remember when Netflix was cheap?

Netflix used to be cheap. It's not. People are not, well, the exception of me, people are not just getting rid of their Netflix because the price is going up. People are. The profits would tell you otherwise. Look, here's what I think. There will be complaints.

If the Bears were to move to Indiana, don't think it's going to happen. But if it happened, there would be complaints. But it wouldn't matter because ultimately, as Steve just laid out, the people who are going to go to the games are still going to go to the games. They're still a waiting list to get to Soldier Field. Yeah, I still refrain that the most frustrating part is, you know, we'll take your calls and we like. your opinions and varied, but the frustrating part of this is we don't get the accurate,

we don't get the accurate sample of how everybody feels. And since everybody has to pay for it, I think it should always be voted on. But you know, you don't get that option in either case here. This isn't on a ballot in either Illinois or Indiana. We stay with the phones 312, 644, 67, and Dave and Lyle, you're on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. Hey, good show, guys. I just wanted to chime in. I've been following this closely. I grew up in that area.

I actually grew up in Chicago, Stones Throw from Indiana. And I was looking on the map and trying to decide where this parcel is. Has anybody seen the area that's mapped out because I measured it, and it's like 70 acres, if you're not going east of Calumet Avenue. is a golf course there. I believe that's also a nature preserve. So if they're only talking about a 70 acre land, I mean, that's barely enough room for the stadium and parking, let alone all the things that they had planned on knowing in Arlington Heights. Has anybody seen like a mapped out area that they're talking about? Well, they don't have a set location. Yeah. They don't have a set

location. I like Hammond Mayer said that, yeah. Well, that's only the area. area that I can see in Hammond that would be viable. My bet is if by chance this goes that Indiana, it's not going to be in Hammond. It's going to be in Garry or somewhere where they have a bigger area. I know. They said Wolf Lake. They just don't have the set parameters. It's been understood and agreed upon that it will be in Hammond at Wolf Lake. Yeah. Well, they don't, I don't see the, they don't have the space there. honestly that's a question to answer i mean they do not have the space to put that facility there if you're talking 70 acres it's not going to work well i that that's the thing because they

don't have a set location just yet and i understand what you're saying you're looking at the perimeter saying well where could they put it they may have something completely different in mind i don't know the details because they they don't know the details but certainly there has to be some plan of a plan, if you will. Concepts of a plan. Concepts of a plan. But for real, actually. Yeah, not to use it as a joke, but actual

actual understanding. To get to this point. Right. And so I think that that's very important. Yeah. Adam Hogue had the quote here from the 19th. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, still not ready to discuss specific location around Wolf Lake says it's the Bears project.

So it's up to them to decide when to talk about the location. So they have not disclosed the set location yet. So that's also kind of strange and a good point from our caller about how much land is it really going to take. And are they not saying it because it might be underwhelming? Like that's something people deserve to know as well. No, I don't think that's what it is. I think they just haven't done the requisite due diligence to figure out exactly where it needs to be. Well, 312, 64, 64, 67 is our number as we continue to discuss what's going on with the Bear Stadium.

And it's also, I think, important as we wrap up the conversation, to understand that this is only part of what is a very long set of steps. But I remain confident in knowing that the more progress Indiana makes, the more progress Illinois makes, the more the bears are going to have to actually try to build the stadium. Oh, no, they're going to build it. And if it progresses through both states like you're talking about... Guess what they haven't done?

They haven't put shovels in the ground? They haven't built a stadium. Yes. Soldier Field's been here for a really long time. I get it. They haven't built one. Isn't that why they brought Kevin Warren here? Because he knows about stadium building.

At this rate. Stadium building and pull-taps. Somebody could, like, Leakin Log construct a high-rise at the same rate this is going right now. I would like to see that. The Pol-Tab thing is really compelling to me. I didn't know about this. And I'm very intrigued. Pull-Tabs and Lincoln Lod's.

in one sentence is just, oh my goodness. The other thing is I love like a smaller conceptual game. You know what I'm saying? But on a grand scale, obviously. Like a Queen of Hearts raffle. Yeah, I'm into this stuff. And I don't know why, but I am. Can bingo pay for a stadium?

Sure. I have been to some very competitive bingo halls in my day. You get the marker out. The same reason that Social Security is about to run out is the same reason why Bingo could pay for the stadium. There's enough people who play bingo now to support that. I need more people to tell me about these poll tabs because I am curious. And it sounds like a good bar activity.

You know what else is a good bar activity? Talking about real football? Drinking. That too. Yeah. Eating. Cheesecurs and pull tabs is not a bad idea. It's not a bad idea for a night.

Coming up next on Remy, Harrison Grotie, let's get back to some actual football. and not even actual. There's a bunch of trades being proposed. It's just one of those conceptual days. But I do think some of these can happen. There's a lot of bears being named. Guys, I didn't think we would be discussing today as far as possible trades now at the NFL Combine.

So let's bring in Jordan Schultz next. He is the NFL insider. We've heard him many times. He's the host of the Schultz Report. And he's got a lot of breaking news. So we'll talk to him next.