(670 The Score) Days after their first playoff victory in 15 years, the Bears found a victory in their pursuit of a new stadium.
The Indiana state senate proposed legislation Thursday to finance a stadium for the Bears, a bill designed to form the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. That came one day after Indiana Gov. Mike Braun shared his desire to lure the Bears across state line in part of his State of the State address.
As part of the proposal in Senate Bill 27, the state of Indiana would acquire, finance and lease property to build a stadium.
The Bears hailed the proposal as an important step in their stadium exploration.
"The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region,” the Bears wrote in a statement. “We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
The creation of the stadium authority would mean the Bears don't have to pay property taxes themselves, Paris Schutz of FOX-32 reported. That's a significant departure from the potential construction of a stadium in Arlington Heights. Through this proposal, the state of Indiana would lease the stadium to the Bears, who would have the option to buy the stadium when the debt is paid off, Schutz reported.
The Bears presently own a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, which was officially purchased in February 2023. Team president/CEO Kevin Warren previously stated his hope to break ground on that property by the end of 2025. That never occurred, primarily because the state of Illinois has rebuffed the Bears' request for public funding.
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.
“This is not about leverage,” Warren wrote. “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.”
A spokesperson for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the Bears' exploration in Indiana a “startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans.”
The Bears have pledged to spend more than $2 billion of their own money to build a new stadium.
For most of 2024, the Bears' focus on building a new stadium, at least in public comments, was in Chicago along the lakefront. This past 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 the 326-acre property at Arlington Park in September 2021.
The Bears will host the Rams in a divisional round game Sunday at Soldier Field, their home since 1971.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.