Bridgeview has one of the highest rates of debt around Chicago because of Toyota Park, the Chicago Fire’s stadium, and taxpayers are feeling the burden.
Rising from the rubble of an oldindustrial site, the 20,000-seat Toyota Park was supposed to put the small suburb on the map, report Joseph Ryan and Joe Mahr.Instead, the community of 16,000 is more than $230 million in debt because of the stadium.
It started for Bridgeview residents with a seemingly innocuous vote for “home rule” in 2002 — avote that many towns have taken. But in Bridgeview’s case, that vote would lead to a trail of broken promises, risky gambles and sweetheart deals. Since opening in 2006, it has come up millions ofdollars short of making its huge debt payments. The yearly shortfalls are sometimes as big as the town’s annual police budget, and they’ve helped sink the southwest suburb’s credit rating to among theChicago area’s worst.
The big borrowing created a torrent of cash that, in part, went to companies tied to high-level village employees, the town leaders’ political supporters and evencompanies linked to the mayor’s family. Plus, campaign contributions from those profiting at the stadium have helped bankroll a rarely challenged local political machine that recently elevated itsleader, Mayor Steven Landek, to the Illinois Senate. Landek would not agree to an interview, but in e-mails, spokesman Ray Hanania blamed the economy for the stadiumshortfalls and said nothing was done illegally or unethically.
Is it possible to get an in-dept examination of how one spends $230 million for a small 20,000 seater stadium? I mean, this is a typo, right? $230 million? That spells kickbacks, corruption, payoffs, graft, sweetheart deals and whatever the Chicago street lingo is for grand scale thievery. I bet the people of Naperville made sure they did not get burned in this manner when they hosted the Fire.
Corruption is the way de-vibre in Cook county indeed. My main complaint regarding TP is that the area surrounding the stadium lacks infrastructure. If they spent $230Mill to build it, why not to do a better job reconditioning the routes to the parking lot? Maybe even creating satellite parking that could invite people to walk a block or two, and small eateries to open along the way and benefit the whole community instead of making the game experience so bare after each game. Also, for those not able to tailgate (meaning getting there 2hrs before games), getting to the stadium just in time you run the risk of being stopped by mile long (literally) freight trains blocking access to the parking’s main gate. They could’ve at least built an underpass with a million or two and make it less frustrating to attend games. I hope the team and community can find a solution to their situation. Chicago deserves a very competitive MLS team and a classier experience attending games.