POLLING MEMORANDUM
To: Interest Parties
From: M3 Strategies
Re: Voter Sentiment on Public Funding for the New Bears Stadium Project
Date: June 24, 2024
BACKGROUND
M3 Strategies surveyed 381 likely voters in Illinois from June 19 – 21st. The survey has a margin of
error of 5.02% at 95% confidence. Respondents were randomly selected from a pool of individuals who
are likely to vote. All responses were generated via SMS to web survey.
KEY FINDINGS
• By a two-to-one margin, voters oppose the Chicago Bear’s latest stadium proposal that would
include $1.2B of public funding.
• A majority of voters do not support any public funding going to the Chicago Bears stadium.
• Voters are split on whether they support $1.5B in infrastructure funding for the stadium and
surrounding areas.
• However, voters’ opinions are not set as they learn about the potential benefits of the stadium.
o Nearly 40% of voters would be more likely to support the stadium if the NFL commits to
allowing Chicago to host a Superbowl.
o One-third of voters are more likely to support the proposed stadium when they learn it
will make hosting concerts and events year-round easier.
o A majority of voters are more likely to support public funding for the stadium if
governments share in the profits from hosting non-professional football. This includes
36% of voters who are initially opposed to the stadium proposal.
RESULTS
The Bears’ latest proposal is to build a multi-purpose stadium on the lakefront, just south of
where Soldier Field currently sits. The Chicago Bears say it will contribute $2B toward the
stadium, which would cost $3.2B in total. Do you support $1.2B of public funding going towards
this project?
Bears Proposal Percent
Strongly support 8%
28%
Somewhat support 20%
Somewhat oppose 14%
65%
Strongly oppose 51%
Not sure 6%
Do you support $1.5B of public funding for road and traffic improvements around the stadium,
and a new park/museum campus?
$1.5B Infrastructure Percent
Strongly support 19%
46%
Somewhat support 26%
Somewhat oppose 16%
49%
Strongly oppose 33%
Not sure 5%
What statement reflects your opinion about the funding of the project? *(Exact wording of the full
answers is available in Appendix A)
Funding Options Percent
Full Public Funding 7%
Bears pay 1/3 10%
Bears pay 2/3 32%
Zero Public Funding 52%
A new facility would create the opportunity to bring in major events. For example, hosting a
Super Bowl could create a net positive economic impact of $500M to the city. If the NFL were to
commit to having a Super Bowl in Chicago, would you be more likely to support public funding of
the project?
Super Bowl Percent
Much more likely 15%
40%
More likely 25%
Does not matter 42%
Less likely 8%
18%
Much less likely 10%
Having a new multi-purpose stadium would make it easier to hold large concerts, like Taylor
Swift, year-round and in inclement weather. Does this make you more likely to support public
funding of the project?
Concerts Percent
Much more likely 13%
35%
More likely 22%
Make no difference 47%
Less likely 7%
18%
Much less likely 11%
If State and Local governments shared in the profits from hosting non-professional football
events, would you be more likely to support public funding of the project?
Profit Share Percent
Much more likely 17%
51%
More likely 34%
Does not matter 34%
Less likely 6%
15%
Much less likely 9%
Under what circumstance would you support partial public funding for a new Bears stadium?
SELECTED CROSSTABS
The Bears’ latest proposal is to build a multi-purpose stadium on the lakefront, just south of
where Soldier Field currently sits. The Chicago Bears say it will contribute $2B toward the
stadium, which would cost $3.2B in total. Do you support $1.2B of public funding going towards
this project?
Age
Bears Proposal 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Strongly support 4% 7% 9% 9%
Somewhat support 11% 17% 22% 24%
Somewhat oppose 29% 13% 11% 14%
Strongly oppose 52% 62% 51% 43%
Not sure 4% 1% 7% 10%
Gender
Bears Proposal Female Male
Strongly support 4% 11%
Somewhat support 26% 15%
Somewhat oppose 12% 16%
Strongly oppose 49% 54%
Not sure 9% 3%
Region
Bears Proposal Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Strongly support 9% 7%
Somewhat support 21% 19%
Somewhat oppose 12% 16%
Strongly oppose 53% 48%
Not sure 4% 10%
Do you support $1.5B of public funding for road and traffic improvements around the stadium,
and a new park/museum campus?
