A group of Iowa lawmakers have introduced legislation that they hope might incentivize the Chicago Bears to build a new home in the Hawkeye State.
According to the Des Moines Register, Senate File 2252 would expand one of Iowa's biggest economic development programs to provide financial incentives for a National Football League team to build a stadium in Iowa.
The legislation comes as the Chicago Bears negotiate a stadium project to move from the historic 100-year-old Soldier Field in downtown Chicago while eyeing locations outside the state, including in Indiana.
Iowa's MEGA program provides incentives designed to attract capital investments from businesses that invest at least $1 billion in the state and mainly work in advanced manufacturing, biosciences or research and development. The bill would expand the program to incentivize construction of an NFL stadium in Iowa with the Iowa Economic Development Authority's approval.
"While Illinois and Indiana squabble over this issue, we are ready to get off the sidelines and into the game," said republican senator Kerry Gruenhagen in a statement. "Bringing an NFL team to Iowa would attract jobs, tourism and fans to our state and give us the opportunity to showcase what Iowa really has to offer. Iowans have dedicated themselves to our college sports teams, and we're ready to attract a professional team to our great state."
Senator Scott Webster of Bettendorf argued Iowa could eliminate some of the headaches the team currently deals with in Illinois.
"After years of Bears fans seeking refuge across the Mississippi River from the incompetence, corruption and punitive tax and regulatory climate in the state of Illinois, it is time for the team to join their fans on the west side of the river," Webster said in a statement.
"Iowa can offer the Bears everything they need to build a world-class facility, tax certainty and the public infrastructure they need in a state led by common-sense conservatives."
