STADIUM UPDATE: George McCaskey & Kevin Warren Share Latest on next Bears Stadium | CHGO Bears

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There's a lot to unpack and there's certainly a narrative being pushed here and a desire being wanted by the bears. And your participation in the chat today, whether you're on board or not on board will be interesting. Hogue's going to join us at some point or probably in a matter of moments. Gregory, any thoughts that you want to get out before we hear from Kevin Warren to start the show? No, I mean, I have thoughts on things, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse. I want the fans to hear from George Minkowski and Kevin Warren first, but I certainly do have some thoughts. Obviously everybody's kind of sick of this stadium conversation. I am too. I have been for four years now, but the comp picks are certainly of big interest to me. And so there's certainly some big news that has come out about that and how the bears are trying. Yeah. And how the bears are pushing back against the NFL, but I want the fans to hear from those guys first and then I'll give my thoughts on how that all went. I mean, I guess it's supposed to at least slightly big news that the bears are trying, still trying to get comp picks and George and Kevin are underlining everything they did and probably did for Ian Cunn. He's trying to get them to help him advance in his career and everybody, I think, thinks the bears should get comp picks, but to this point, the NFL has not given them comp picks for all the reasons that the NFL has for every terrible thing that could possibly happen under the sun if they don't get, if they give the bears the comp picks. Okay. So there's that story. But let's let's hear from Kevin on the stadium where we're at. It's more of an opening statement here and this is his opening statement. I listened to it. I'll be honest and, you know, it irked me. I just I'm easily irked these days apparently. So this was it. So we decided we debated whether or not we should play this in its entirety. And apparently I won. So we're going to play it for you. Here's his. Here's the Kevin Warren opening statement. Where are the bears at with the stadium? Everything that Kevin wants you to know before a question was asked today at the NFL owners meetings. Good to see everyone. Thanks for the time and the energy and the effort. And I say it sincerely. When you're away from your family, I appreciate it. We appreciate it. So I just would like to go back so we can go forward. One 2025 was a fantastic season on the field to be able to win 11 regular season games when the NFC North went to play off game to get the 12 wins, especially in Coach Johnson's first year. Obviously, you can see that Coach Johnson is outstanding coach, leader, person and the relationship that he's developed with Ryan Poles is outstanding. And I just want to thank George McCaskey, our chairman and also the entire McCaskey family for believing in us and giving the us the opportunity to lead the story franchise. So and as we look back as Coach Johnson said, it really doesn't matter as we go forward, but we are blessed with a young roster. We have excellent draft capital. We have a really talented young players and we're looking forward to this year and it always helps to have an outstanding and exceptional quarterback who's not only a great player and Caleb Williams, but also a great leader. So we're excited from a football standpoint and some of the stats that we heard even yesterday in the meetings that 31, I think it was 31.16 was the rating on our Amazon Prime playoff game, just astronomical numbers, over 50 million on NBC on our playoff game at home against the Rams. And our fandom is at an all time high. It's got a new report that we have over 108 million fans globally, 21.2 domestically. And so when you hear those numbers, we are in an exceptional position at the Chicago Bears now as we look forward. So from a football standpoint, we're really excited about going forward. I constantly check our season ticket holder renewal rate. And one of the first things I do after my prayer and quiet time in the morning is look at that. And this morning, we're about 97% already renewed in our season tickets. And the remaining accounts are coming in and our analytics team projected that we'll be at 99.8% from a renewal rate. So we're right on target. So going into this season from a fan standpoint, from a fandom standpoint, from a football standpoint, health and wellness, we're really excited looking forward to the draft and looking forward to get into off season workouts and then training camp and then have another wonderful season. And so we're really excited about this year that hopefully culminates in a world championship. And then from a business standpoint, our staff is in really good place. As you all are aware, we've been working on our stadium and and feel very strongly that we're making progress. And I recently said that, you know, the target is to make sure that we have a decision made by spring time here soon and spring late spring early summer would be that from a target. And December last year, we sent out a letter to the season ticket holders and to our fan base to say that we were expanding our our reach into the Chicago land area into Northwest Indiana. And so we have been in great discussions with the state of Indiana. In regards to the site in Hammond, Indiana, and we did have legislation passed, you know, recently. So we feel like we're making progress. We're working on due diligence. We have a list of items that we're working on from a due diligence standpoint. And then also in Illinois, I know they're working on, you know, legislation and pilot legislation and also infrastructure in Arlington Heights. But one good thing about it, both of the sites are excellent, excellent sites. And we're focused on making sure that we build a world class stadium that can create a wonderful fan experience because our fans are so important to us. They deserve a world class stadium. They deserve a world class fan experience that has proper tailgating, ingress, egress, all of the amenities that newer advanced stadiums have. Okay, so I mean, most of that is fine and lovely. And he said in the stage and all the things where I get Erk Gregory. Yeah, I don't know what you do after your do you have morning quiet time? What do you do in the morning? Very little of my life is quiet time. That's a poor question by me. What do you do after yelling all morning long and before you yell again? What's what's in the middle there? For Kevin, it's if I eat, okay, that's good. You know, the whole like underlining that their season ticket renewal rate after raising tickets again is at 99.8%. I just don't it's I'm not exactly sure why it bothers me to the level it bothers me. But it's basically for me, he's underlining we have you. We've always had you. We didn't win a playoff game from 2011 until last year. We've raised ticket prices every single year the last four years. We raise them 10% again. And when I wake up, I just double check real quick. I just look at that renewal hour at 97. Okay, we're at 98 or 98.2 or 98.4. Just so he know it. They know they have the leverage to do what they want. And I just wish that time is that they didn't have as much leverage. But I get it bears fans, most passionate fans going. You love it. You love it. You love it. And I also would remind people that the soldier field up. You keep on renewing in soldier field because you love going to soldier field clearly because this has been the case forever. And but they think that you're going to do the same thing wherever they go. So any thoughts on this before I bring in hoag? No, I mean, I mean, I mean, I think anyone that's a season ticket holder of soldier field has some certain affinity for the stadium just because that's what we know. But I think they're you can separate the two of saying you love being a season ticket holder and you might not necessarily love soldier field. You know, sure, sure, but you know, but they're going to keep renewing and there might be a small percentage that don't renew depending on where they move. But it'll be a very small percentage. Being a season ticket holder is generational for most fans in this city and your hard press to see very many season ticket holders give those up. Let's bring Hogan as we will kind of meander our way through this conversation today. Looking all smiley and ready. He's got his umbrella. His last day on vacation slash work slash vacation. You're back tomorrow, buddy, at least allegedly. So, you know, tough assignment here in the desert guys. Yeah. All right. Opening statement. Let's just focus on that. Am I am I the only one here that's irked by him talking about season ticket renewals and everything? Does that that did you at least turn your head? You are. And Greg, do you have a question? I don't. I don't. All right. I just want to hear your overall thoughts of all of it personally. So, yeah, just to kind of catch everybody up. Honestly, I think we should talk about the complex stuff a little bit because that's actual news. I don't know if you guys have touched on that yet here. I was just wrapping up an interview with Kevin