The Illinois House committee meeting that was scheduled for Thursday to discuss funding a new stadium for the Chicago Bears has been canceled. That development makes a potential Bears move to Indiana feel like a very real proposition.
An amended version of Indiana Senate Bill 27, which allows the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to issue bonds to finance, build and lease a stadium, was passed unanimously (24-0) by the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. The state of Illinois was ready to move forward following a three-hour meeting Wednesday, but it was reportedly paused by Bears leadership so it could make tweaks to the bill.
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Illinois legislators were surprised to see the team’s statement this morning in favor of Indiana.
“We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,” the team said. “We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”
Indiana lawmakers had previously expressed how they needed the Bears to show serious interest in moving to Northwest Indiana. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has been outspoken in favor of his state’s pursuit of the Bears.
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“Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears,” Braun said in a statement. “We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal. If approved, the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 27 puts forward the essential framework to complete this agreement, contingent upon site due diligence proceeding smoothly.”
Hammond is just the latest proposed location for the new home of the Bears, in addition to Gary and Portage in Indiana, and Des Moines, Iowa. The Bears have explored a new lakefront site near Soldier Field, as well as a mixed-use development on land they purchased in suburban Arlington Heights. Both of those options would require more than $1 billion in taxpayer support.
The Bears have floated both a lakefront site near Soldier Field and a development in the suburb of Arlington Heights, both of which would require more than a billion dollars in taxpayer support.
Indiana lawmakers feel like this is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the state.
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“Hammond is uniquely positioned for this moment. We’re part of the Chicagoland region. We’re only 20 minutes from Soldier Field,” Sen. Ryan Mishler said Thursday. “We’re ready to help write Indiana’s next great chapter.”
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