Illinois might pay for Bears’ stadium – if they have winning seasons

By Dylan Sharkey

03/13/2025

A new bill in Springfield would require the Chicago Bears and other teams to have a few winning seasons before they can expect taxpayer help for stadiums.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Bears, taxes

Report: IDOT workers abused parking for White Sox games

06/25/2019

While ordinary fans paid up to $20 for parking at Chicago White Sox games, a recent report shows Illinois Department of Transportation employees offered free parking at a nearby state facility to special contacts.

TAGS: Chicago White Sox, corruption, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, OEIG: Office of the Executive Inspector General

What you need to know about Illinois’ gambling expansion

06/13/2019

Answers to frequently asked questions about new casinos and sports betting in Illinois.

TAGS: gambling, sports betting, sports gambling

Cubs, Bulls and Bears games eligible for in-person sports betting under new law

06/04/2019

New change in law paves the way for sports betting at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, and the United Center, among other venues.

TAGS: gambling, sports betting, sports gambling, United Center, Wrigley Field

Hoffman Estates has sunk $87.6M into unprofitable Sears Centre

By Eddie Damstra

09/26/2018

The village of Hoffman Estates took over Sears Centre Arena in 2009, but the multi-purpose stadium has yet to turn an annual profit on its own.

TAGS: Hoffman Estates, property taxes, Sears Centre, taxes

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

08/08/2018

Thirty years ago Aug. 8, the Chicago Cubs played their first game under lights at Wrigley Field – after first battling Chicago politicians for the right to do so.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Edward “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, Tom Tunney

30 years later, taxpayers still on the hook for White Sox stadium

By Eddie Damstra

06/29/2018

While the name of the home stadium for the Chicago White Sox has changed over the years, its status as a tax burden has not.

TAGS: bonds, debt, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, taxes

Taxpayer-funded Wintrust Arena falls short of attendance projections

By Eddie Damstra

06/23/2018

With attendance for DePaul men’s basketball games falling short of projections, taxpayers are footing the bill for another disappointing sports bet.

TAGS: Chicago, DePaul, McPier, MPEA, Wintrust Arena

Taxpayers on the hook for canceled Chicago stadium show

10/30/2017

The Illinois Sports Facility Authority paid $1.6 million for a September concert at Guaranteed Rate Field, featuring Diddy and Fat Joe, even though it had to cancel the event.

TAGS: Chicago, Guaranteed Rate Field, ISFA: Illinois Sports Facility Authority

Rahm denies Cubs night game request, continues long-standing city feud

07/28/2017

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has emphatically denied the Cubs’ request for more night games at Wrigley Field – continuing the decades-old hostile relationship between the team and city government.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Rahm Emanuel, regulations

Rate Field

Illinois might pay for Bears’ stadium – if they have winning seasons

Report: IDOT workers abused parking for White Sox games

What you need to know about Illinois’ gambling expansion

Cubs, Bulls and Bears games eligible for in-person sports betting under new law

Hoffman Estates has sunk $87.6M into unprofitable Sears Centre

30 years later: How Madigan kept the Cubs in the dark

30 years later, taxpayers still on the hook for White Sox stadium

Taxpayer-funded Wintrust Arena falls short of attendance projections

Taxpayers on the hook for canceled Chicago stadium show

Rahm denies Cubs night game request, continues long-standing city feud

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students