Warren. So about 20 minutes worth of interviews with Kevin and George will be airing on Hogan Johns coming out tomorrow. But I'm willing to share a couple of things from that here as I talked to you guys as well. But that's why I'm jumping down when I am. We got into some of the nitty gritty with the with the with the stadium stuff and we can get into that. But let's talk. Yeah, let's talk about the comp pick situation because, you know, I think when the NFL put out the full list of draft picks pretty much everyone assumed. And honestly, I think even the Bears at that point felt like they were being told that sorry, you know, you're not getting these comp picks. We've since learned that Kevin Warren, George McCaskey and Ryan polls all flew to New York City to meet with Roger Goodell and make their pitch. And, you know, I actually think Kevin and George today did a really good job of giving their kind of explaining that pitch to us with very specific stuff. Even of how they empowered Ian Cunningham as the assistant general manager, including creating the position to begin with. Remember the Bears didn't have an SGM before Ian Cunningham had that job. So from in their minds, they've really fulfilled the whole point of that rule and the reason that a team would be getting compensatory picks. So they've made their pitch. They they've they took it to Roger. And now we got between now and the draft, I guess, which would actually involve changing the order by sliding another third round pick in there, potentially giving the Bears one. I don't know how I have no idea how this is going to rule. I do feel like the Bears feel like they've made some progress. And I think that, you know, it's probably some bigger conversations that you have with the league about what they do with this going forward. Yeah, it's certainly going to be interesting this close to the draft. If they're able to just slide another third round pick in there, I guess maybe it wouldn't do it next year or they could do it the next two years following this year, I guess. But I will say this much for as much frustration as there's been for the stadium conversation with the front office. I give George McCaskey, Kevin Warren, Ryan Poles a lot of credit for going to New York and pressing the league and the commissioner on this. And, you know, George McCaskey is the owner of the charter franchise of the NFL, you know, Virginia McCaskey was the matriarch. And the Bears and George Hallis have big fingerprints on the reason the NFL is what it is today. And more importantly, in a lot of ways, in terms of fair arguments that the Bears could make, they're one of, you know, not to, I'm not, you know, going through every league's front, every team's front office. But the Bears are one of the more progressive front offices that you'll see if you go through their inventory of who works at Hallis Hall. They have many hires of minority descent. They have many women, you know, being introduced to the industry that may not get those jobs other places. So the Bears, a did write by Ian Cunningham and certainly have an argument in this specific regard. But I also just think overall the Bears have done things that are more progressive and the NFL should be rewarding a franchise that operates in that way. So I give them a lot of credit for pressing, you know, Roger Goodell and George McCaskey. I'm sure that's not really in his strong suit to put apply that kind of pressure. So I appreciate that they're sticking up for their team. They should have brought you with them to New York to make the argument. You are very compelling right there. What do you think is the biggest hold up for the NFL that they don't want? What precedent are they afraid to set here, Hogue? Yeah, you know, and that's where I'll be honest. I'm a little frustrated myself. And I just want to clear something up if I can. If I was a fan who saw that Roger Goodell had a press conference yesterday and was asked a question about the Bears Stadium, but did not get asked about the compics, I would be questioning that too. Just so everyone's clear, I sat in the first seat in the front row raised my hand the entire press conference and didn't get called on. That press conference is different than normal Bears press conferences. You're not allowed to just blurt out questions. They have to call on you. And I don't know why it wasn't called on. You know, it is what it is, I guess, but just so everyone knows, I did go into that press conference. I was there and wanted to ask the commissioner about this. And it is just how it works sometimes in this business and people, including myself, are just going to have to accept that, I guess. But that's essentially what I would love to know, Carm, is what nobody except apparently Roger Goodell in the league office is on that side of this argument. And, you know, the only answer we got today, I think from George on that was, you know, they're worried about setting a precedent with, you know, I would imagine how front offices continue to evolve. In terms of like, there's really no limits on how you could theoretically give someone a title and structure things. Now there was a situation with another team this year where they had to ask actually, I think it was the Titans where they actually had to sort of tell them, hey, you need to define this a little bit better, because the rest of the league needs to know who's in charge and who to communicate to for certain things. But to me, that the fix here is just make it very simple. Like if you go from assistant GM to GM, you get the Copics. Like who cares if it's the director of football or the president of football or everything beyond that. If you were an assistant GM and you were promoted to GM, just like if you're an OC that gets a head coaching job, like head coaches have different responsibilities too. Some head coaches have roster control. Others don't. I don't see that affecting comp picks. So I just, to me, this is not actually that gray and a little tweak to the rule that they could give the Bears the comp picks after their appeal to find it better to the league. We see this all the time in the NFL. They can swoop in and clarify whatever they want. Yes, they have these meetings and there's bylaws and they vote on some of this stuff. But when Roger wants to put the hammer down, you could do that whatever he wants. So I think that that could be done in this situation. Look, all the NFL needs to do or could do is look at the potential win for them with Ian Cunningham was a great win. That's an awesome job. Good job by the Bears. Good job by George. Good job by Kevin. Good job by Ryan Poles. Mainly, I mean, that's that's his hire. We all looked at the picture for all the NFL coaches that were in the and then the GM picture and everybody saw a lot of white people. So, I mean, this is, you know, you can actually, and then you can look at who's playing in the league and you see a lot less white people. So this is something that there's a reason why the Rooney will Rooney rule became into existence to try to help to move things forward. This is an example where things went forward. You can celebrate that. So it's very odd to me. Like they, they should be trying to jump up and down and give the Bears picks versus what's going on right now in my mind. Well, they took the picture with all the GM's and Ian Cunningham's in the picture, but Matt Ryan isn't. So there you go. He's not the general manager. Right. You have a great win here. Celebrate your wins. It's good. It's a great story. Ian's a good dude. You worked hard. Bears created a position. Go Bears. So, all right, I assume we need a break, but I mean, I'll stick around here and if we want to pivot to more of a stadium conversation. Well, we don't take breaks on this on these shows. The whole thing is altogether. We never take breaks. We entertain at all moments. So there are no breaks, but just, just hang out for a second. We won't talk to you for the night. Well, I'm going to take a break and readjust my shot because I can tell the sun is starting to creep in here. By the way, Hogan is joining us on the Xfinity mobile hotline hotline and he will stay there on the Xfinity mobile hotline. When we come back from this non break, but first got to give a shout out to our good friends over at Xfinity. I am a long time loyal customer of Xfinity and let me tell you why it's because of that Xfinity five year price guarantee. Where you can have reliable and intelligent Wi-Fi at your fingertips, a super intelligent Wi-Fi like a six sense like Spider-Man. You are reliable. 