Bears Move Forward With Plans For Indiana Stadium

CHICAGO, IL — Goodbye, Chicago, and hello, Hammond: The Board of Directors for the Chicago football team voted Thursday to move forward with plans to build a stadium in Indiana, the team announced Friday.

"Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected," Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren shared in a statement on X.

The statement continued: "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 across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring the Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."

The Bears have been eyeing land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, where they were drawn after Indiana lawmakers approved a stadium authority in February. Despite the state move, the franchise doesn't plan to change its name and would remain known as the Chicago Bears, Sporting News reported.

IL Lawmakers Drop Ball On Bears Stadium, Pass $55B Budget

The Hammond announcement comes almost a week after a Bears "megaprojects" property tax incentive bill fell apart Saturday night. A last-ditch stadium bill aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois cleared the Senate around 4 a.m. Monday, but the House adjourned without taking up the measure.

The franchise does not plan to change its name with the move to Indiana, according to a report from Sporting News.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun welcomed the Bears to Indiana with the following statement Friday.

"Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!" he said. "We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before."

A spokesperson for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson downplayed the news in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, saying the vote does not make the move official.

“Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today's announcement is not surprising,” the spokesperson said, per the Tribune. "It's also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents."

The Bears' home stadium has been up in the air since September 2021, when the franchise put in a bid to purchase the former Arlington International Racecourse, a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, a northwest suburb of Chicago.

The team closed on the $197.2 million property agreement in February 2023. It's unclear what the franchise will do with the property.

Arlington Heights is "committed to ensuring the [racecourse] property is developed to its highest and best use," Mayor Jim Tinaglia said Friday.

"While we are certainly disappointed in this change of direction, I would like to be clear that our Village's focus will always remain on serving our residents and supporting our local businesses, while positioning Arlington Heights as a premier community," the village shared in a statement on Instagram. "The Arlington Park property is just one element of what makes our Village so special, and we remain focused on the many priorities that contribute to Arlington Heights’ ongoing success."

Despite the Bears' vote, Illinois will continue "ongoing efforts to secure the Bears," House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said in a statement.

"In April, the House passed an economic development package that was the product of extensive negotiation with the Bears and other stakeholders," he said. "That bipartisan legislation reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development and provide property tax relief for working people. While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills — not taxpayer-funded stadiums."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office said the franchise's focus on a new stadium has "hindered their progress." Read his statement:

The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location.

That has hindered their progress.

Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith.

Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.