Poll Shows Illinois Voter Resistance to Public Funding as Bears Stadium Discussions Continue

As discussions continue around the future home of the Chicago Bears, new polling data suggests significant public resistance in Illinois to using taxpayer dollars for a new stadium — a dynamic lawmakers on both sides of the state line are closely watching.

According to the poll, 58.0% of Illinois respondents oppose public funding for a new Bears stadium, including 42.4% who strongly oppose it. Just 32.3% said they strongly or somewhat support public financial assistance, while 9.7% said they were unsure.

The survey also measured how strongly voters feel about keeping the Bears in Illinois. 57.1% said it is very or somewhat important that the Bears remain in the state, including 35.3% who said it is very important. Meanwhile, 42.4% said it is not important at all.

The findings land as the Bears continue evaluating long-term stadium options after stalled negotiations tied to a proposed development in Arlington Heights. Team officials have indicated they are considering a broader range of possibilities across the Chicagoland region, including sites outside Illinois.

Indiana lawmakers have previously emphasized that if discussions occur, they would likely focus on infrastructure, transportation planning, and broader development impacts rather than a direct subsidy model. Legislators and local leaders have also noted that any cross-border stadium scenario would involve complex questions about public investment, revenue capture, and long-term costs for local communities.

The poll suggests the Bears face two separate hurdles in Illinois: keeping public support for the team’s in-state presence while also overcoming strong resistance to taxpayer-backed financing. Even with a majority saying it matters that the Bears remain in Illinois, the funding question appears to be a sharper dividing line.

Methodology: The survey was conducted Jan. 9, 2026, among 1,000 Illinois residents using a combination of a matched online panel and mobile respondents. The results have an approximate margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.