(104.3 The Score) The Bears' pursuit for a new stadium has taken a turn across state lines to northwest Indiana.
The Bears have proposed $2 billion in funding for a stadium development near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, and the project took a step forward Thursday as a vote on Indiana Senate Bill 27 passed by a unanimous 24-0 decision. Meanwhile, an Illinois House meeting set for Thursday morning for discussions on the stadium project was cancelled.
"The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date," the Bears said in a statement. "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. We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together."
Illinois officials were "surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois," a spokesperson for Gov. J.B. Pritzker said while adding that it was the Bears who requested a pause on the scheduled hearing for the state House committee that was called off Thursday morning
The state of Illinois had been making progress on a deal for the Bears to build in Arlington Heights, Pritzker said recently. The Bears own a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights that was previously occupied by Arlington International Racecourse.
As the Bears have been engaged in a dispute with Illinois officials regarding taxes around a potential stadium in Arlington Heights, the state of Indiana made its pitch to bring the team across state lines.
The sides have settled on the Wolf Lake property in Hammond as the desired location.
"Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears," Indiana Gov. Mike 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. The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we’ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers. We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers."
Indiana Senate Bill 27 would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, designed to fund and build a stadium for the Bears. Under the terms of the bill, the state of Indiana could sell the stadium to the team once bonds and debts are paid off. The Bears would receive revenue generated from the stadium as part of the lease.
Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren previously expressed his hope to break ground on a stadium by the end of 2025. That never occurred.
In an open letter from Warren on Dec. 17, the Bears announced their intention to cast a wider net in their stadium pursuit. That came after Illinois state officials informed the Bears that their stadium project and request for public funding wouldn't be a priority in 2026. The sides have made progress since December, but momentum is building for the Bears to move to Indiana.
“This is not about leverage,” Warren wrote in December. “We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights. Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.
“The Bears have called Chicago home for more than a century. One certainty is that our commitment to this city will not change. We will continue to provide unwavering support to the community. We need to secure a world-class venue for our passionate fan base and honor the energy you bring every week. The Chicago Bears are a founding franchise, playing in the oldest and smallest stadium in the NFL.
“As we move forward, our goal is clear: build a world-class football team that has a world-class stadium worthy of our world-class fans – a stadium that reflects the future we are building together.”
The Bears also pledged to spend more than $2 billion of their own money to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. For most of 2024, the team's focus on building a new stadium, at least in public comments, was in Chicago along the lakefront. Last April, Warren acknowledged that they were looking at both downtown and Arlington Heights. By May, the Bears had turned their attention fully to the site owned at Arlington Park.
The Bears signed a $197.2-million purchase agreement for the 326-acre property at Arlington Park in September 2021.
The Bears have played their home games at Soldier Field since 1971. The team's lease at the stadium runs through 2033.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for TheScoreChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.