The Indiana Bears

medaille wrote:

But what's that have to do with the Bears? The Bears aren't leaving because of high taxes, overbearing regulation, high crime or fraud. They're leaving because the state won't chip in a billion dollars (or whatever the number is) to build them a new stadium.
In the end, the idea of the Indiana Bears is ridiculous. It's a storied franchise. Some government in Illinois will step up and pay up to keep it in Chicago or at least in Illinois.

You’re delusional and obviously unfamiliar with what’s where. Indiana has 0 years of regulations to get through, Illinois 4-5. They’re leaving because the business climate in the state is atrocious. It’ll be easier for most Bear fans to attend games in Indiana than it was at Soldier.

Canthony wrote:

Leaving at an alarming rate at that. Rightfully so. It will happen to MN soon enough

Where does it stop? I moved from Brooklyn Park, MN 8 years ago to my current residence in a small snowbird type town that has around 25k people during the height of the winter season and around 15k during the summer in the East Valley near the Phoenix metro area. The difference in Minneapolis (and even more so to Brooklyn Park) is staggering but that is due to other factors surrounding 2020 and the whole GF riots. When I moved to AZ in 2018, it was mostly considered to be a red state but definitely has been moving in the blue direction especially since all the Cali people started moving out and heading east. We are turning purple at an amazing pace. It is what it is as a registered Independent to me, but it is interesting to watch how it affects the area.

I spent time in Hammond. What a shithole. I guess if all you have to do is drive in for a game and drive out ...

comet52 wrote:

I spent time in Hammond. What a shithole. I guess if all you have to do is drive in for a game and drive out ...

It is. Indiana has some real shithole towns near the Illinois border.

I don't think this is a done deal yet.

I don’t necessarily think it’s a done deal, but the state of Illinois has played it so stupidly as to make it a likelihood unless the state of Illinois fleeces their own citizens once again. Just trying to get out before the final reckoning and insane bills come due from being in bed with public unions for years.

Waterboy wrote:

I don’t necessarily think it’s a done deal, but the state of Illinois has played it so stupidly as to make it a likelihood unless the state of Illinois fleeces their own citizens once again. Just trying to get out before the final reckoning and insane bills come due from being in bed with public unions for years.

Agreed, far from a done deal.

I suspect at the end of the day, IL % contribution will probably mirror the fleecing in MN, Buffalo and everywhere else.

Levers to pull will probably differ:

• Minnesota Vikings/Private: $602 million (contributed by the team, including NFL loans, naming rights, and seat licenses).

• State of Minnesota: $348 million (funded through bonds, which were backed by revenues from charitable gambling like electronic pull-tabs). PAID OFF EARLY

• City of Minneapolis: $150 million (funded through local hospitality and tourism taxes, such as lodging and restaurant taxes)

Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs)—locally known as Stadium Builder Licenses (SBLs)—contributed a gross total of $125 million toward the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium.

After accounting for marketing and operational expenses, this generated a net total of $100 million that directly offset the Minnesota Vikings' funding obligation.

Socialize the debt and privatize the profit indeed!!

Daniel McRandall wrote:

Where does it stop? I moved from Brooklyn Park, MN 8 years ago to my current residence in a small snowbird type town that has around 25k people during the height of the winter season and around 15k during the summer in the East Valley near the Phoenix metro area. The difference in Minneapolis (and even more so to Brooklyn Park) is staggering but that is due to other factors surrounding 2020 and the whole GF riots. When I moved to AZ in 2018, it was mostly considered to be a red state but definitely has been moving in the blue direction especially since all the Cali people started moving out and heading east. We are turning purple at an amazing pace. It is what it is as a registered Independent to me, but it is interesting to watch how it affects the area.

People move to get away from shits storms to only vote the exact way in the place they have moved, like it is magically supposed to change the end result. Think about that for a second lol. Fucking comical.

Absolute definition of insanity.

purplefaithful wrote:

Agreed, far from a done deal.
I suspect at the end of the day, IL % contribution will probably mirror the fleecing in MN, Buffalo and everywhere else.
Levers to pull will probably differ:
Minnesota Vikings/Private: $602 million (contributed by the team, including NFL loans, naming rights, and seat licenses).
State of Minnesota: $348 million (funded through bonds, which were backed by revenues from charitable gambling like electronic pull-tabs). PAID OFF EARLY
City of Minneapolis: $150 million (funded through local hospitality and tourism taxes, such as lodging and restaurant taxes)
Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs)—locally known as Stadium Builder Licenses (SBLs)—contributed a gross total of $125 million toward the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium.
After accounting for marketing and operational expenses, this generated a net total of $100 million that directly offset the Minnesota Vikings' funding obligation.
Socialize the debt and privatize the profit indeed!!