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And then what you do is you get into their $150 problem. What you do is you deposit $10. You place a bet for five dollars. Can I borrow $10? Yes. And then you get $150 in bonus bets. And by the way, that's as easy to do as riding the red line right down from Addison to 35th, where the white socks will be one in five. When the season opens on Friday at home. Hey, it is no Chicago handshake, but it has great deals. Go. This is the one for you. Bet three, six, five. Winning is everything. Download the app. Use the code CHGO three, six, five. And then you sign up CHGO three, C H G O three, six, five gambling problem called 1-800-GAMLER. Please gamble responsibly. All right. We're trying to kill seven birds with one stone on the show today. So we want to play you all of Kevin Warren and we want to play you all of George McCasky because it was, it's so rare that you would get to hear from these guys like they did today. But we also have the amazingly good looking rested recovered and peanut had just underlined it. You, you getting away from fricking frack. Are you fricker? You frack? Yeah, frack. You're frack. Okay. You getting. I was gonna say I didn't like that he called and I just gave it. Just give him this peanut. He's peanut. He's showing the respect that he deserves. You look so much better. I mean, you've really, you've done a nice job. You, you, I mean, if, you know, we can show the famous. Okay, Frick, get on with it. What else? What else? You're just shut it frack. What else stood out from Kevin and or George that we're going to play in here from today? Who's Mark Danny? Danny. They say hi. They love you. I missed it. We would love if we could have one of these interviews on C.H. Joe Bear someday. He was asking, by the way, he was asking his question was, is Carm working? Yeah, well, I love to talk to Ben. Just let him working with no interviews, but that's fine. Okay, more poorly. What stood out to you from either Kevin or George or both? The dance floor is yours. Shout out, Chad Coppock. So I think. Hmm. What did, what did stand out? I mean, I was, let's start with this. I was very curious how they were going to handle the stadium stuff today because this is the fourth time now that we've talked to Kevin Warren at one of these owners meetings. Okay, the first one was here in Arizona. It was actually right before he officially started on the job, but he was here because he was transitioning to the job and it was important that he was here. And, um, and that was more of a like, if you go back and listen and watch to that, it was a lot of optimism about how quickly this might all move and how one shovels are in the ground. It could be 18 months. And, you know, I think a lot of people got excited. The following year, the pivot was to Chicago. And that conversation we had was in Florida and we sat at a similar table just like today and it's all about Chicago. Last year, also in Florida, it went back to Arlington Heights. That was where they sat down. They made it very clear that they had their, their focus was on Arlington Heights. This year, everything's in just such a sort of a holding pattern with things in the Illinois legislator right now that it, they couldn't really go in one direction, you know, and I even tried, you guys are going to play this. So he like, you'll pat Finley tried to, you know, say, okay, if this passage will go to Illinois and he didn't want to commit to that. And then I was like, well, what about the reverse? Like, what if it doesn't pass? Like that seems like you got to go to Indiana then. And there was a long answer that didn't really answer that part of it either. So I think it's just sort of a wait and see right now to be honest with you. And I still think there's some things that are very concerning, honestly, because I'm not hearing from the state right now, progress being made on certain things like just there's a lot of people, let me just put it this way, simple as possible. There's a lot of people in this state lawmakers that are concerned about what this pilot legislation will do for smaller municipalities that will now have the power to negotiate tax rates with mega projects. When you consider what those mega projects might be big companies coming into a small town against a small school district, trying to negotiate taxes, who do you think's going to win that, right, with their big lawyers? And so there's a part of the problem here is they're trying to make the bear stadium deal equate to other smaller deals that are going to happen as downstate other parts of the state as a result of these laws being passed. And I think rightly so, there's a lot of people concerned about that. And yet they won't break them up. It's got to be all this one thing. And then there's the also the issue of what the bears are still willing to help on Soldier Field. And I'll give you this teaser for my interview with Kevin Warren, and he kind of said it too in the bigger group session. Bears feel like they've paid what they've needed to pay on Soldier Field. And I keep hearing that that's gonna, I, Cam brought it up with you last week, Carm, on the show. And by the way, I bounced a couple things from that great interview. I bounced a couple things off of that with both George and Kevin today in my one on one interviews with them, things that Cam said on that. So you'll get to hear their responses to that on the interviews on Hogan Johns. Well, I mean, I mean, go ahead. I got one take away that we can look over frustrating that the mega project can't be separate from a bear project. That's ridiculous. Yes, they're not one in the same. I don't know if it's Amazon Prime, or if it's, you know, whatever, you know what I mean? They're not the same. So it should be separate. Ridiculous that it can't be. And then the other aspect that like, I did think just to push back on you a little bit, Hogan, when you asked like, well, what if the legislation doesn't get done? I believe his answer was we're going to play here in a little bit was, well, I mean, Roger Goodell said, we need to get this done quickly. And Kevin Warren kind of earmarked the spring summer. So it does kind of feel like, unless this is just more posturing, leveraging, threatening, like, Hey, if you guys don't get meet us in the middle or where we need you to meet us, we're going to make a decision this summer. That's what that sounded like to me. Well, yes, when you read, but when you read between all the lines, it's clearly what's happening here. But there's a difference between reading between the lines that they're throwing out there and them straight up saying it. And I also understand from their standpoint why they don't want to just come out and say, Hey, past this, or we're going right past this or out. There's been a lot of feelings in this conversation. You know, Cam was on the show last week talking about how it started out as a mess. And I think there's been points, even recently that have been messy, right? And so that was also why I was so curious on what was actually going to be said today. Because you there with those feelings involves you don't want another misstep right and saying the wrong thing. So I will say this, I'll give you a little little piece of information from my sit down with Kevin. That was a question I know you wanted answered, Greg, and there's been concerns about the how much water is around that Wolf Lake site in Indiana and Northwest Indiana and if they can actually build on that Kevin told me they've already gotten the answer back on that and it's good to go that they they can those studies are done and then and they can and they can build on it. There's a little bit of news on the on the Northwest Indiana front there. So now they still got more of the due diligence process isn't done, but that part of it apparently is is a good to go. Yeah, before you go, my biggest takeaway for the record was that George has gotten himself comfortable. Now he's trying to get everybody else comfortable that you're going to be uncomfortable for a minute or two. But you're going to get over it and you're going to go to Hammond or you're going to go to Arlington Heights. And you guys weren't comfortable going out to champagne. You guys weren't comfortable leaving Wrigley Field. You know, everybody, you know, was going to have a hissy fit in essence, but you'll get on board and maybe they will. I, you know, I think in general he's right. Like I don't think the stadium is going to be empty. I do think the season ticket base will have a seismic change from a lot of people that I know in the North suburb that have season tickets. They're not going to do it. No, they give them up. Someone else is going to take them. So they'll still, the seats will still be full. You disagree with that concept. So to see maybe they're lying. Maybe maybe maybe maybe maybe I'll call their bluff on that. I mean, I'm sure there's some look that what did he say 98% renewal today? Like I'm sure there would be some what of a flip in there a little bit. It wouldn't be the same number. I just find it hard to believe that and as somebody who lives in the Northern Burbs, I'm a diehard bear. I'm already a die. Like if you, if you're a diehard bear, so it's already willing to pay all that money for all these years for bad teams. You're going to tell me if they're good, you're, you're, you're not all the, all of a sudden you're not willing to drive to Northwest Indiana eight times a year. Like I just don't, and even how about four times a year and sell the other four games. I just don't buy it already do which well, okay. And right. It, which is also a very like interesting point about this. Yes. When they're good, of course, but inevitably when they're not, but the other thing that we, the other thing that we have to acknowledge here is I think we're being a little narrow-sighted on this. This isn't just about nine home games. This is about a 365 day a year entertainment district. And I, and I was going back and forth with a guy on Twitter who I thought made a good point. Like, well, how, how much easier will it be to put consistent foot traffic in that entertainment district if it's in Hammon versus Arlington Heights throughout the year? And I think that's a fair question to ask. Well, so that's actually, can I touch on that real quick? Cause I thought that was in super interesting information today. 