Bears Move Closer to Leaving Chicago for Indiana
The Chicago Bears have taken what seems to be a significant step toward relocating from Chicago, recently voting to pursue the development of a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana. This decision comes just days after the Illinois legislative session ended without reaching a franchise agreement.
On Thursday, the Bears’ board of directors decided to push ahead with the Hammond project, though the specific site for the construction has yet to be confirmed. It’s worth noting that this is the first time in about five years the board has formally voted on the stadium’s location.
In a last-minute effort to keep the team in Illinois, a final bill was presented in the Illinois Senate late Sunday night. However, by Monday morning, legislators had adjourned without any voting.
“Illinois has been grappling with this situation for three and a half years, and I think we’ve missed our deadlines,” said Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott. He seemed to suggest that Illinois could have done better.
The Bears haven’t sought public funds for their venture; rather, they had focused on gaining support for infrastructure improvements. They’ve been waiting for years for the state government to take a more definitive stance. When they purchased 326 acres of the Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights for $197 million in 2023, they felt ready for a new stadium. Yet, the plans have since stalled, with negotiations lagging and the state informing them there were no immediate plans to prioritize the project.
On the other hand, Indiana is taking a proactive approach. The state established the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority earlier this year to facilitate financing, building, and leasing new sports facilities, with Hammond being the proposed main site.
For their part, the Bears are prepared to invest $2 billion of their own funds into the construction, and the land is intended to be publicly owned.
Chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren have framed this development as a chance for regional growth. “We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop, and linking neighborhoods and suburbs north of the city,” they stated.
This move might be difficult for many Bears fans to digest. Hammond is located across state lines, about 25 miles away from Soldier Field, the team’s home since 1971. Interestingly, in over a century of existence, the Bears have never actually owned their own stadium. That could very well change soon, potentially sidelining Chicago in the process.
