The Governor of Indiana delivered his State-of-the-State address on Wednesday night and said he’s working on getting the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in his state.
Governor Mike Braun said the Bears have recognized Indiana has a strong business environment.
"We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State so they can really see what a great place it is to have a business,” he said to applause from lawmakers. “We'll work hard to do it. Let's get it across the finish line."
This comes as the team surveys season ticket holders about a potential move to Indiana, and as Illinois lawmakers have, so far, not been willing to provide incentives.
The team’s President and CEO, Kevin Warren, wrote in a letter last month that the team has not asked for taxpayer dollars to build a stadium, just a commitment to infrastructure and reasonable taxes for a stadium development in Arlington Heights.
Governor JB Pritzker recently said he has “some optimism” that there could be some state assistance with infrastructure work that the team has sought for a new stadium.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has not given up on keeping the team on the Chicago lakefront.