The Chicago Bears are moving forward with plans to leave Illinois.
In a statement from Bears Chairman George McCaskey posted Friday afternoon, the team confirmed they will be moving forward with plans to build a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, with an exact site still to be determined.
“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,” the statement reads. “It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
The announcement comes less than a week after a failed Hail Mary attempt from Illinois state legislators to pass a last-minute bill that would have incentivized the team to build a new stadium in Illinois. But many Illinois officials say there are still signs the team is interested in continuing conversations with their current home state.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office took aim Friday at what they called shifting positions from the team throughout the negotiation process.
“The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress,” according to a statement from Matt Hill, a spokesman for the governor. “Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith. Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
A top Illinois lawmaker told Capitol News Illinois that any talk of the Bears leaving the state is premature.
“I got a call from Kevin Warren this morning and he told me they were going to release a statement about moving forward with Hammond,” said state Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago. “He also said he looks forward to continuing discussions with me.”
Cunnigham, who was the lead negotiator on the bill in Springfield, also pointed out the Bears’ statement resembled the one the team put out in February after Indiana lawmakers approved a bill creating a public stadium authority.
In the early morning hours Monday, the Illinois Senate voted 37-17 for a bill that would allow municipalities of a certain size to establish stadium authorities that could own and finance professional sports stadiums. That would have allowed the Bears to escape paying property taxes on the stadium itself.
However, that last-minute bill failed to make it to a House vote, falling short of the Bears’ stated timeline for when they wanted to make a stadium decision.
The late-night pivot occurred after a so-called “megaprojects” bill that had been discussed for more than three years failed to garner enough support in Springfield. That bill was designed to encourage the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights.
That move came as a surprise to Arlington Heights officials, who had been working to bring the team to the northwest suburbs for years.
“The Village of Arlington Heights has spent the past five years working diligently to prepare for the redevelopment of Arlington Park,” Mayor Jim Tinaglia said in a statement earlier this week. “We are truly disappointed with the outcome from the spring legislative session yet again. Although we recognize that these discussions are complex and involve many stakeholders, this is clearly a fumble for the State of Illinois.”
The Bears completed their $197 million purchase of the Arlington Park site in 2023.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the Illinois Senate earlier this week for passing a bill that would have allowed five Cook County municipalities that have populations of more than 70,000 to set up a local stadium authority. That stalled bill would have kept both Arlington Heights and Chicago in the running.
In a post on social media Wednesday evening, Johnson crowed that meant “Chicago is back in the game for a publicly-owned Bears stadium.” Approximately 42 hours later, the Bears organization voted to focus its stadium efforts in Hammond.
In a statement released shortly after the Indiana decision was announced, Johnson’s office said the city was still holding out hope that the team could eventually decide to build in the city.
“Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today’s announcement is not surprising,” the statement reads. “It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also echoed a hope that the team would continue discussions around an Illinois stadium.
“Cook County remains willing to engage with team ownership and state leaders to explore a path that keeps the Bears in Illinois,” Preckwinkle said in a statement. “As those conversations continue, I am committed to solutions that protect taxpayer dollars while continuing to support the legacy of the Bears in our state.”
Illinois Sports Facility Authority, which is funded with hotel tax revenues, still has $567 million in outstanding debt at Soldier Field from renovations that were completed in 2003.
The Bears pay $6.48 million annually to use Soldier Field, under the terms of a lease set to expire in 2033 that can be terminated early as long as the team pays a penalty.
Unlike the Indiana stadium package, Illinois lawmakers have long insisted that the state would not finance direct stadium construction. They instead focused on legislation that would give the Bears long-term tax certainty in Illinois.
Meanwhile, Indiana officials are celebrating the news.
The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment,” Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. said in a statement. “The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun called on Hoosiers to welcome the Chicago Bears to the 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,” Braun said. “An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”
The Bears, a charter NFL franchise founded in 1920, have played in Illinois since they began as the Decatur Staleys and then moved to Chicago in 1921. They have hosted home games at Soldier Field since 1971. Before that, the team played at Wrigley Field for nearly 50 years, and later moved to Soldier Field amid growing popularity for the team and the sport.
The stadium underwent several renovations in the time the Bears called it its home. In 1978, the Chicago Park District and the Bears reconstructed the stadium with new lights and locker rooms, and replaced the bench-style seating with individual seats with backs and armrests.
In 2003, Soldier Field completed a 20-month renovation that modernized the stadium and its surrounding area. As part of the nearly $400 million project, most of Soldier Field was demolished with the exception of the exterior, according to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The project included the restoration of the stadium’s iconic colonnades and the addition of new video boards and ribbon panel LED signage.
Soldier Field celebrated 100 years in 2024.
Capitol News Illinois reporters Brendan Moore and Ben Szalinski and WTTW News reporter Eunice Alpasan contributed.
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