Chicago Bears stadium bill now includes union-friendly language
Chicago Tribune • • sports
Key Points:
- Any new Chicago Bears stadium built in Northwest Indiana will use union labor, following amendments to Senate Bill 27 that removed prohibitions on project-labor agreements (PLAs) with trades.
- The bill establishes a stadium governing body and requires the NFL to enter a 35-year lease with the state, with the authority able to finance and manage the stadium project and related improvements.
- A 1% food and beverage tax for Porter County was added to help fund the stadium, raising concerns about the financial impact on working-class residents despite anticipated regional economic benefits.
- Local labor unions and political leaders collaborated to ensure PLAs remain part of the project, emphasizing the importance of skilled local labor and economic incentives tied to union agreements in Lake County
