I wanted to interview a mayor near a big city to discuss competition for tourism and entertainment dollars between the two. I found the perfect one in Jim Schwantz, mayor of Palatine, about 30 minutes northwest of Chicago.
A native of Arlington Heights, a neighboring suburb of Palatine, Schwantz played college football at Purdue University before signing with the Chicago Bears. Schwantz played six seasons in the NFL, starting and ending with the Bears, sandwiched around three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and one with the San Francisco 49ers. Schwantz won a Super Bowl and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with the Cowboys. Several years after retiring, Schwantz was elected mayor of Palatine, where his family resided.
Our interview started with a little football talk. Schwantz told a funny story about his first football card. He also listed his favorite cities and stadiums where he played.
Moving on to discussing how his team addresses competing with Chicago for consumer dollars, his answer was simple. Palatine does not actively compete. The strategy is more of stressing all the good Palatine has to offer. He cited parks, dining, entertainment, concerts and more as draws. He also stressed the family feeling of Palatine, making it a safe and comfortable place to visit or reside.
Schwantz was also a great person to discuss the potential new stadium for the Bears. He spoke of the impact a move to Arlington Heights would have on Palatine.
Talking Travel is an interview series on Global Traveler. Subscribe to the GT YouTube channel to be notified of all future interviews and other travel-related videos.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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