Daley Trying To Score 2nd NFL Team??

[HuskyCaucasian]

CBS 2 Chicago -

 

Chicago has always has been a Bears town. But there's at least some talk today about the Bears no longer being "the only game in town."

 

It started when CBS 2's Mike North on Monsters & Money in the Morning revealed that a former NFL commissioner was in town visiting Mayor Daley.

 

"Paul Tagliabue walked out of City Hall yesterday," North said. "He was visiting with the mayor, I don't know what it was about. But he walked out. And I said 'wasn't that Paul Tagliabue?' He said, 'that's right.'"

 

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine spoke with Mayor Daley Wednesday and asked him what they were talking about.

 

"The Olympics," Daley said.

 

A kind of post-mortem of Chicago's failed 2016 bid. Tagliabue told us by e-mail that he's "no longer involved with the NFL."

 

But given his history with the league and its owners, and the mayor's longtime desire to lure a second team to Chicago, it's hard to believe it didn't come up.

 

It did, the mayor admitted.

 

"I've been talking about it. I've been trying to get people; a lot of private investors out there would love to do it," Daley said.

 

When asked if he spoke with Paul Tagliabue about it, since he was seen leaving Daley's office Tuesday, the mayor said: "That was first about the whole U.S. Olympics. Of course, I pitched it about how Chicago is such a great sports town."

 

Daley said Tagliabue's reaction was, "Well, like anything else, he said you'd have to go through the process and all that."

 

Daley's never really gotten over his beloved Chicago Cardinals leaving the South Side for St. Louis in 1960. He actually had a chance to get them back from Arizona 40 years later.

 

"That was the time Mayor Daley had a chance to eliminate Soldier Field, leave it as a memorial, build a new stadium, 80,000 fans and have two teams," said ESPN.com's Lester Munson. "He could have done it then, he probably could have had the Cardinals then."

 

Instead, he chose to construct the smallest stadium in the NFL, hurting his chances to get the second team many Chicagoans would love to have.

 

"That would be huge," one Bears fan said.

 

For both the love of the game and because they're running out of patience with the Bears.

 

"I would just hope for something better than what we have now," a woman said.

 

"Give me a second team as soon as you can get it here, that's fine with me," a man said.

 

Munson agrees.

 

"From the fans' point of view, the best thing that could happen would be a second team coming here into Chicago to make it tough on the Bears," Munson said. "What do the Bears want? That's the last thing they want. They want a total monopoly over NFL football."

 

But some fans agree with the Bears.

 

"I think the market is perfect the way it is," one fan said. "I don't think you should mess with that at all."

 

"The Bears are legendary," said another fan. "They got history here. A brand new team trying to start off new, competing against the Bears? I don't see it."

 

Mayor Daley sure does.

 

"San Francisco has two teams, New York has two teams. Of course, anybody would love to have a second national football league franchise here in Chicago. That would be perfect," said Mayor Daley.

 

For Daley and many fans? Yes.

 

For an NFL owner without a bigger stadium? Not so much.

 

Better to build a new stadium in Los Angeles, which doesn't have a team than share smaller quarters with the Bears, who don't want any part of them.

 

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

[Steve9347]

No thanks.

[JoeBatterz]

 

I just don't see it happening.

[BigSqwert]

I remember the rumors of the Raiders coming here a few years back.

[LittleHurt05]

It doesn't get more credible than Mike North. Maybe he can help the new NFL team find a trusting financial partner.

[Kyyle23]

It doesn't get more credible than Mike North. Maybe he can help the new NFL team find a trusting financial partner.

 

 

LMAO, QFT

 

From what I hear, Monsters and Money is somehow infinitely worse than Monsters in the Morning

[HuskyCaucasian]

The article nails Daley's problem on the head... Soldier Field. Such a small stadium absolutely kills their chance of landing another team. If they could find a way to modify the existing stadium to add 10,000-15,000 more seats, then you have something. But, I dont think there is much wiggle room in that stadium design to add a bunch of more seats.

 

Remember, Soldier Field lost it's landmark statues... so they can do whatever they want now.

Edited March 4, 2010 by Athomeboy_2000

[HuskyCaucasian]

On a side note, did anyone else think that the Washington Park Olympic stadium was never going to be torn down? I was convinced it was going to be a second... larger.... NFL stadium.

