The Indiana Bears?

The Chicago Bears Board of Directors voted to advance a new stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.

The exact site must still 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,” a statement from Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren read.

“Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! 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 Gov. Mike Braun said.

“Thank you to Speaker Huston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality. Welcome to Indiana!” he added.

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ESPN shared further:

The Bears’ announcement Friday does not guarantee the team will leave Illinois. Per a league source, while Indiana is “in the lead” to lure the Bears across state lines to build a domed stadium, “Illinois can still get back in the race,” the source said.

“The club has kept the stadium committee and league office apprised of all developments,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN

After the “megaprojects” bill — a proposal that would have allowed the Bears to negotiate payments in lieu of paying property taxes on the Arlington Heights, Illinois, property they currently own — died in the Illinois senate last weekend, a late push was made with alternative legislation.

At 11 p.m. Sunday, Illinois state Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) introduced new legislation that would allow Cook County cities with more than 70,000 residents (like Arlington Heights and Chicago) to create their own sports stadium authority. The Bears would pay for the construction of the new stadium, which the franchise has dedicated $2 billion in funding toward, and the land would be publicly owned.

The new bill passed the Illinois Senate 37-17 at 3:39 a.m. on Monday. The House adjourned after 4:30 a.m. without taking a vote.

“JB Pritzker and the Democrats have not only destroyed Illinois’ business climate, but they’ve shown complete inompetence trying to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois,” the Illinois Freedom Caucus stated.

“It looks like things are not final, but Indiana is looking better and better everyday for the storied football franchise,” it added.

“We moved at the speed of business. And when you look at our economy, how much more stadium you’d get for the dollars you’d spend, you’d be able to tailgate, do all the things. And logistically, you’d probably be closer to the current stadium than fighting your way through the traffic,” Braun said.

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The Bears’ announcement tips the scales significantly toward Hammond but falls well short of a final decision. A source cautioned that Friday’s announcement didn’t eliminate Arlington Heights from consideration, were the state to find a way to give the Bears property tax certainty on the 326-acre plot they own. It’s unclear whether waiting until the Senate and House reconvene this fall would be too late.

Indiana moved quickly.

In December, Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren, frustrated by the team’s inability to lower property taxes on the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse site, said the team would expand its search to Northwest Indiana.

Inside their home state, the Bears pushed for PILOT legislation, which would have allowed them to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes with Arlington Heights and save them hundreds of millions of dollars over 40 years. That legislation died Saturday night, forcing Illinois lawmakers to try to fashion a last-minute option: allowing any Cook County municipality with at least 70,000 residents to create their own financing authority for a proposed stadium. That would have allowed the municipality to own the stadium — and the Bears to avoid paying property taxes. The bill passed the Senate at 3:39 a.m. but the House adjourned about 45 minutes later.

Just two years ago, Warren and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson touted a plan to build a stadium on the Lakefront. That gained little support statewide and the Bears pivoted back to Arlington Heights. As recently as this week, Johnson tried to present a Museum Campus stadium as the only logical choice, though the Bears’ had publicly stated in recent months they were interested in only Hammond and Arlington Heights.

 

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