Indiana has taken another step toward possibly enticing the Chicago Bears over the border with legislation that would have a stadium authority pay for a new Bears stadium development in Northwest Indiana.
Governor JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have made it clear that Illinois taxpayer money is not going to be used to help fund a new stadium in Arlington Heights or next to Soldier Field on the Chicago lakefront..
Governor Pritzker has said state assistance with infrastructure work that the team has sought could be possible.
The Bears may have better luck in Indiana.
Two Republican Senators, Ryan Mishler and Chris Garten, are behind legislation that would create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority and that would provide the financing.
On Wednesday, Governor Mike Braun touted efforts to get the team to move across the border during his State-of-the-State address.
“We'll work hard to do it” he said. “Let's get it across the finish line."
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren has insisted that expanding the search for a new stadium to Northwest Indiana is not intended as leverage to get a deal done in Illinois.
State Rep. Earl Harris, Jr., a Democrat from East Chicago, told CBS 4 Indianapolis, “I know that some people who have had doubts, some people have thought about ‘we’re just being used for leverage’—this, to me, eliminates that conversation.”
The Bears emailed a survey to season ticket holders earlier this week, asking how they would feel about the team re-locating.
A statement from the team calls the new legislation “a significant milestone.”
Read the bill here: