Second For The Second City? Mayor Eyes NFL Team, Olympics

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has “privately floated the idea of trying to lure a second NFL team” to the city as a way to “build a domed stadium to enhance a possible bid for the 2016 Olympics,” according to Kathy Bergen of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Sources said such a stadium could cost $600M-1B to build. Bergen writes landing a second NFL team “would be a long shot,” as the NFL wants to keep the Saints in New Orleans, and L.A. “is next in line for any franchise transplant or expansion.” Also, any team that would consider moving to Chicago “most likely would have to pay a hefty fee to the [Bears] to compensate for moving into their territory.” A Chicago business exec who talked to Daley said, “He threw it out as one possibility. He’d love to have a second team in Chicago.” But the exec called the comments “pie in the sky” thinking (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/23).