Road(s) to Nowhere

Bears’ President and CEO Kevin Warren is broadening the team’s search for worthy home for a “world-class stadium” fans can be proud of to include—wait for it—northwest Indiana. This is a ploy equally pathetic and funny. Warren sent a letter to season-ticket holders yesterday relaying the news. He also deigned to talk to the Tribune about the stadium situation. The one thing he failed to do was tell the truth and admit the Bears were issuing an empty threat in a sad, sad effort to gain some leverage. If Warren were being honest, he’d note how hard it would be for fans to get to a world-class stadium in Indiana, an oxymoron if there ever was one. Are fans going to take the Skyway? Sure, provided they’re ready to shell out $7.80 in tolls to get there, or $15.60 for a roundtrip. And then what, a site along I-90 or I-80? Pick your poison, unless bumper-to-bumper semis going 70 mph or more is your cup of tea. All those trucks on a Sunday night, all those fans slightly tipsy after a game. Imagine the possibilities World class? Hmm. The Bears think the 326 acres they own in Arlington Heights would be perfect, if only the General Assembly rolled over and gave them the power to negotiate property taxes with local governmental agencies. No doubt, they’d get that in Indiana, but where, exactly? For 326-plus acres of property across the state line, odds are it won’t be pristine. Far more likely, the land will be a brownfield in need of major remediation. Check that. It’s Indiana. Passing a magic wand over the site should suffice for cleanup. Bears’ fans might glow in Indiana, but it will have nothing to do with beating the Packers.