340 acres. It's bigger than the Arlington Heights site. Right. You know, and I followed up with Kevin later in my conversation with him about that. And because I think there's a couple outstanding questions there, the biggest of which is what you just brought up, Greg. Like, so they're clearly trying to build something similar. And I, and similar must being a lot of new housing and residential, because there needs to be people there to enjoy it. Not that there aren't people in Northwest Indiana, obviously. That's not what I'm trying to say. But they're like, that thing can't sit empty. And then if it's not going to be empty, because they are using it and they're putting concerts, who gets that money? Right. Because they wouldn't own this stadium. The Northwest Indiana sports properties or whatever they're calling it would. So until maybe 40 years, it sounds like the venture of the bears would own it. Like there's a lot of things that still need to be figured out there. Well, I'm sure Indiana would make sure whatever it is is palatable for the bears. They already have in most regards for that. So, you know, that, that to me is they're going to fill up the weekends. They're going to get concerts, different events and fill those up. But then you got those middle days Monday through Friday, where they're still going to want foot traffic. I know plenty of Northwest Indiana people that are going to go there. But it's hard to argue that if it was at Arlington Heights, it wouldn't be more. The biggest leverage I think Arlington Heights still has over Hammond outside of all the stuff Indiana's rolling out the red car before us. The airport is right is closer. You don't have an airport closer to where Hammond is. It's going to be a trek for anyone that isn't local to where Hammond is versus an Arlington Heights thing. I think you'll have more of a welcoming place for, you know, people that are out of town or are they going to get the tax certainty or not? Are you going to get a good deal? None of that's going to matter. What deal are you giving us, Illinois? And are you going to do it soon? I would just say this hug from a vibe meter. And I know George was, you know, pushing back on the semantics of how we can define things today once again, but like at the same time. And then he go right back into his own analogy immediately after that. Yes. And I thought Carm had a good point against it too, which maybe he'll say for here later. But if, if we, if, if we were doing a gauge meter today felt like a day where they were trying to get people more comfortable pushing people closer to this, get comfortable with the idea that bears might move to Hammond. That's what it felt like just from hearing them today. Not saying that's exactly what's going to happen, but that's what it felt like they were doing was trying to massage this PR for when they take a hit that when they eventually get to the hit that when they eventually make this decision, that's what it felt like. Well, and maybe it's a good way to end with you guys because I think this is what, and maybe I just haven't done a good job of it. But this is what I've been trying to get across to people like in the idea that this, this is leverage as much as they want to say it's not, but it's not a bluff because the reason it's not that, and I know I've said that a few times is because if this legislation, which I just detailed with you guys still has a long ways to go here between now and may basically the end of May, got two months to figure this out, downstate in Springfield. Okay. If it doesn't pass again, and they are farther along this year than last year, at least they're talking about it. So that's a, that's a good thing. They have to go somewhere. And so that's somewhere right now is Indiana. And so it has to be real. It has to be a real thing. It has to be a real place that you can actually build on and pivot to. And so if that is the backup option, and I would still call it the backup option right now, you do have to get everybody start to get everybody on board with that idea. So I do agree with you, Greg, that that is, is part of what the conversation was today. Because it is real. These are real conversations. These are real laws that have been passed in Indiana. They are really do doing their due diligence. Even if the rest of us, and I think the great majority of people still feel like Arlingtonites is the favorite and probably still might be where it ends up. But you know, this is why am I reporting I've been trying to get this across. This is more than a bluff. It's very, very real. And, you know, we know Illinois politics. You want to put all your eggs in the back basket that it's going to get passed, especially when you got Cam Buckner on CHO last week saying we're not doing these deals like we used to when they used to just sort of force them through. There's a lot to be done here guys in two months. Lastly, hope, did you say to George when he said he doesn't like these trite half yard line comments? Did you say to him that, dude, the deal with Indiana you say you don't have when you could sign it today. You could sign right now. You're on the half yard line buddy, but you're not signing it. You just anything like this, which by the way, thanks, Karm is because that's what I actually said was the deals at the half yard line. It just needs basically needs an agreement. Not the bears moving there is at the half yard line. There's a big difference. So no, I did not follow up with that because I was too busy getting up from the bus just driving completely over me there in that moment. Well, at least appreciated him saying trite. I least appreciated him saying trite. I understood that word hack me. I had to Google and that's when you do that. It made me look like an idiot. That's what I don't appreciate. You're on the half yard line, George, Triter not trite. You just don't you have a take it yet because you're hoping and praying if that's a trite comment that you get from that Illinois wakes up and gives you what you want because you're the damn ass Chicago bears. Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. And I would say one more thing to whoever put in the two, whoever put in the chat that about the Super Bowls. None of us are going to the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl comes here. We're just gonna sit there and all the rich people are going to go to the Super Bowl. We're not going. So the fact that we be getting a Super Bowl, like you're not going to be in there while you might because you're that I will be in there. Irresponsible. But most of us a tailgate lot set up. So oh good. Oh good. You like in Hammond. Yeah. You know, the nights. Yeah. You got that too. I don't believe Greg. Would you say would you say the CHO tailgate in Northwest Indiana is at the half yard line? We're touched down. We're touched down there. I got connections. I got connections. I get up with a weed guy too. Sonny side. H I C H. O. All right. Hope travels safe. We look forward to seeing you in person tomorrow and I will tell you spoiler alert. And it is April Fools day. So read into it. What you want. But spoiler alert. We got a gift for you when you're coming back, buddy. So be ready. That's scary. That is scary. I am going to get a little bit more work done here. Maybe so can I am feeling refreshed revitalized the vitamin D's been good for me and I'll see if I can get a little bit more vitamin D before I jump on that plane tonight. So miss you guys tomorrow. Mostly miss Steven. Yeah, travels save hopefully the flights and everything aren't too hard on you. It's been rough sitting first. It's not about the it's about the plane actually taking off. Goodbye. See you later. Bye. Great job. As always. Xfinity mobile call lines were hope joined us today. That was amazing. We're going to hear a lot of Kevin Warren a lot of George McCastly before we get out here today and we'll react as well and Dr Vinnie boom bots is going to annoy Greg. All that is going on but shut up boom bots first. Gotta give a shout out to our good friends over at sunny side Joey Cristopolis because our friends and that's right our friends at sunny side dispensary are here to elevate your baseball season and sunny side is your home for judgment free shopping. They have a crazy selection with over 100 different strains to choose from with easy online ordering and in store pickup. They always make sure to make it as convenient as possible for you including their locations that are as far north right by Wrigley Field as far south of champagne. You can get them anywhere even in South Beloit. So stop in the location store nearest you for expert guidance from their staff head to their website for only the best under the sun including 50% off your first three online purchases. 