Debating welfare for George McCaskey

I would love a new stadium in my town. George McCaskey, who owns a sports team worth $6 billion to $9 billion, wants to build a new stadium. He’s considering two locations: Arlington Heights and Hammond. Illinois and Indiana governments are racing to the bottom, trying to convince him to choose their state. Their proposals arrive at the same place: giving billionaire George McCaskey taxpayer money to make more money for himself.

Illinois should not give him a billion tax dollars for two reasons. One, he doesn’t need it. Two, he’s choosing between Arlington Heights and Hammond?

The reality is he doesn’t care. McCaskey said at the recent NFL owner’s meeting that “he’s good either way” and people will adjust. He doesn’t care about location, historical significance, economic growth, jobs or fan experience. s an NFL owner, all George has to care about is counting the millions of dollars that come tumbling in, year after year.

If McCaskey doesn’t care, why should we? If he wants to force people to go to a stadium in Indiana, Illinois should just let him. Let him go to Hammond, accept Indiana’s taxpayer-fleecing proposal and let him collect a billion dollars from them. And other than 75,000 attendees, millions of us in Illinois will be watching football on TV, just like we always have. And we’ll be a little wealthier, too.

If George cared, he would build his stadium in Arlington Heights without asking Illinois taxpayers to pay him, without Illinois lawmakers contorting themselves to convince him to stay and without pretending that Arlington Heights and Hammond are interchangeable. Illinois senators are voting soon on a House-approved George McCaskey welfare bill. Let’s hope they care enough to make the right choice.

Gregg Sadlon

Arlington Heights