And at the time, USBank set the record for the largest team/private contribution for a stadium. Comparatively the fleecing Minnesota took was nothing compared to Atlanta, Vegas, SoFi, or the upcoming stadiums in Tennessee and Buffalo. Now it's Indiana (the state's) turn, because there no way Hammond or even Lake County can foot this whole bill. We might see a Bears stadium primarily paid for by Colts fans 😵‍💫

My wife’s fam is all DaBears.

Sent them all a text….

“Who’s your Bears? Hoosier Bears!”

Am I the first for that bon mot?

(Ya’ll have my permission to use without attribution)

Canthony wrote:

People move to get away from shits storms to only vote the exact way in the place they have moved, like it is magically supposed to change the end result. Think about that for a second lol. Fucking comical.

Absolute definition of insanity.

You’re partially right, canthony.

Indeed, Americans (mostly conservatives ) are fleeing blue states. Sauce - NYT- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/opinion/build-baby-build-how-blue-states-can-stop-losing-population.html

BUT… if it’s conservatives fleeing (cali, Illinois, Jersey, ny), how can those fleers turn a red-state, purple? Like DanielMcRandall’s Az?

Answer? it’s nuanced. Sauce-NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/opinion/letters/red-blue-states.html

“The Policy Paradox: Brooks questioned the "simple story" that Republican policies are universally working and Democratic policies aren't. He highlighted a nuanced reality: people are fleeing the high taxes and stifling regulatory regimes of blue states, but are seeking out the more diverse, amenity-rich, and progressive metropolitan hubs of the Sun Belt. “

and I would add, a Cali-conservative is a far different political animal than a traditional AZ conservative (imo)

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Sauce = Source

A PurpleThoughts homage to HuffMental, whom I trounce in FF on ProudHorn’s keeper-league on a Yearly basis 😎

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mods— please don’t move to LockerRoom, I quoted NYT twice!

savannahskol wrote:

You’re partially right, canthony.
Indeed, Americans (mostly conservatives ) are fleeing blue states. Sauce - NYT- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/opinion/build-baby-build-how-blue-states-can-stop-losing-population.html
BUT… if it’s conservatives fleeing (cali, Illinois, Jersey, ny), how can those fleers turn a red-state, purple? Like DanielMcRandall’s Az?
Answer? it’s nuanced. Sauce-NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/opinion/letters/red-blue-states.html
“The Policy Paradox: Brooks questioned the "simple story" that Republican policies are universally working and Democratic policies aren't. He highlighted a nuanced reality: people are fleeing the high taxes and stifling regulatory regimes of blue states, but are seeking out the more diverse, amenity-rich, and progressive metropolitan hubs of the Sun Belt. “
and I would add, a Cali-conservative is a far different political animal than a traditional AZ conservative (imo)

—-——————-
Sauce = Source
A PurpleThoughts homage to HuffMental, whom I trounce in FF on ProudHorn’s keeper-league on a Yearly basis 😎
—-——————
mods— please don’t move to LockerRoom, I quoted NYT twice!

I thinks there is two sides to this. Many that are fleeing Cali are still voting left in Arizona, which is why it is turning purple. Problem is, the policies are what is making states go broke. So, you move to another state but still vote the same way. Makes no sense. You will just turn that state into a shitstorm then as well. Businesses will leave due to the cost to run.

Anyways, no reason to keep it up. Chicago simply can’t afford it. Minneapolis couldn’t either, it needed a ton of help to stay on that site. 50 Cent said it perfectly, I went with the right and Trump because I didn’t want to be 25 Cent. Chicago will have to figure out a massive plan, like MN did, to have a chance to stay.

Canthony wrote:

I thinks there is two sides to this. Many that are fleeing Cali are still voting left in Arizona, which is why it is turning purple. Problem is, the policies are what is making states go broke. So, you move to another state but still vote the same way. Makes no sense. You will just turn that state into a shitstorm then as well.

You can lead a horse to water….