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Shout out to our friends at game day men's health everybody was wondering how it was going to do last night on the tennis court and of course how'd you do it did fantastic and I wouldn't have done it without our friends at game day men's health this listen if you're not feeling up to the task on a daily basis here it might be because you got the low testosterone so go check them out at game day men's health they'll do the test on you look you'll see where you're at and they'll hook you up and get you to the next level if you don't want that they've got everything else going on there by the way it's an easy quick process I go in I get I get what I like to call the hip exfoliation but it's a shock absorber they go in they go into my hips they go into my calves they go and my Achilles feels better than it has it's it's literally I walk out of there and I say thank you thank you so much and lovely it's amazing and you're going to go I am going to go I'm on deck yeah start your best life 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to be here tomorrow apparently we'll see well I'm just saying I mean like his fly there's a there's a 60% chance his flight gets laid by like eight hours I mean the reality though like hold I hate saying that but it's right now I saw I see on social media airports going off but like you know everyone say that hold looks refreshed I think we were refreshed I look fat you don't look good you're right but I feel great I'm getting a haircut Thursday night does all look refreshed Thursday that's great I'm getting my neck cleaned up on Friday why don't we waste more time with 8 million things to do I'm getting a little neck clean okay you know you got you don't want to get rid of this it's coming back together all right let's get to let's stand a stand track here because a little wasted he gets he gets temperamental Kevin Warren talk stadium let's play it and then we'll talk about it this is a significant chunk so stay focused Kevin Warren bears present where the bears are at on the stadium well I mean I think you know they continue to continually work on you know the pilot legislation and and I believe their schedule to come back sometime in the middle of April and and it's not specifically for the Chicago bears obviously I think the perception and the focus from a legislative standpoint is that is good for business in Illinois to be able to allow businesses to at least have a manageable amount of taxes that they will be required to pay and as you're aware that this is something that the Illinois legislature has been working on for many years those who still aren't on board what now how do you get them convinced to get this through the spring I think the biggest thing is convinced is that we need to make sure that we're in a position to build a world class stadium for our fans we're focused on it you heard the commissioner say yesterday that you know the time is now for us to be able to do it and I think the biggest thing is in all of these big projects you have to have tax certainty and we know which is which is critically important we're we're would not be able to to build a stadium without tax certainty fortunately we do have tax certainty in the state of Indiana and from that standpoint so there are no property tax taxes for our stadium in the state of Indiana so that is certain that legislation has passed but here in Illinois for us to even consider an opportunity we have to have tax certainty without that we can't proceed forward is it as simple as if you get the pilot legislation passed you will stay in Illinois or then you have to make another decision there that's a great question but I would say it's not as simple as that I mean the biggest things on all these stadiums you need to make sure that the projects that you can finance them I mean one of the the biggest focal points now is to checking the capital markets the financial markets so pilot legislation is a critical component of it but that's only one step then you have to deal with the infrastructure on any of these stadiums you know the roads the highways the sewers the storm water all those things are have to be a focal point to be able to build and operate especially when you are going to host that many people at one point time how about the other way around if the legislation doesn't pass you're picking Indiana well I mean I think we've made it very clear we have two sites that we are excited about and when you compare them in Arlington Heights the site many of you have been there is 326 acres in Hammond is 340 acres so there's plenty of space to make sure that we do have a mixed use development in both locations but we've made it very clear and as I said you've heard the NFL you heard the commissioner specifically say it these projects are are they're challenging and when you get to a point where you actually can see them coming to fruition you need to make sure we capitalize on it just because the the positive economic energy it brings I mean you look yesterday was voted upon that Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium will be hosting basically two Super Bowls in five years and those are kind of things that in the Chicago land area we have not had an opportunity to be able to do because we don't have a fixed roof and so all of those you know events from the final four which is in Indianapolis this weekend the men's final four women's final four is here in Phoenix but Super Bowl events it just it is it they have passed over the Chicago land area and when you think about all the hotels and restaurants and and the fans that exist to be able to build a stadium there it would give us an opportunity to bid and hopefully secure those opportunities for years that Illinois wouldn't budge on negotiations can you repeat the first part of question for years Illinois wouldn't budge on negotiations process now that you guys have the leverage because Indiana has stepped up to the play how do you prevent the emotional element of the human element of emotion from factoring into negotiations and now Illinois comes back to the table when you now have the hammer in your hand perhaps you know one thing I think is critically important is we don't look at this as a political exercise per se we look at this as a business transaction and and so fortunately you know we feel very strongly this is the right thing to do at this point in time for the right reasons and you know the world can change I mean you look what's happening in this war in the last couple weeks it can change overnight you know the financial markets can change and so when you think about global issues everything impacts everything so from a global standpoint war finances capital markets the cost of steel and so we look at this from to make sure that we stay above any political fray we look at this as an opportunity from a business standpoint to do the the right thing in the Chicago land area and from a location standpoint you know to be where we're situated you know Hammond and Arlington Heights are both in our our DMA they're they're they're both in our in our area and so that's that's something that's important this is not us moving outside of the the DMA I mean they're they're they're both relatively short distance from soldier feel as we stand here now. Kevin specifically about the state of Illinois I know Camp Buckner is working with the bearers hand in hand to try to get those 60 votes needs to get through the state. Have you had a chance to get together with lawmakers who are the no votes right now to to to find out what their concerns are to alleviate their concerns to turn those votes around. I think one of the things that's important just from an experiential standpoint is to make sure the lawmakers the politicians have a chance to handle their business in the manner that they can handle it in and and so I think that's something that we've stayed away from you know for for obvious reasons and and you know they have difficult jobs so I totally understand what what the Illinois lawmakers are are trying to work through you know Indiana. They've been a spectacular to work with I mean the under the leadership of Governor Braun they've been straightforward they work with great pace and precision precision and and they've made this project a priority and that's why now we're spending the time to make sure we really dig into the due diligence because there's issues with parking. Transportation in grass and egress fan experience it is an absolutely you know interesting positive site in Hammond and to be able to have two sites you know one that in Hammond and both in Arlington Heights is very rare and unique and but but we also trust the leadership in Illinois under Governor Pritzker and and as I said there are a lot of things going on not only locally nationally but also globally. Kevin the what is the factor what is the significance of that factor as you go through this project. Yeah I mean it's it's a unique piece of property because you know rarely do you find 326 acres near a major metropolitan area and so so it is a great piece of property has topography it has water on it you know all