Age
$1.5B Infrastructure 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Strongly support 33% 20% 19% 17%
Somewhat support 15% 28% 27% 27%
Somewhat oppose 23% 13% 13% 20%
Strongly oppose 29% 36% 34% 31%
Not sure 0% 4% 8% 5%
Grand Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
Gender
$1.5B Infrastructure Female Male
Strongly support 17% 21%
Somewhat support 30% 23%
Somewhat oppose 15% 16%
Strongly oppose 30% 38%
Not sure 7% 3%
Grand Total 100% 100%
Region
$1.5B Infrastructure Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Strongly support 21% 17%
Somewhat support 26% 27%
Somewhat oppose 15% 16%
Strongly oppose 32% 36%
Not sure 6% 5%
Grand Total 100% 100%
What statement reflects your opinion about the funding of the project?
Age
Funding Options 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Full Public Funding 0% 11% 3% 9%
Bears pay 1/3 0% 5% 13% 11%
Bears pay 2/3 50% 26% 32% 33%
Zero Public Funding 50% 58% 52% 47%
Grand Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
Gender
Funding Options Female Male
Full Public Funding 5% 8%
Bears pay 1/3 9% 10%
Bears pay 2/3 32% 31%
Zero Public Funding 54% 50%
Grand Total 100% 100%
Region
Funding Options Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Full Public Funding 5% 10%
Bears pay 1/3 10% 9%
Bears pay 2/3 34% 28%
Zero Public Funding 51% 53%
A new facility would create the opportunity to bring in major events. For example, hosting a
Super Bowl could create a net positive economic impact of $500M to the city. If the NFL were to
commit to having a Super Bowl in Chicago, would you be more likely to support public funding of
the project?
Age
Super Bowl 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Much more likely 8% 15% 18% 14%
More likely 22% 20% 23% 30%
Does not matter 56% 52% 33% 42%
Less likely 11% 7% 11% 5%
Much less likely 4% 5% 15% 9%
Gender
Super Bowl Female Male
Much more likely 13% 17%
More likely 28% 22%
Does not matter 42% 42%
Less likely 9% 8%
Much less likely 8% 11%
Region
Super Bowl Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Much more likely 19% 9%
More likely 24% 25%
Does not matter 40% 46%
Less likely 7% 11%
Much less likely 10% 10%
Having a new multi-purpose stadium would make it easier to hold large concerts, like Taylor
Swift, year-round and in inclement weather. Does this make you more likely to support public
funding of the project?
Age
Concerts 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Much more likely 0% 12% 16% 14%
More likely 30% 25% 22% 18%
Make no difference 56% 49% 37% 54%
Less likely 11% 5% 9% 6%
Much less likely 4% 9% 15% 9%
Gender
Concerts Female Male
Much more likely 12% 14%
More likely 24% 20%
Make no difference 48% 45%
Less likely 6% 9%
Much less likely 9% 12%
Region
Concerts Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Much more likely 15% 11%
More likely 22% 22%
Make no difference 47% 47%
Less likely 8% 6%
Much less likely 9% 14%
If State and Local governments shared in the profits from hosting non-professional football
events, would you be more likely to support public funding of the project?
Age
Profit Share 18-30 31-45 46-64 65+
Much more likely 0% 21% 18% 16%
More likely 52% 29% 33% 37%
Does not matter 44% 41% 28% 32%
Less likely 0% 5% 6% 8%
Much less likely 4% 5% 15% 7%
Gender
Profit Share Female Male
Much more likely 14% 20%
More likely 38% 31%
Does not matter 35% 32%
Less likely 5% 7%
Much less likely 8% 10%
Region
Profit Share Greater Chicago-Area Rest of IL
Much more likely 20% 11%
More likely 32% 38%
Does not matter 35% 32%
Less likely 5% 8%
Much less likely 8% 12%
DEMOGRAPHICS
Age
Age Percent
18-30 7%
31-45 26%
46-64 37%
65+ 30%
Gender
Gender Percent
Female 50%
Male 48%
Other 2%
Region
Region Percent
Central Illinois 13%
Greater Chicago-Area 65%
Northern IL, but not greater Chicago-area 15%
Southern Illinois 7%
Race
Race Percent
American Indian or Alaska Native 0%
Another race or mixed 4%
Asian or Asian American 1%
Black or African American 15%
Hispanic or Latino 4%
Other (please specify) 3%
White 73%
APPENDIX A
Question: What statement reflects your opinion about the funding of the project?
Answers:
• A multi-purpose lakefront stadium would be a huge benefit to the community and I support full
public funding of the project.
• A multi-purpose lakefront stadium would be a benefit to the community. I support the public
funding about 2/3's of the project, as long as the Chicago Bears pay for the rest.
• A multi-purpose lakefront stadium provides some benefit to the community. The Chicago Bears
should pay for the majority of the new facility with the public funding about 1/3 to the cost of
the project.
• I don't support any public funding of a new multi-purpose lakefront stadium.
