March 14, 2024

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The Bears are moving forward with new stadium efforts after a $2 billion commitment, or are they? … The Players Championship tees off feeling the impact of the division in golf. … Rick Pitino, vying for yet another NCAA tournament berth, has some curious protectors. … The Saudi PIF is upping the ante around tennis. … And the Chiefs’ newly paid superstar is feeling the love.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Not So Fast: The List of Opponents to Bears’ Stadium Plan Is Growing [[link removed]]

Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

If the Bears thought the announcement [[link removed]] this week of their plan to stay in the city of Chicago would calm the drama surrounding their long-running stadium site search, they were sorely mistaken.

Within hours of the team’s stated intent of remaining downtown, focusing on a lakefront site just south of Soldier Field, a series of outright opponents of the plan and those with alternate visions of the Bears’ future began to make themselves known. Among those immediately lining up to challenge the potential stadium development:

Friends of the Parks: This preservation group, dedicated to Chicago’s lakefront land and parks, has already come out against the project, saying “no one wants to see the Chicago Bears leave the city, but we are being asked to respond as if there are no other alternative sites available or even in the vicinity of the existing stadium. We urge [the Bears] to … find a way to stay home in a location that preserves our open, clear, and free lakefront.” This same group previously helped thwart a potential George Lucas museum on the property and is instead urging the Bears to consider the site of the now closed Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Landmarks Illinois: This nonprofit that looks to save historic places is on similar ideological ground as the parks group, and it is objecting to the Bears’ development plan that would see Soldier Field demolished with the exception of that stadium’s historic colonnades, which remain on the National Register of Historic Places. The group instead wants [[link removed]] to see Soldier Field preserved. “Such a plan [to demolish Soldier Field] would undoubtedly fall short of properly preserving and honoring the stadium originally built as a monument for U.S. servicemen and women.” Arlington Heights, Illinois: The suburban locale was previously thought to be a lock for the project after the Bears spent $197 million last year on the former Arlington International Racecourse property. But a tax dispute helped derail momentum there. Officials there insist [[link removed]] their focus on building the stadium there has not changed, with mayor Thomas Hayes saying, “We have all experienced the many twists and turns that this project has taken over the past three years, and we find ourselves in a very similar situation today.” High Stakes

The Bears’ stadium saga remains one of the most closely watched issues across the NFL—as well as the rest of the sports industry. Despite being the country’s third-largest media market, Chicago, for years, has been shut out of hosting major events such as the Super Bowl and Final Four, as it does not have a large-scale domed stadium.

The team’s project aims to rectify that, and a prior version of its stadium plan centered on a $5 billion project that includes a domed venue and a mixed-use development. But Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker suggested there could be minimal help coming from the state for either this project or one from the White Sox that could be financially connected [[link removed]].

“The return on investment has to be proven now before we would actually move forward,” Pritzker said. “I have not seen proof that this is a good deal for the taxpayers of the state of Illinois, but they have not presented that case yet.”

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THE TAKEAWAY A Premier Golf Event Loses Luster

Florida Times-Union

On Thursday, the Players Championship tees off what is supposed to be a heart-thumping week for top golfers—and most importantly a fun and entertaining week for fans. Unfortunately, the PGA Tour’s signature regular-season event has lost some of its luster as the fight with LIV Golf continues, and negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia drag on [[link removed]].

But before LIV’s disruption became the biggest talking point in the sport, one of the more fun “debates” each spring was what to make of claims that The Players was golf’s “fifth major,” alongside the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. For golfers’ careers, and wallets, it might as well have been (and still be).

The purse offered at TPC Sawgrass has annually rivaled the prize money handed out by the four majors and now blows them out of the water. This year’s $25 million purse (same as 2023) is higher than all four majors last season (the U.S. Open’s $20 million is the closest competitor). It also matches LIV’s weekly total purse, but the $4.5 million winner’s check at The Players is $500,000 more than individual winners on LIV. When it comes to Official World Golf Ranking points—another contentious topic [[link removed]] in golf—The Players has always offered more than any other non-major tournament. And winning in Ponte Vedra earns a three-year exemption to golf’s four kingpin events.

For those who have ever attended The Players, the on-course energy is undeniable. It’s hard to beat watching the world’s best golfers while sandwiched in between the reachable par-5 16th hole and iconic 17th island green (above). That unique setting successfully marries the party atmosphere of the WM Phoenix Open with the intensity of accomplishing a life-changing feat.

This year, The Players is missing last year’s Masters and PGA Championship winners (Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, respectively), its own 2022 champion (Cam Smith), and many more of the world’s elite. That isn’t changing the money—and world rankings points—up for grabs, but it is putting a damper on what should be a can’t-miss kick-start to golf’s major season.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS TODAY Rick Pitino’s Mysterious Inner Circle

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Over the course of his career, Rick Pitino has been associated with some serious scandals. But the bad headlines never stopped him from moving on to the next great gig. Last year, in fact, he was hired to be the head basketball coach for St. John’s in a deal reported at six years and $20 million. Investigative journalist Tim Rohan recently looked into Pitino’s tarnished past to try to figure out why his present remains so rosy. Rohan joins the show today to tell us about the strange world he wandered into.

🎧 Listen and subscribe on Apple [[link removed]], Google [[link removed]], and Spotify [[link removed]].

ONE BIG FIG Taking a Swing

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

$2 billion

The amount of money the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is offering to invest in professional tennis to facilitate a merger of the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours, according to The Telegraph [[link removed]]. Last month, the PIF bought the naming rights to the ATP’s ranking system in a deal that tennis reporter Jon Wertheim pegged [[link removed]] to be worth $100 million over five years. Of particular note in The Telegraph’s report is that the four Grand Slams would not be part of this PIF offer. The Grand Slams are separate from the ATP and WTA and, in November, were said [[link removed]] to be exploring a Formula One–style premium tour with the sport’s other biggest events.

LOUD AND CLEAR About That Failing Grade ...

“So, in my eyes, Clark Hunt is an A+ in my book.”

—Chris Jones on the Chiefs’ owner after signing a five-year, $158.75 million deal with $95 million guaranteed [[link removed]]. Jones, who now tops Aaron Donald as the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL, made the comments [[link removed]] Tuesday while discussing the negotiation process and the F- grade the Kansas City owner recently received in the NFL Players Association’s annual team report cards. K.C.’s report stated [[link removed]]: “Club owner Clark Hunt receives a rating of 4.9/10 from Chiefs players when considering his willingness to invest in the facilities (32nd overall).”

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Conversation Starters Jeremiah Smith, the top prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, has secured [[link removed]] an NIL deal with Ricart Automotive in Columbus, Ohio. As part of the agreement, he will enjoy driving a brand-new Dodge Durango 392. Ali Krieger, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, has joined [[link removed]] ESPN. The USWNT veteran will be the face of the network’s coverage of women’s soccer and the upcoming NWSL season, which kicks off Saturday. The NFL’s new league year and free agency began [[link removed]] Wednesday, with teams having an additional $30 million in salary cap space this year. Already, at least five players have signed deals exceeding $100 million. Editors’ Picks Patrick Mahomes Restructures Contract (Again) for Chiefs’ Cap Relief [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Mahomes borrows an idea from Tom Brady to keep the Chiefs competitive. Sources: ‘Sports Illustrated’ and Swimsuit Edition to Be Broken Apart [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Authentic, which owns ‘SI,’ appears ready to license out the venerable franchise. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Seeping Into Sports [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]Aaron Rodgers and John Stockton have allied with the politician. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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