[southsider2k5]

And people thought the Sox were the redheaded step child of Chicago...

[nitetrain8601]

On a side note, did anyone else think that the Washington Park Olympic stadium was never going to be torn down? I was convinced it was going to be a second... larger.... NFL stadium.

 

I was hoping we got the Olympics and it wasn't. Then again, the plan for the stadium was cheap material and very bland so they could turn it into a much smaller venue. Either way, I would be on board. That second team would be my 2nd favorite behind the Cowboys. I'd actually go to their games.

 

But alas, the Bears really did drop the ball on the Soldier Field stuff. I remember Daley wanted a retractable stadium that was much larger so he could host a bunch of stuff like the NCAA tourney, another football team etc. And then he one time wanted one of the McCormick places converted which I think would've worked. Either way, I don't see Chicago getting another football team.

[knightni]

A Chicago 2nd NFL franchise would go over about as well as the Chicago Wolves (good until the main team in town starts winning), but with much higher ticket prices.

[witesoxfan]

If you take all of the worst things about the second teams in cities (Sox - no respect, Mets - constantly disappointing, Clippers - perennial losers), and put them into one football team, you get the Buffalo Bills.

[knightni]

If you take all of the worst things about the second teams in cities (Sox - no respect, Mets - constantly disappointing, Clippers - perennial losers), and put them into one football team, you get the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills are awesome though.

 

They have quite a bit of Super Bowl history, they've been around a long time, and they have rabid fans.

 

Try fitting any of those statements into the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tennessee Titans.

 

You guys are even 4 up on the Lions or Browns fans. They've been around for a long time and have never even gone to the Super Bowl.

[danman31]

If you take all of the worst things about the second teams in cities (Sox - no respect, Mets - constantly disappointing, Clippers - perennial losers), and put them into one football team, you get the Buffalo Bills.

Except the Bills have fan support and I don't remember the Clippers making the NBA Finals in my lifetime.

[SoxAce]

The Bills are awesome though.

 

They have quite a bit of Super Bowl history, they've been around a long time, and they have rabid fans.

 

Try fitting any of those statements into the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tennessee Titans.

 

You guys are even 4 up on the Lions or Browns fans. They've been around for a long time and have never even gone to the Super Bowl.

 

To be fair, even the Bucs won a SB not too long ago, but I know what you mean regarding their prior history. Lions, Browns, Jags, Titans.. yea.. brutal.

[Balta1701]

Try fitting any of those statements into the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tennessee Titans.

When you remember that the Titans were the Oilers, you start talking about AFL championships, Warren Moon, being on the opposite side of "The comeback", winding up 1 yard short, and you'll find some history

[The Critic]

A Chicago 2nd NFL franchise would go over about as well as the Chicago RUSH, but with much higher ticket prices.

 

[chw42]

If they have to do it, bring Arizona back.

[Dick Allen]

I think there would be plenty of support for a second NFL team in Chicago. The stadium does raise an issue, but since they can charge more than most places, I think that issue isn't as big as its made out to be. I do agree with the above about the Olympic stadium in Washington Park. That would have been used to lure a team for sure.

[kjshoe04]

I would love a second team here. I like football but I don't like the bears so much because of how obnoxious the fan base is.

[knightni]

I would love a second team here. I like football but I don't like the bears so much because of how obnoxious the fan base is.

Screw you, f***er!

[HuskyCaucasian]

Then again, the plan for the stadium was cheap material and very bland so they could turn it into a much smaller venue.

Well, that was the Olympic plan. Two things could have happened if Chicago got another team:

1) Chicago lands a team before the stadium is built, Chicgao alters the plans to a permanent structure

2) Chicago lands a team after the stadium construction has started, and they renovate it after the Olympics to make it permanent.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Personally, I am not opposed to a second team. but, there are too many hurdles it would need to clear:

• The city and state dont have enough money to be building a new $400-$500 million stadium
• There is no way the Bears let another team move into Soldier field without a fight
• I dont see a realistic way to renovate The Cell or Wrigley to be a "duel purpose" facility
• Toyota Park wouldn't be a viable option. It would have to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Athomeboy_2000

[knightni]

Ryan Field might be a decent substitute.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Ryan Field might be a decent substitute.

no booze on weekends. I think that was a contributing factor to the Bears going to UofI while Soldier Field was under construction. There is also not a ton of parking over there.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Athomeboy_2000