those different things and when we say pad ready now that's a great thing. It requires a lot of work because it was a racetrack for many years and there hadn't been any infrastructure handled in the last I think a hundred years and so it does need you know some work all of it that can be done you know from a storm water and that's why the infrastructure costs are so critically you know important to be able to make sure that fans can enter and exit and have all the amenities that are necessary. But you know once we purchased the property of Fort Shillett and McCasky's had the vision to be able to still proceed forward and make sure we do some things to get the land in in a good position so it's in a really good position. As far as the stadium design itself I think last week you said you guys were about 50% through that. Where is that at right now in terms of the stadium itself? Yeah we are in a good position from a stadium design standpoint but depending on where our final determination of the site you know ends and where we decide to build the stadium we just want to make sure that people understand they're in the Chicago land area and so it's not totally done. Obviously we want to make sure we've made a lot of progress. The architect that we've been working with is David Manneca. He's designed stadiums around the world and designed most recently the Las Vegas Radiers stadium, Allegiant stadium. But it will be a fixed roof with ETFE roof components you know similar to US Bank stadium, similar to Sulfi, similar to Allegiant stadium where fans will be able to feel that they have that outdoor atmosphere, what will be enclosed. So we're in a good position from a design and you know construction document standpoint. We're the savings seekers, we hear you. So that was Kevin Warmbare's president earlier today at the NFL owners meetings and look. I could, if I put myself in Kevin's seat just for a second here Gregory, you handed me a plot of land 326 acres that you already bought that a lot of people think you overpaid for. You, I actually tried to keep you in the city where you belonged and I was optimistic about it hoping that I would get some goodwill. Nobody followed me. Then I tried to do what you wanted me to do and I got no goodwill there because people don't want you to leave Chicago and they're willing to do nothing for Chicago. So now I got to take the gloves off and go over to Indiana and now I got to sit here and tell you how great sad ass Ham in Indiana is so I can get some leverage to maybe get a deal with Illinois and everybody's pointing at me that I'm a freaking idiot. So it's not exactly, it's not, it's not an envious seat to sit in. If you, if you really try to put yourself in his shoes, is that fair? It is fair. I'm one of the very few people that actually thinks Kevin Warren has done a good job since he's been in Chicago personally. I think he's the biggest common denominator on when you look at how much things have changed over the last three or four years. Over the last four years, there's been so many changes beyond just what's happened on the football field and Kevin Warren's the one difference in that front office. So, you know, the stadium thing we all knew this was wasn't going to be easy. I think it would is very naive for anyone to act like, oh, this was going to be a seamless thing knowing how Illinois handles their business more times than not. And as I've said from the start, as I've said from the start, this is a total ego fight. And when Cam Buckner was here last week going, hey, well, you know, the Chicago Cubs never threatened to leave. You know, that's a shot at the Bears and Kevin Warren sitting here going, well, Indiana's treating us a lot nicer. That's a shot at the politicians. And so it really just comes down to ego and in so many of these areas. And then I get money and votes are obviously of the of the forefront. But I think ego just has such a big bearing in all of this as well. And so, you know, I stalemate is the best word I think you can have for this as of right now. Yeah, well, I mean, look, he called just to quote what he said there, he called him an interesting positive site. And then he about three seconds later he's like, you know, they're Illinois politicians, you know, they're working hard to and Governor Pritzker like he tried to, you know, he's trying to say what's on his mind and also be as nice about it as possible. If again, if I if I'm the look, he's putting out this deadline now that late spring early summer. So summer starts on June 21. That would being that by June 1. By let's go. I'm sorry. That would mean I would think that by at the absolute latest training camp 2026 when Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and company show up Tyson Bay jen my guy show up for for practice this year training camp the start of the year in essence. They're going to know that in three years, four years or five years where they're going to be playing. You think that's fair. I think it's fair, but we talked about it with Albert Brear. Hoag's made point a couple times too. They could agree to Indiana and then six months from now, a year from now go. Oh, I never mind. You know, Illinois finally came up with the deal to that's that's what that's really isn't nauseating enough where we stand right now, but that there has been precedent where that's other teams and other cities where that's happened. That's what New England did. I also will rewind back to something that cam buckners. I should have slightly pushed back on him on that night. Really appreciate it. Cam coming on here. But the Cubs never threatened to leave the Cubs threatened to go to Rosemont. It was a terrible threat. No one thought they were going to do it. Everyone knew they weren't going to do it. You can't leave Wrigley Field because Wrigley Field is more valuable than the Cubs, but they actually did try to throw out there. They go to the Rosemont. You know, that if we're talking about trite comments like George Mckasky saying that didn't get past the one yard line or you know, past the whatever they never got on the end zone. How's that? Yeah, well, as we're getting ready to hear from George Mckasky, make sure come like button become a diehard and whatnot. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't already. Use that QR code here on your screen. You get exclusive written content. You get a free shirt as soon as you sign up. You get discounts on events, including our draft party that's coming up here. Just in a few weeks at Joe's on Weed Street April 23rd and 24th first round on Thursday, second and third round on Friday. Plenty of picks at our disposal as we have officially reached overtime on the C.H.G. O'Barre's podcast. The luminaries are going to be out that night. I've got confirmation that Crystal will indeed be there. Greg will be there. Hogue will be there. I'll be there. I believe Gary Ross will be there. He'll have his own suite that we're working on that Gary deserves. Bo Chanton, I don't think you live here, but if you did, we'd send a limo for you for everything you do. Not so much you, Epson law firm. Okay, let's get, let's get through it because Steven's got more work to do. Okay, here we go. George McCaskey on the stadium. This is some really good stuff from George today and emotional George and emotional George like oh, he's always got a little emotion to him though. Pizzatola's coming to the draft party. Pizzatola versus Carm around to this. Let's go. Let's go Pizzatola. Bring it on. Here's George. Since Kevin has exhaustively answered all of your questions about the possibility of a new stadium, I can't see that you have any questions for me. I would suggest that we join in a public service to your readers, your listeners, and your viewers and avoid the trite and tired football analogies that one initiative is on the five yard line going in. Another initiative has the ball down by three out of timeouts, 70 yards away. The fact of the matter is we don't have a deal to consider right now. In Indiana, we have a great site. There's some due diligence that needs to be completed before we can fully evaluate the site and we have a legislative framework in place. In Arlington Heights, we have a site shovel ready, but we don't yet have a legislative framework. There are prudent and wise and responsible public servants in Indiana working on it. And there are prudent and wise and responsible public servants in Illinois working on it. If I could offer one football analogy, just as the course of a game, things add and flow. They go back and forth. Sometimes there is great momentum on one side. Sometimes the momentum shifts suddenly to another side. I've said to our family, we need to be patient and let the deal come to us. We think a deal will materialize somewhere. We're comfortable with either site and we have people at the Bears working with public servants in both Indiana and Illinois trying to get this done. So with that, we're happy to answer any questions. I believe you have one stated question. Your awareness and focus on legacy is very important to you. How does that factor into your evaluation of the next steps for this stadium? It's an important decision. It's going to impact the Bears for decades to