The Chicago Bears Board of Directors voted Thursday to advance a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, officially signaling a significant shift in the team’s long-standing search for a new home. The decision follows the Illinois General Assembly’s failure to pass legislation that would have facilitated a stadium deal within the state.
Board Approval and the Shift to Hammond
The move to explore a site in Indiana was confirmed Friday via a joint statement from Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren. The board’s vote marks the first time the organization has formally acted on a specific stadium site outside of its previous negotiations in Illinois.
While the exact location within Hammond has yet to be finalized, the team described the project as a vision for regional integration. According to the team’s statement, the goal is to create a facility that serves as a bridge between Northwest Indiana and the South Side of Chicago, eventually connecting neighborhoods and suburbs across the Chicagoland area.
“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. 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 Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren, via Chicago Bears
Legislative Deadlock in Illinois
The Bears’ decision comes on the heels of a failed legislative session in Springfield. Illinois lawmakers adjourned last weekend without passing a bill that would have provided a pathway for the team to build a stadium—specifically one that would have allowed for public-private ownership and property tax relief at an Arlington Heights site. According to ESPN sources, the situation has moved beyond the point of mere interest, with one source noting, “There is more work to do but barring anything very strange, it’s a done deal.”
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch addressed the impasse on Friday, noting that the House had passed an economic development package in April that resulted from extensive negotiations. However, the final push to secure the specific terms requested by the team for the Arlington Park site stalled in the House after passing the Senate.
Indiana’s Financial Framework and State Support
Indiana has positioned itself as an aggressive suitor for the franchise. Earlier this year, the Indiana state legislature approved a framework that allows for a stadium build featuring significant tax support. The plan involves a total investment of over $2 billion for stadium construction, with the state committing to provide $1 billion through various tax mechanisms. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed the bill into law almost immediately following its passage.
Governor Braun issued a celebratory statement on Friday, explicitly welcoming the team to the state and highlighting the potential economic impact. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott has been a vocal proponent of the move, previously criticizing the lack of progress in Illinois and emphasizing that Hammond officials were optimistic about their prospects.
“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.”
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, via Chicago Tribune
Future Uncertainty and Ongoing Negotiations
Despite the board’s vote, the move to Hammond is not yet a certainty. A spokesperson for the Chicago Mayor’s Office stated that the city continues to view the situation as fluid. “It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal,” the spokesperson said, adding that the city plans to maintain engagement with the team.
The franchise has been searching for a successor to Soldier Field since at least 2021. Previous attempts to secure a deal in Chicago, including a proposed dome renovation under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, proved unsuccessful. Subsequent efforts to build in Arlington Heights and a 2024 pitch for a lakefront stadium in Chicago—which faced scrutiny over the potential for $4.6 billion in taxpayer-supported costs—also failed to gain the necessary political traction.
As the team moves forward with the Hammond framework, the focus will now shift to site selection and the complex process of finalizing a stadium lease. With the Illinois legislature having adjourned without a deal, the Bears appear to be prioritizing the path of least resistance offered by Indiana lawmakers.
