Development benefits are overstated

Why should it be incumbent upon us — the people of Illinois — to make the Bears’ dreams come true just because they decided to purchase the former Arlington Racetrack? There are many residents of Arlington Heights, such as myself, who neither dream of having an NFL stadium nor dream of a mixed-use entertainment district.

How does this serve the people of Arlington Heights? It doesn’t. It doesn’t gather or strengthen our community. It doesn’t improve our well-being. It’s neither flexible nor adaptable, robbing us of resilience. The list could go on. Simply put, it’s an adult playground that benefits the McCaskeys, the developers and others with power and money.

At a presentation last month, I questioned a graph that Village Manager Randy Recklaus used as evidence of the benefits of a Bears development. I told him I had not been able to find any academic studies that demonstrate positive economic effects of an NFL stadium. He acknowledged that I made a good point and explained that Arlington Heights would mainly make money from the entertainment district.

But NFL teams develop entertainment districts to maximize THEIR revenue 365 days a year. Teams make money from leasing space within the mixed-use district. They charge rent to restaurants, bars, and retail shops.

So again, how is a Bears development going to benefit Arlington Heights? Construction jobs are temporary. Service and hospitality jobs are not bedrocks of long-term employment and financial stability. The potential for infrastructure projects running far over budget is deeply concerning.

In the end, I say “no thank you” to the Bears. I love my town the way it is. And lucky for us, Mr. Recklaus also described the racetrack property as a “unicorn” and said he was “totally confident” that it could be developed in other ways.

Brenda Popovic

Arlington Heights