come. But the Bears board is empowered and entrusted by the shareholders to make this decision. We're fully informed. Kevin's been doing a great job keeping us up to date. And both sites are in the Bears home territory as defined by the NFL. So I think we'll be good either way. What's your emphasis on patience? How much longer are you willing to wait for deals to come to you? Well, Kevin has said and the commissioner has said, we need to make a decision sooner rather than later when the process is completed in one place or the other. And we have a deal to consider. Then we'll look to see where we are with the other situation and we'll make a decision. Kevin, excuse me, George, how can we jump too far back? To 2021 when you purchased the land, why was the property tax certainty not secured at that point? We've been working on property tax certainty ever since we acquired the land. But with Indiana, what Kevin had just mentioned, that that's something that's already, you don't even purchase land in Indiana, but that was secured before even considering buying land there. How come with Illinois it was purchased the land at the same time working towards tax certainty? It wasn't tax certainty first then by the way? Well, we didn't control the timing of the acquisition of our Indian Park. Churchill Downs was in a position where they were ready to sell, so they largely determined the timing. What do you think George Hallis would think about the stadium in Indiana? Well, he played for the Ham and All Stars in 1919, so that's where he got his start in football. The Ham and All Stars happened to play many of their quote unquote home games at Cubs Park. He was on a decades long quest himself to find the proper stadium solution. I think the first Mayor Daley's first blue ribbon stadium commission was established in 1956, which happened to be the year I was born, so I haven't known that was a long time ago. George, how would it strike you personally considering, you know, like your family's legacy, the biggest fans you had at the site were in Indiana? I don't think in the end it's going to matter to people. Back in 1976, the New York football giants went across the state line to New Jersey. They've been there ever since. The Jets joined them shortly thereafter. And then 35 years later, both teams had an opportunity to reevaluate their situations and recommitted to New Jersey. And somehow the Republic has survived. When the Bears moved from Wrigley Field to Slaughter Field, it required an adjustment. When we went to Champaign, it required an adjustment. And whether we go to Arlington Park or to Hammond, there is going to be an adjustment period. People are going to have to be allowed some time to get used to it. I think Bears fans are up to it. George, a big picture financially. How does the money needed and allocated for stadium purposes impact the finances used for roster building? In your world, two completely different worlds from an organizational financial health. I'm sorry. Liberal Arts major. I don't understand your question. What do you say? From a financial health of the organization standpoint, the money that you will need to use to build a stadium, how does that impact what you have available for roster building? Oh, it'll have no impact whatsoever. This is a significant risk for the family and for the organization, but it's on the business side. It won't impact what's available for football operations whatsoever. And from the outset, the $2 billion private funding promise has been out there. Where will that money originate? We're going to have to borrow it because we don't have it. That's where the risk comes in. George, since the organization wants to make a Super Bowl, they made that clear, do you feel like the Indiana site would have the surrounding amenities, the footprint to attract a Super Bowl? Yeah. Both sites are in Chicagoland. They're both in our home territory. And people will decide to stay wherever it is that they decide to stay and get to the site. So we think it's going to work out either way. You mentioned that you guys have to borrow the money. You haven't had to borrow money a whole lot in the history of the bears. How comfortable have you personally grown with the idea of that? And was that something that at first was pretty intimidating? Might still be intimidating. Well, I've got George Halas' blood coursing through my veins. So the family is risk averse, debt averse. But we feel that this is a necessary step to secure the bearer's future. Do you feel like the new cutting-game situation in the compensatory piece? Do you feel like that's within the spirit of the running role, the decision that you've been in in the relationship by this point? We think what we did is what the league wants every member club to do. We identified diverse talent. We recruited him. We created a position for him. We allowed him access to the general manager role to work hand-in-hand with Ryan Poles. We allowed him to make mistakes and to learn from those mistakes. We gave him supervisory duties. We gave him training. We made him ready to be a general manager in the NFL. And he's getting his opportunity and we're thrilled for him. George, in the meeting you had on that topic in New York, what was your sense of the responsiveness of the commissioner? I don't want to speculate on that. I think we made a pretty compelling case and we'll just have to see what the decision is. What you guys are arguing, stating your case in Atlanta with, you know, Connie Henn was also saying publicly, they think you should get the picks. Who's against this? What's the opposition here? The league has to think big picture. What are the consequences of us ruling in a particular way in this particular case? And how would that be applied to the other 30 teams in the future? So it's a big question. It's not a narrow inquiry. They have to broaden the scope of their inquiry. Do you have a sense from possibly this week or before of what the support for your argument is beyond just you and the Falcons? Are there other teams that agree with you? We haven't really lobbied other teams' support. You've heard the public comments of Arthur Blank, Matt Ryan, Ian himself. But I don't think that the league in making its decision looks at the comments of any particular individual to our friends in the media on forming the basis of their decision. How long will you keep the appeal process going? Until they make a decision. Do you have any thoughts about the Florida AG's comments? Do you think those actions are a threat to the new rule itself? The Bears philosophy is we're committed to diversity and we will continue our efforts. We're very proud of what we did with Ian and we're very much looking forward to the next opportunity to do something similar. Two of the teams, last one here, Pat. You're going to play internationally and have an open opponent right now. Do you know whether you're going to go this year at all? We haven't heard. You haven't heard? Do you think you would know by now if you were? Typically the league will feel you out on a particular destination and we haven't heard anything that has happened. Are you open to going? We go where they tell us to go. Thanks guys. Thanks George. I've spoken to Ben and we're on the same page. There it is, George McCaskey, Bears owner. I really enjoyed a bunch of things there. One, he's letting you know where he's at. The original reporting on this was that they were unwilling to go down the Indiana road unless George was comfortable with going there. That reporting seems very accurate because George is telling you that he thinks the Republic, as he put it, will get over it if they move to Hammond. The Giants and the Jets are in New Jersey. The Niners are not in San Francisco. They're in Santa Clara. So they're looking around at the landscape and they realize that football fans are the most passionate fans going. And again, I'm making the point that I do think that there will be a changing, rolling, seasoned ticket holder clientele if this happens going to Hammond. But I still think they'll be there. Yeah. And I think that if they were to make that decision to go to Indiana, you know, he said like fans would be fine with it because other fan bases have been fine with it. I think he'll take a year of tomatoes. But by the time the stadium is actually built, like the conversation will be over and then there will be a pivot at some point as the entertainment district in the stadium are being built where fans will get excited for that. But that first year, that first day of that announcement, if it were ever to come, yeah, the fans are going to be pretty hot about it. Yeah. And the concept to, you know, this is a bigger site than the Arlington Heights that we're going to get a lot of people that are going to go move over to Hammond. Does he think people in Indiana are moving over to hand? Or does he think that people are leaving Chicago? No, I mean, I think just naturally what's already been happening in Northwest Indiana is people of Illinois have been moving over there for the last decade and it's driven up the housing market in a big way. Me and my wife took advantage of that a few years ago when we sold our condo and we bought a house. Brought it to us. Good