Chicago developer Stein & Co., currently managing the $675M
expansion of the city's McCormick Place convention center, is
"floating" a proposal to build a domed stadium at the convention
center requiring "at most, a modest public subsidy," according to
the latest issue of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The plan comes
just two weeks after Bears Owner Michael McCaskey said he will
seek state funding to cover 2/3 of the cost for a $285M new
stadium in the suburbs. CRAIN'S writer Jeff Borden reports that
Stein & Co. has distributed the plan to Bears and city officials
within the last week to 10 days and calls it "a serious setback"
for McCaskey. The Stein plan calls for a "state-of-the-art"
domed facility with a natural grass surface that would be
"transported in and out" for games. The stadium would seat
74,000, including 200 luxury boxes and 10,000 club seats.
Sources estimate the dome would generate $40M-$45M/year. Much of
the financing for the facility would be raised through the sale
of PSLs, with the remaining costs financed through public and
private bonds "serviced by the in-stadium revenue stream."
Borden reports that the stadium would increase Bears stadium
revenues from the $5.5M/year they now receive at Soldier Field to
$12M-$15M/year. Stein & Co. has overseen construction of the
United Center and is currently involved in the Jaguars' stadium
renovation (CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 4/24 issue).