job. So that will happen. If the bears move there, then that area will get an upgrade. But it'll take time. Like the difference between Arlington Heights and Hammond is like that's a really nice area. That's arguably an affluent area. Hammond is, it's got a little roughness to it, you know, and so you move the bears there. Are you going to move to Hammond? No, why would I? I live 10 minutes from there. Because you could sell your house to make more money and make it and then you can go to the rough. But these taxes and everything that's going to, the pros and cons of the bears moving to Hammond is going to affect me as a Northwest Indiana resident. Like that's my county. That's Lake County. So I'm going to get affected positively and negatively regardless where my exact address is. The fact that Braggs is getting more and more financially secure because of this move makes me happy. Well, I mean, I think there's going to be a give and take and I think it's going to be about what people can afford because your taxes certainly are going to get up, go up. But your property value will also go up. So, and I'm not an expert in any of that stuff. But just regardless, what I would say is like, again, going back. Arlington Heights is a nice area. We drove through it. We had lunch. There's nice schools. There's nice neighborhoods. You know, there's nice restaurants. It's right off the highway. The airport's not that far away. There's not a facelift needed for that area. Whereas Hammond, that would take 10 to 15 to 20 years for that area to be elevated. But yes, I do think that it would over time. Right. Well, more importantly than any of that is that it just seems that George believes that this is viable and that bears fans will do it. He even referenced his dad, uh, 19, 19, but you didn't know that the Hammond All Stars, Gregory, but you didn't know anything about the Hammond All Stars. Mr. Northwest. Of course you did. You did. What do you know about the Hammond All Stars that George house once played for him? What else do you know? That's it. Yeah. Okay. Uh, the, uh, courtesy of, uh, Carmapedia, there was a huge game that year on Thanksgiving, Greg. It was against, it was played actually in Chicago, not in Hammond against the ironically enough, ironically enough against the Canton Bulldogs. 12,000 people showed up at that game apparently. And that led to the Chicago Staley's and the NFL and George Hall is starting the whole thing. What position did house play? Do you know running back? That is incorrect. Uh, he, he was, he was what they referred to at the time and end, which is a wide receiver. So he was the role George house was the Rome, a dunes a or the Luther burden or the DJ more of the Hammond All Stars in 1919, who by the way, what four, three and two. Isn't the irony of that though, that they were the Hammond All Stars. And then they did this big game on Thanksgiving, but they did it in Chicago. So more people would come to it and that led to the bears and the Staley's and now the Staley's and the bears are moving to potentially moving in. There's like a bit of irony there. It all comes together. And you know, I think the other thing that we were laughing about during that was, uh, the most honesty you heard from George and that whole thing where he said, you know, I have houses, blood ring through me. And we are very risk averse and debt averse. My family, George house was the cheapest man in the history of the NFL. The players hated him because he would never give him a raise and that's, that's where I learned finances. Uh, what did he say about Nichols and manhole covers? What was the saying? Sue or cause sewer covers, manholes, whatever he held us through around Nichols like they were. Manhole manhole covers. Well, listen, uh, I mean, you know, I did seven years of bears post-cape shows with Ed Obradovich who went in and negotiating with George Alice and he would not speak well of that experience in any way, shape or form. He also would say that he's, you know, he had a very complicated relationship with the old man and that, you know, I guess that explains why the 85 bears have been still pushing for free meals after 45 years. Well, they deserve it. I know. I'm kidding. Feed my guys. Uh, but you, okay, put just to, just to wrap up that whole George experience there. He thinks that bears fans are going to go wherever it is. Champagne, Arling tonight's Hammond. You're all, it's going to be an adjustment. There's going to be a lot of noise and then you're going to get on board. That's what he believes. So to where you're going as far as momentum or whatever, sure seems to me like they're trying to put out there that this is, this is, you know, very, very, very viable. And could happen even though I, they clearly would prefer to play on the land that they bought and not have to figure out how to sell that and move and do all that. I'm also hearing, you know, the side from Hammond, like we're going to build a practice facility for you here. No, they're not going to practice over there. They're not giving up house hall. None of that's happening. But I suppose this was a, this was a moment, momentum for Hammond day. So congratulations. Again, not rooting for it. I think I did my best. I not you are. I'm not officially you are. I think you are. I'm not really. I promise you. I'm not if, if as a Bears fan first, I don't always have to live in Northwest Indiana. I couldn't move to Illinois. My dream as a kid was to move to Chicago. That's what I always wanted to do. I just wanted to live in the city. Breaking news. Greg Braggs is leaving Indiana. When are you moving? When are you going to move? Well, I wouldn't now we're, you know, we're root, our roots are deep, but no, just like as a Bears fan first, separating where I live, I'm not going to pretend as if there isn't certain advantages I'd have if the Bears moved to Indiana. I, there's a lot of connections I have from Hammond and what I do for work now, ironically enough, not just even if I was a bricklayer five years ago, there had been advantages. There's even more advantages now because of the work I do. If the Bears were in Hammond, I'm not going to pretend like that's not the case. But as a Bears fan first, which is how I always think, even if it is to the detriment of my personal life or wellbeing is it would be better. Bears landia would be better in Arlington Heights. That's not debatable. It would be a nicer experience for Bears fans. There's a train station that goes right into it. You have a highway that's right off of it. Those things do not exist in Hammond and nor will they ever exist. You have a toll road that costs an arm and a leg to try to drive down that I drive down periodically to this day. Isn't there a background off the, that you don't have to take the sky away? Yes, none of it's convenient. I mean, it'd be a madhouse trying to drive through. What about the South Shore? Doesn't that go to? Yes, there's a South Shore. None of it is convenient in the way that Arlington Heights is convenient, you know, and so that part of it. And in terms of a game day experience, like for someone like me, it'll never affect me. It doesn't matter where it is because I'm the first person in the tailgate lot. I'm the last person to leave. So traffic, none of that matters. You anticipate being like 78 years old and still doing that. Does bear man still shrug his ass up to the first row in the tunnel? This guy's a hero. All right, we got Bears fans do. You want to sing the fight song on the way out today? No, I don't. Not even a little? No. Okay. Well, hey, Greg doesn't have to do pushups today because he worked out. Way to get it done. I've seen a million people in the chat have been on pins and needles about my match with double D last night. 6275 absolute annihilation. Just we're on the board man. Thank you, Steven. It's supposed to clap for me. I just saw a Cubs update in the chat. That's all I'm worried about. Okay. Cubs are five nothing. Rank's a big Los Angeles or Los Angeles. Los Angeles, Angels fan. And so it's a rubber match between me and ranked today. You. So I just ended. Steven is going to be producing the wide socks post game show CSGO socks post game show with Sean Anderson. So you want to thank boom bots for what he said about you? It was an April Fool's joke. He's lying. No, he said, I don't believe you. Yeah, it was. He said he likes me, but then he put April Fool's. No, he likes you. And he quit the show without you. Go up, go up. He was, he was joking. Vinny boombots loves you. Deep down. And look how many times he's tweeted. It's been a good boombots today. See April Fool's and all honesty, I'm a huge fan of Braggs and would quit watching if he ever was fired. April Fool's. See, my bad. He's like my Pizzatola. I've got a damn Pizzatola. No, you don't have a Pizzatola. Only I can have a Pizzatola. This is a competition boombots. You cannot have boombots be your Pizzatola. Pizzatola. I don't want it to be, but it's forced my hand. Okay, we got to go. We got to go. White socks post game coming right up. Cubs. They lost 10. Hold tomorrow. Hold tomorrow with a gift. We'll all enjoy it. We're out the door. Thank you to George and Kevin and Hogue and Steven and me and go bears. Yeah.